We often believe that our goodness is the key to God’s acceptance. We think that if we project competence, righteousness, and control, we’ll earn His favor. But as we wrap up Luke 7, Jesus challenges this assumption. He reveals that it’s not our perceived goodness that draws us near to God, but our recognition of need and brokenness. This passage presents two contrasting figures: a self-assured Pharisee and a knowingly sinful woman. One relies on his righteousness and distances himself from Jesus. The other, fully aware of her sin, experiences transformative grace.
One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:36-50
Those Who Relate to God on the Basis of Their Goodness Reject Jesus
There’s something terrifying about having our sin exposed. We spend much of our lives managing an image of goodness, competence, and respectability. We hide our struggles and downplay our failures, hoping they aren’t too noticeable. We convince ourselves that as long as we’re better than someone else, we’re doing okay. This need to prove ourselves shapes how we interact with others, how we respond to criticism, and even how we relate to God.
We pray, highlighting the good and softening the bad. We confess sin but with excuses to make our failures more acceptable. And when we see someone else’s sin on full display, there’s a subtle sense of relief. At least I’m not that bad.
But what if our biggest problem isn’t that we occasionally fail to be good? What if the belief in our inherent goodness is actually keeping us from God? This is exactly what we see in our passage.
Simon the Pharisee invites Jesus to dinner, likely as a form of religious schmoozing or curiosity about this new teacher. Yet, Simon relates to Jesus on the basis of his perceived righteousness. He offers no water for Jesus’ feet, no welcoming kiss, no anointing. The basic gestures of Hebrew hospitality are missing. In Simon’s mind, his goodness should be enough to warrant Jesus’ favor. But when a “woman of the city” enters, everything shifts.
Those Who Relate to God on the Basis of Their Badness Are Transformed by Jesus
This woman, known publicly for her sin, does something radical. She brings expensive ointment, weeps at Jesus’ feet, washes them with her tears, and dries them with her hair. She kisses His feet repeatedly and anoints them with the ointment. Her actions are extravagant and scandalous in the eyes of the religious elite, but they are a profound expression of love and gratitude.
Jesus then tells Simon a parable about two debtors. One owes much and the other owes significantly less. Both debts are forgiven, but who loves more? The one forgiven much. The point is this: awareness of our sin and the grace we receive generates love. Simon, blinded by his self-righteousness, cannot comprehend this. He sees no need for forgiveness, and thus, no capacity for deep love.
Jesus turns to the woman and says, “Your sins are forgiven… Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Her transformation doesn’t stem from striving to be good but from being bestowed with God’s grace.
The Heart of Transformative Forgiveness
The Christian’s transformation isn’t found in the perfecting of goodness, but being upended by the gracious forgiveness of God by the blood of Jesus alone and made alive when death is all that’s deserved. It’s about recognizing that our righteousness doesn’t earn us a place at God’s table. After being redeemed by Christ Jesus, the more we understand how much we’ve been forgiven, the more His love fills our hearts.
If we relate to God on the basis of our goodness, we’ll constantly strive, hide, and reject His grace when it meets the darkest corners of our sinful hearts. But when He draws us to Himself in a contrite state of badness, and we acknowledge our deep need, His love is expressed in His forgiveness.
Where do you find yourself today? Clinging to your goodness, or washed by His grace? Because of Jesus, you are forgiven. Go love much, and go in peace.
This article is a recap of a sermon preached by Pastor Hunter Sipe at Good Shepherd Bible Church on Sunday, February 2, 2025 entitled Authority & Transformative Forgiveness. This sermon continues our expositional series on Luke’s gospel entitled Luke: Good News for the Rest of Us. This sermon and others are available for listening on the Good Shepherd Bible Church Sermon Podcast.
Good Shepherd Bible Church is an Acts 29 church located in Pataskala, OH serving the eastern Columbus area.
We invite you to explore our website to learn more about GSBC, consider connecting at our church, or read about our core beliefs.