Why is she crying?

Simon, a Pharisee, invited Jesus to his home to eat with him. I guess word gets around town because, a woman in the city who was a sinner, having learned that He was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment and standing behind Jesus at his feet, weeping, began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair, kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment (Luke 7:36-38 NRSVUE).

Why is she crying?

The bible isn’t clear about the reason for her tears, and although many reasons have been offered, perhaps a deeper dive is required. So, let’s see what we might dig up.

We read the text and we make a judgment regarding this unnamed woman’s character because of one word, “sinner” as if we haven’t all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But what are these verses saying to us about this woman?

First, there is a word that we don’t ever take into account; it’s basically ignored and though it is only three letters, it’s important to her identity, that word is “was”. We are told that the woman was a sinner, that her designation had changed and she is now a believer.

The text is saying that this woman who approached Jesus is a believer.

Next, she brought with her, an alabaster jar of ointment. Now this same event is recounted in Mark’s Gospel, chapter 14, where we are told that the alabaster jar contained expensive perfume made from essence of nard which is worth at least a year’s wages or 300 denarii, an amount equivalent to $45,000.00 US dollars today. This fact should not be overlooked because it’s another important clue about the woman as it tells us that she is a woman of means.

Then she anoints Jesus’ feet with the entire jar of oil. This woman did not count the cost; she places Jesus far and above any and every thing she possessed. She has a clear understanding of what commitment to Jesus means – she knows discipleship.

Another clue that she understood the role of a disciple lies in the position she adopted – she is at Jesus’ feet.

Kissing Jesus’ feet and wiping His feet with her hair indicate that this woman is displaying absolute adoration of the divine, it is a sign of her deep love, devotion and worship.

Then verse 38 reveals to us what the Pharisee thought of this woman,

“If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.”

Did she have a reputation? Simon the Pharisee only knew who she had been but didn’t know who she had become, so Jesus, tuning into Simon’s thoughts, gives him a lesson on forgiveness (read Luke 7:40-47).

Jesus presented a case of two men in which the Pharisee judged rightly but in the woman’s case, he has not. The Pharisee, as many of us do, pronounces a misjudgement.

Simon, the Pharisee, represents the Law – he says that she is a sinner. Jesus, through whom grace was realized, says she was a sinner.

Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? (Luke 7:44 NRSVUE)

Simon, the Law, can only see the sinner; that’s all the Law, under the old covenant, is capable of seeing as it is the ministry of condemnation. Jesus, the fulfilment of the Law and the institutor of the new covenant of grace, sees the woman, as it is the ministry of righteousness (ref. 2 Corinthians 3:7-9).

Jesus sees her, yet she is crying, for she understands discipleship, she understands adoration, she understands lovingkindness, but she has not apprehended the reality of forgiveness.

Jesus sees her, yet she is crying, for she has not grasped the concept of righteousness by faith’s immediate verdict of “not guilty”.

Jesus sees her, yet she is crying, for she believes in Jesus, but she is unable to reconcile her past with her present.

Jesus sees her, yet she is crying, for she has memorized the “thou shalt nots” but change sometimes proves difficult.

Jesus sees her, yet she is crying, for she knows how to live under the old covenant of the Law with its sacrificial sin offerings, but she’s unsure of how to live under the new covenant of the gift grace.

She has never truly been seen but Jesus sees her, and He speaks grace to the Law (see Luke 7:44-46). The Law provided nothing, but grace provides everything that is needful.

Mary, when she sat at Jesus’ feet, showed that she understood that only one thing is needful (see Luke 10:42) and David knew it too.

I will not offer [pour out offerings of] blood to those idols or even speak [take on my lips] their names. No, the Lord is all I need [my portion and my cup]. (Psalm 16:5 EXB)

Through all her tears, the woman knew what was needful, she believed but the Law wants to keep her out because according to the standards of the Law, she is unclean; it is grace that allows her to approach Jesus without reproach. Grace gives her full access to God through faith in Jesus.

Jesus turns away from the Pharisee and addresses the woman,

“Your sins are forgiven…Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:48, 50 NRSVUE)

Jesus reminds the woman that her sins are forgiven.

When grace spoke to the Law, Jesus gave Simon the reason her sins are forgiven,

I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little. (Luke 7:47 NRSVUE)

She was a sinner who was forgiven once and for all and whatever her life had been before, she arrived at Simon’s house knowing that her life had changed because of her faith in Jesus. There, she expressed her gratitude for the forgiveness of her many sins by showing great love to Jesus, her Saviour.

Beloved, this woman’s story is our story; our sins are many, then we believe by faith and all our sins are forgiven, but we don’t fully grasp the magnitude of forgiveness and we cry but then the Holy Spirit reminds us of our righteousness in Jesus, then we love much knowing that we have been forgiven much.

Your sins are forgiven, separated from God as far as the east is from the west, you aren’t, your faith has saved you, now go in peace.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Why is she crying?” ©2026 May 31, 2026