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Ordinary Time · Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year C

Luke 7:36–8:3 or Luke 7:36-50

The Sinful Woman Anoints Jesus

June 18, 2028

Feast in the House of Simon the Pharisee, Peter Paul Rubens
Feast in the House of Simon the Pharisee, Peter Paul Rubens, c. 1618–1620Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg
A crowded Rubens banquet with a dog under the table and a servant carrying in dishes, while at the foot of the couch a woman is wiping Christ's feet with her hair.The reading is the anointing and the complaint about the waste, and Rubens painted the dinner party it interrupted.Peter Paul RubensRubens (1577-1640) ran the busiest workshop in Europe from Antwerp and was a working diplomat besides. His religious painting carries the same physical energy as his hunts and his mythologies.Hermitage Museum, Saint PetersburgCatherine the Great's collection grown into one of the largest museums on earth, filling the Winter Palace and the buildings beside it.Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg
Roman Lectionary
GospelLuke 7:36–8:3Lk 7:36–8:3 orLuke 7:36-50Lk 7:36-50
Second ReadingGal. 2:16, 19-21Gal 2:16, 19-21
First Reading2 Sam. 12:7-10, 132 Sm 12:7-10, 13
Responsorial PsalmPs. 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11 (cf. 5c)Ps 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11 (cf. 5c)

Overview & Insights

"Her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love." (Luke 7:47)

At a Pharisee's dinner, a woman known as a sinner weeps at Jesus' feet, washes them with her tears, and anoints them with ointment. Jesus tells a parable of two debtors to show that her extravagant love flows from how much she has been forgiven, then sends her away in peace.

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Take it further: Luke 7:36–8:3 or Luke 7:36-50

Commentary

Luke 7 Commentary: The Sick Healed, the Dead RaisedLk 7 Commentary: The Sick Healed, the Dead Raised Enduring Word · David Guzik

Guzik covers the anointing at Simon's house and Jesus' parable of the two debtors.

Luke 7:47 CommentariesLk 7:47 Commentaries BibleHub

Gathers classic commentators on the link between much forgiveness and great love.

Luke 7 - Gill's ExpositionLk 7 - Gill's Exposition StudyLight

Gill's notes on the woman's actions and Simon the Pharisee's silent judgment.

Luke 7 CommentaryLk 7 Commentary Precept Austin

A verse-by-verse, cross-reference-heavy study of the anointing and its aftermath.

Commentary on Luke 7:36-8:3Commentary on Lk 7:36-8:3 Working Preacher

Notes how the women who follow Jesus in verses 8:1-3 are introduced in parallel to the Twelve.

Luke 7:36-8:3 CommentaryLk 7:36-8:3 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

A preaching-focused reflection on the woman's extravagant love as the fruit of being forgiven.

Forgiveness, the Heart of the Christian Gospel Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church

An Episcopal sermon for this same Sunday built directly on the woman's forgiveness and love.

Background & Word Study

LukeLk BibleProject

Shows where the anointing sits within Luke's larger narrative design.

Luke 7:47 InterlinearLk 7:47 Interlinear BibleHub

Gives the Greek word for word behind Jesus' statement linking forgiveness and love.

The Church Fathers

Catena Aurea on Luke 7Catena Aurea on Lk 7 Catena

Aquinas's chain of patristic comment on the anointing, drawn from Ambrose, Augustine, and others.

Worship & Prayers

Proper 6, Year C The Lectionary Page

Gives the collect and full set of propers for the Sunday that shares this Gospel text.

Art & Music

Year C, Proper 6: art for the anointing Vanderbilt

A curated gallery of artworks on the sinful woman's anointing and this Sunday's companion texts.

Study Hub

Luke 7:36-8:3Lk 7:36-8:3 Textweek

A long-running index of commentary, sermon, and art links for this passage.

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