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Matthew Henry

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 7:46

Mine head with oil thou didst not anoint ,.... No not with common oil, so usually done at feasts, see Psalm 23:5 but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment ; even "with ointment" דבסמא , "of spices", as the Syriac version renders it. There is, throughout the whole account, an opposition between the conduct of Simon, and this woman: he gave him no common water to wash his feet with, she shed floods of tears, and with them bathed his feet, and then wiped them clean with the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 7:46

My head with oil thou didst not anoint - Anointing the head with oil was as common among the Jews as washing the face with water is among us. See Rth 3:3; 2 Samuel 12:20 ; 2 Samuel 14:2 ; 2 Kings 4:2 ; and Psalm 23:5 , where the author alludes to the Jewish manner of receiving and entertaining a guest. Thou preparest a table for me; anointest my head with oil; givest me an overflowing cup. See Matthew 5:17 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 7:36-50

The nameless woman who was a sinner , and Simon the-Pharisee. As regards the incident about to be told, some commentators have believed that the anointing was identical with that related by St. John as having taken place at Bethany very shortly before the Crucifixion. Without detailing the several points of difference in the two recitals, it will be sufficient surely to call attention to the character of the Bethany family, Lazarus and his sisters, the intimate friends of Jesus, to show... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 7:36-50

The woman who was a sinner. It is a truly lovely story which the evangelist tells—one of those passages in the life of Christ which we are never tired of reading, and as full of meaning as it is full of beauty. We may regard it from many points, and present its didactic force in many ways. Perhaps we shall best ensure the reception of its various lights by studying the portraiture of character which it gives. I. THERE IS SIMON THE PHARISEE —Jesus' host on the afternoon of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 7:36-50

Loving and forgiving. The peculiarity of Oriental customs, together with the earnestness and eagerness of this penitent, will account for her effecting an entrance into the house of this Pharisee, and gaining access to the feet of our Lord. The lessons we gain from this most touching incident are— I. THAT THERE IS FREE AND FULL FORGIVENESS FOR THE WORST . It is somewhat striking that, although Old Testament Scripture abounds in passages which attest the greatness of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 7:36-50

Love the proof of pardon. The generation to which Jesus had come with his social gospel thought him too "free and easy" with sinners. The Pharisees thought he had no right to associate with publicans and sinners, although he did so to save them. But the wisdom of his policy would be justified by the conduct of his converts, and here we have a justification ready to hand. One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He accepts the invitation, and is reclining at his table, when, lo! a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 7:46

My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment . "It never entered thy thoughts to pay me the homage—and yet I had helped thee, too, a little—of pouring oil on my head"; "but she hath anointed, not my head, she shrank, poor soul! from doing this; but my feet. And, too, it was no common oil which she used, but precious, fragrant ointment. A cold, loveless welcome, indeed, my Pharisee friend, was thine! Thou thinkest it honour enough the mere... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 7:46

My head with oil - The custom of pouring oil upon the head was universal among the Jews. The oil used was sweet oil or oil of olives, prepared in such a way as to give an agreeable smell. It was also used to render the hair more smooth and elegant. See Ruth 3:3; 2Sa 12:20; 2 Samuel 14:2; Psalms 23:5.With ointment - This “ointment” was a mixture of various aromatics, and was therefore far more costly and precious than the “oil” commonly used for anointing the head. Her conduct, compared with... read more

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