FUNCTIONAL FAITH
The Wording

Luke 7:36–50

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Berean Standard Bible

Goodspeed New Testament

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36

Then one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

One of the Pharisees asked him to have dinner with him, and he went to the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table.

37

When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume.

Now there was a woman in the town who was leading a sinful life, and when she learned that he was having dinner at the Pharisee’s house, she got an alabaster flask of perfume,

38

As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume.

and came and stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with her hair, and kissed them, and put the perfume on them.

39

When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!”

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were really a prophet, he would know who and what the woman is who is touching him, for she leads a wicked life.”

40

But Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, Teacher,” he said.

Jesus answered him, and said to him, “Simon, there is something I want to say to you.” He said, “Proceed, Master.”

41

“Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

“Two men were in debt to a money-lender. One owed him a hundred dollars and the other ten.

42

When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?”

As they could not pay him, he canceled what they owed him. Now which of them will be more attached to him?”

43

“I suppose the one who was forgiven more,” Simon replied. “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he canceled most.” “You are right,” he said.

44

And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

And turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came to your house; you did not give me any water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with tears and wiped them with her hair.

45

You did not greet Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived.

You did not give me a kiss, but from the moment I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet.

46

You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume.

You did not put any oil upon my head, but she has put perfume upon my feet.

47

Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

Therefore, I tell you, her sins, many as they are, are forgiven, for she has loved me so much. But the man with little to be forgiven loves me but little.”

48

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven!”

49

But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

The men at table with him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man, who even forgives sins?”

50

And Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

But he said to the woman, “It is your faith that has saved you. Go in peace.”

Functional Faith Reading

The Greek behind verse 47 is precise — the verb aphiēmi means to release or send away, and its perfect passive tense here signals a completed action whose effects remain present. The woman's many sins have been sent away, and the consequence of that release is visible in the room.

The common reading treats this scene as proof of Jesus accepting sinners while religious leaders reject them — a valid observation, but it tends to flatten the parable's edge. What gets missed is the economic logic running underneath everything: debt, cancellation, and the response of the one released.

The Pioneer does not perform forgiveness as a theological ceremony. He announces what the Father has already done, and then he watches to see who will respond to that announcement with open hands. Simon holds his debt lightly because he has never really felt it. The woman knows what she was carrying. Her tears are not payment — they are the overflow of someone who has been released from something very heavy. The Pioneer sees that and names it clearly, which is itself an act of costly love.

If you have been walking the Way for years without much warmth, it may be worth asking whether you have ever actually reckoned with your own debt, not just acknowledged it intellectually.

Sit with this

What would it change in you today if you sat with the full weight of what the Father has already released you from?

Sources

SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)License

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition

Copyright 2010 Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software.

Licensed CC BY 4.0.

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