Luke 7:38 - Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
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What does "Luke 7:38" mean?
This verse describes a profound act of humility, repentance, and love shown by a woman towards Jesus. Let's break down each element:
"Standing behind at his feet weeping...": The woman positions herself at Jesus' feet, a place of submission and reverence. Her weeping indicates deep sorrow, likely for her past sins and a recognition of Jesus' holiness and authority.
"...she began to wet his feet with her tears...": Tears are a visible manifestation of her emotional distress and repentance. The fact that she's using them to wash Jesus' feet highlights the depth of her remorse and desire for cleansing.
"...and she wiped them with the hair of her head...": In that culture, a woman's hair was considered her glory and was rarely unbound in public. Using her hair to dry Jesus' feet was an act of profound humility and self-abasement. It shows she is willing to sacrifice her personal dignity to honor him.
"...kissed his feet...": Kissing someone's feet was a common sign of respect and devotion. It further emphasizes her humility and her recognition of Jesus' worthiness of honor.
"...and anointed them with the ointment.": Anointing with ointment was a sign of honor, and sometimes even indicated preparation for burial or a Messianic act. The ointment, likely expensive and fragrant, shows the woman's willingness to give a costly gift as an act of love and gratitude.
In essence, this verse portrays a woman demonstrating:
Repentance: She's aware of her sinfulness and expresses deep sorrow for it.
Humility: She positions herself in a subservient posture and uses her hair to wipe Jesus' feet, sacrificing her personal dignity.
Love and Devotion: Her tears, kisses, and the expensive ointment all show a deep affection and reverence for Jesus.
Recognition of Jesus' Identity: While not explicitly stated, her actions suggest that she recognized something special about Jesus, possibly His divinity or his role as the Messiah.
The story surrounding this verse (Luke 7:36-50) highlights the contrast between the woman's sincere and extravagant display of love and the critical judgment of the Pharisee, Simon, who hosted Jesus. Jesus uses this situation to teach about forgiveness and the connection between love and forgiveness, saying, "Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little."
Luke 7:38 - Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
What does "Luke 7:38" mean?
This verse describes a profound act of humility, repentance, and love shown by a woman towards Jesus. Let's break down each element:
"Standing behind at his feet weeping...": The woman positions herself at Jesus' feet, a place of submission and reverence. Her weeping indicates deep sorrow, likely for her past sins and a recognition of Jesus' holiness and authority.
"...she began to wet his feet with her tears...": Tears are a visible manifestation of her emotional distress and repentance. The fact that she's using them to wash Jesus' feet highlights the depth of her remorse and desire for cleansing.
"...and she wiped them with the hair of her head...": In that culture, a woman's hair was considered her glory and was rarely unbound in public. Using her hair to dry Jesus' feet was an act of profound humility and self-abasement. It shows she is willing to sacrifice her personal dignity to honor him.
"...kissed his feet...": Kissing someone's feet was a common sign of respect and devotion. It further emphasizes her humility and her recognition of Jesus' worthiness of honor.
"...and anointed them with the ointment.": Anointing with ointment was a sign of honor, and sometimes even indicated preparation for burial or a Messianic act. The ointment, likely expensive and fragrant, shows the woman's willingness to give a costly gift as an act of love and gratitude.
In essence, this verse portrays a woman demonstrating:
Repentance: She's aware of her sinfulness and expresses deep sorrow for it.
Humility: She positions herself in a subservient posture and uses her hair to wipe Jesus' feet, sacrificing her personal dignity.
Love and Devotion: Her tears, kisses, and the expensive ointment all show a deep affection and reverence for Jesus.
Recognition of Jesus' Identity: While not explicitly stated, her actions suggest that she recognized something special about Jesus, possibly His divinity or his role as the Messiah.
The story surrounding this verse (Luke 7:36-50) highlights the contrast between the woman's sincere and extravagant display of love and the critical judgment of the Pharisee, Simon, who hosted Jesus. Jesus uses this situation to teach about forgiveness and the connection between love and forgiveness, saying, "Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little."