Commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2.pdf

<strong>Commentary</strong> on Matthew, Mark, Luke - Volume 2
Luke 7:36-50
36. And one of the Pharisees requested him to take food with him; and he entered into the
house of the Pharisee, and sat down at table. 37. And, lo, a woman in the city, who was a sinner,
when she knew that he sat at table in the house of the Pharisee, brought an alabaster box of ointment:
236 38. And sitting at his feet behind him, and weeping, she began to wash his feet with tears, and
wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with ointment. 237
39. And the Pharisee, who had invited him, seeing it, said, speaking within himself, If this man
were a Prophet, he would certainly know who and what sort of woman this is that toucheth him;
for she is a sinner. 238 40. And Jesus answering, said to him, Simon, I have something to say to
thee. And he said, Master, say on. 41. A certain creditor had two debtors: one owed five hundred
pence, and another fifty. 42. And when they had nothing to pay, he forgave them both. Tell me
then, which of them will love him more? 43. Simon answering said, I suppose that it will be he to
whom he forgave more. And he said to him, Thou hast decided aright. 44. And turning to the
woman, he said to Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest not water
for my feet; but she hath moistened my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
45. Thou gavest me not a kiss; but she, since the time that I entered, hath not ceased to kiss my
feet. 47. For which reason I say to thee, Her many sins are forgiven, for she hath loved much; but
he to whom less is forgiven loveth less. 48. And he said to her, Thy sins are forgiven thee. 49. And
those who sat at table with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that even forgiveth
sins? 50. And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
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
who, in his opinion, ought not to have been permitted to approach or to converse with him; and,
accordingly, disowns him as a prophet, because he does not acknowledge him to be the Mediator,
whose peculiar office it was to bring miserable sinners into a state of reconciliation with God. It
was something, no doubt, to bestow on Christ the honor due to a prophet; but he ought also to have
inquired for what purpose he was sent, what he brought, and what commission he had received
236 “Or voyci il y avoit une femme de la ville qui avoit este de mauvaise vie, laquelle ayant cognu qu’il estoit assis a table en
la maison du Pharisien, apporta une boiste d’ongnement;” — “but, lo, there was a woman of the city who was of wicked life,
who, having learned that he sat at table in the house of the Pharisee, brought a box of ointment.”
237 “Et les frottoit d’ongnement;” — “and rubbed them with ointment.”
238 “Car elle est de mauvaise vie;” — “for she is of wicked life.”
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John Calvin