Luke 7:44

And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

Luke 7:44 (KJV)

Context

Jesus speaks these words at a meal in the home of Simon, a Pharisee. A woman known in the town as a sinner has entered uninvited, stood behind Jesus weeping, wet His feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with ointment. Simon doubts Jesus’ discernment because He allows such a woman to touch Him. Jesus answers with a short parable about two debtors, then turns to the woman and points Simon to what his own hospitality has lacked.

Meaning

Jesus’ question, “Seest thou this woman?” forces Simon to look carefully at her actions. In that culture, a host customarily provided water for guests to wash dust from their feet after travel. Simon gave Jesus no water, no kiss of greeting, and no oil for His head. The woman, by contrast, washed His feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. Her gestures were not merely emotional; they were a tangible expression of repentance, faith, and gratitude. Jesus uses her conduct to show that her many sins are forgiven, and that her love is the evidence of that forgiveness. The contrast is not between sinless and sinful, but between one who recognizes his need and one who does not.

Biblical connections

The parable of the two debtors in Luke 7:41-43 explains the principle that the one who is forgiven more loves more. Simon’s failure to offer even common hospitality reveals that he saw little need for forgiveness, while the woman’s lavish devotion flowed from her awareness of great mercy. This same truth appears in the broader teaching of Scripture: forgiven people love generously, and love for Christ is demonstrated through humble, sacrificial service.

Application

Like the woman, we come to Jesus with our sins and receive His forgiveness. That grace should produce tangible devotion—not merely words, but acts of service, costly giving, and humble attention to Christ. We are also challenged to examine our own hospitality toward the Lord: do we offer Him the ordinary courtesies of devotion, or do we neglect Him while judging others? Having received mercy, we are called to extend forgiveness and compassion, reflecting the heart of the Savior rather than the coldness of Simon.

Reflection

Luke 7:44 calls us to see both the woman and ourselves. Her tears, her hair, and her ointment were all she had, and she gave them freely. True devotion is not measured by what is convenient, but by what we are willing to offer. May we, like her, love much because we know we have been forgiven much.