Luke 7:49. Who is this, &c.?— "Who is this arrogant and presumptuous man, that not only transgresses our rules, by permitting a harlot to touch him, but even presumes to say that he forgiveth sins, which is the peculiar prerogative of God himself?" See Mat 9:3 and ch. Luke 5:21. read more
Luke 7:50. Thy faith hath saved thee, &c.— Our Lord, contemning the malicious murmuring of the Pharisees, repeated his assurance, by telling the woman that her faith had saved her, and bidding her depart in peace; that is, impressed with a strong sense of the love of God, and filled with the divine pleasure which arises from that attainment. Go in peace, was an usual form of dismissing inferiors, and was an expression of the friendship and good wishes of the person speaking. There is an... read more
31-35. the Lord said, c.—As cross, capricious children, invited by their playmates to join them in their amusements, will play with them neither at weddings nor funerals (juvenile imitations of the joyous and mournful scenes of life), so that generation rejected both John and his Master: the one because he was too unsocial—more like a demoniac than a rational man the other, because He was too much the reverse, given to animal indulgences, and consorting with the lowest classes of society. But... read more
37, 38. a sinner—one who had led a profligate life. Note.—There is no ground whatever for the popular notion that this woman was Mary Magdalene, nor do we know what her name was. (See on Luke 8:2.) an alabaster box of ointment—a perfume vessel, in some cases very costly (Luke 8:2- :). "The ointment has here a peculiar interest, as the offering by a penitent of what had been an accessory in her unhallowed work of sin" [ALFORD]. read more
38. at his feet behind him—the posture at meals being a reclining one, with the feet out behind. began to wash, c.—to "water with a shower." The tears, which were quite involuntary, poured down in a flood upon His naked feet, as she bent down to kiss them and deeming them rather fouled than washed by this, she hastened to wipe them off with the only towel she had, the long tresses of her own hair, "with which slaves were wont to wash their masters' feet" [STIER]. kissed—The word signifies "to... read more
39. the Pharisee—who had formed no definite opinion of our Lord, and invited Him apparently to obtain materials for a judgment. spake within himself, c.—"Ha! I have Him now He plainly knows nothing of the person He allows to touch Him; and so, He can be no prophet." Not so fast, Simon; thou hast not seen through thy Guest yet, but He hath seen through thee. read more
40-43. Like Nathan with David, our Lord conceals His home thrust under the veil of a parable, and makes His host himself pronounce upon the case. The two debtors are the woman and Simon; the criminality of the one was ten times that of the other (in the proportion of "five hundred" to "fifty"); but both being equally insolvent, both are with equal frankness forgiven; and Simon is made to own that the greatest debtor to forgiving mercy will cling to her Divine Benefactor with the deepest... read more
44-47. I entered . . . no water—a compliment to guests. Was this "much love?" Was it any? read more
45. no kiss—of salutation. How much love was here? Any at all? read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Luke 7:47
Luke 7:47. For she loved much:— Wherefore she loved much. That nobody might put a wrong construction upon this woman's behaviour, our Lord declared, that her regard to him proceeded purely from a sense of the favour he had done her, in bringing her to repentance, and in raising her to the hope of pardon. For doubtless he had previously made her sensible of her sins by his sermon, and had raised her to the grace of true repentance; and therefore she expected her pardon from the general doctrine... read more