Luke 7:36-38

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 7:36-49

When and where this passage of story happened does not appear; this evangelist does not observe order of time in his narrative so much as the other evangelists do; but it comes in here, upon occasion of Christ's being reproached as a friend to publicans and sinners, to show that it was only for their good, and to bring them to repentance, that he conversed with them; and that those whom he admitted hear him were reformed, or in a hopeful way to be so. Who this woman was that here testified so... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 7:36-50

7:36-50 One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. He went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table; and--look you--there was a woman in the town, a bad woman. She knew that he was at table in the Pharisee's house, so she took an alabaster phial of perfume and stood behind him, beside his feet, weeping. She began to wash his feet with tears, and she wiped them with the hairs of her head; and she kept kissing his feet and anointing them with the perfume. When the Pharisee, who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 7:36

And one of the Pharisees ,.... Whose name was Simon, Luke 7:40 Desired that he would eat with him ; take a meal with him, either a dinner or a supper: this he did under a disguise of respect, and show of affection to him; though very likely with a design upon him to ensnare him, or take some advantage against him if he could; for it is certain, that he did not treat him with those civilities and ceremonies commonly used to guests; see Luke 7:44 . And he went into the Pharisee's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 7:37

And behold, a woman in the city ,.... Not Mary Magdalene, spoken of in Luke 8:2 under another character; and is a different person, who had not been taken notice of by the evangelist before; nor Mary the sister of Lazarus, who is said to anoint the feet of Christ, and wipe them with her hair, John 12:3 . The character given of this woman, does not seem so well to agree with her; at least, the fact here recorded, cannot be the same with that; for this was in Galilee, and that in Bethany;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 7:38

And stood at his feet behind him ,.... Christ lay upon a bed, or couch, as was the custom of the ancients, both Jews and others, at meals, with his feet put out behind; and between the couches and the walls of the room, there was a space for servants to wait and serve, and such are therefore said to "stand at the feet"; and the phrase is used, as descriptive of servants in waiting F14 Vid Alstorphium de lectis veterum, p. 106, 107. ; and in such a situation this woman put herself, as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 7:36

One of the Pharisees - Called Simon, Luke 7:40 . This account is considered by many critics and commentators to be the same with that in Matthew 26:6 , etc., Mark 14:3 ; and John 12:3 . This subject is considered pretty much at large in the notes on Matthew 26:6 , etc., to which the reader is requested to refer. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 7:37

A woman - which was a sinner - Many suppose that this woman had been a notorious public prostitute; but this is taking the subject by the very worst handle. My own opinion is, that she had been a mere heathen who dwelt in this city, (probably Capernaum), who, through the ministry of Christ, had been before this converted to God, and came now to give this public testimony of her gratitude to her gracious deliverer from the darkness and guilt of sin. I am inclined to think that the original... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 7:38

Stood at his feet behind him - In taking their meals, the eastern people reclined on one side; the loins and knees being bent to make the more room, the feet of each person were turned outwards behind him. This is the meaning of standing Behind at his Feet. Began to wash his feet with tears - Ηρξατο βρεχειν - τοις δακρυσι , She began to water his feet - to let a shower of tears fall on them. As the Jews wore nothing like our shoes, (theirs being a mere sole, bound about the foot and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 7:36

Verse 36 36.And one of the Pharisees requested him. This narrative shows the captious disposition, not only to take, but to seek out, offenses, which was manifested by those who did not know the office of Christ. A Pharisee invites Christ; from which we infer, that he was not one of those who furiously and violently opposed, nor of those who haughtily despised his doctrine. But whatever might be his mildness, he is presently offended when he sees Christ bestow a gracious reception on a woman... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 7:37

Verse 37 37.A woman who was a sinner The words stand literally as I have translated them,( ἥτις ἧν ἁμαζτωλὸς.) Erasmus has chosen to take the pluperfect tense, who Had Been a sinner, (241) lest any one should suppose that at that time she still was a sinner But by so doing, he departed from the natural meaning; for Luke intended to express the place which the woman held in society, and the opinion universally entertained respecting her. Though her sudden conversion had rendered her a different... read more

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