Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Luke: Chapter 7]
who had rescued her. Her bad reputation as a harlot clung to her
and made her an unwelcome visitor in the Pharisee's house. {When
she knew} (\epignousa\). Second aorist active participle from
\epigin•sk•\, to know fully, to recognize. She came in by a
curious custom of the time that allowed strangers to enter a
house uninvited at a feast, especially beggars seeking a gift.
This woman was an intruder whereas Mary of Bethany was an invited
guest. "Many came in and took their places on the side seats,
uninvited and yet unchallenged. They spoke to those at table on
business or the news of the day, and our host spoke freely to
them" (Trench in his _Parables_, describing a dinner at a
Consul's house at Damietta). {He was sitting at meat}
(\katakeitai\). Literally, he is reclining (present tense
retained in indirect discourse in Greek). {An alabaster cruse of
ointment} (\alabastron murou\). See on ¯Mt 26:7 for discussion
of \alabastron\ and \murou\.
7:38 {Standing behind at his feet} (\st•sa opis• para tous podas
autou\). Second aorist active participle from \hist•mi\ and
intransitive, first aorist \est•sa\ being transitive. The guest
removed his sandals before the meal and he reclined on the left
side with the feet outward. She was standing beside (\para\) his
feet {weeping} (\klaiousa\). She was drawn irresistibly by
gratitude to Jesus and is overcome with emotion before she can
use the ointment; her tears (\tois dakrusin\, instrumental case
of \dakru\) take the place of the ointment. {Wiped them with the
hair of her head} (\tais thrixin t•s kephal•s aut•s exemassen\).
Inchoative imperfect of an old verb \ekmass•\, to rub out or off,
began to wipe off, an act of impulse evidently and of
embarrassment. "Among the Jews it was a shameful thing for a
woman to let down her hair in public; but she makes this
sacrifice" (Plummer). So Mary of Bethany wiped the feet of Jesus
with her hair (Joh 12:3) with a similar sacrifice out of her
great love for Jesus. This fact is relied on by some to prove
that Mary of Bethany had been a woman of bad character, surely an
utter failure to recognize Mary's motive and act. {Kissed}
(\katephilei\). Imperfect active of \kataphile•\, to kiss
repeatedly (force of \kata\), and accented by the tense of
continued action here. The word in the N.T. occurs here, of the
prodigal's father (15:20), of the kiss of Judas (Mr 14:45; Mt
26:49), of the Ephesian elders (Ac 20:37). " Kissing the feet
was a common mark of deep reverence, especially to leading
rabbis" (Plummer). {Anointed them with the ointment} (\•leiphen
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