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During Jesus's time, women were seen as second class Jews. They had no rights, and men had complete control over them. The father had control over the woman until she was married, and after that, the husband had control of his wife's rights. In many cases, women were easily taken advantage of. They also could not even go out in public alone or speak to people in the streets ("A Harmony of the Life of Jesus").
In Jesus' time, Pharisees were known to separate themselves from other Jews. The word "Pharisee" even contains the Hebrew root meaning "separated" ("Pharisees" in A Dictionary). As a result, they viewed themselves as higher in rank and quality than other lower class people, like women.
Understanding how women and Pharisees were viewed in Jesus' time enables the reader of Luke's Gospel to realize the significance of Jesus' actions. Because Jesus forgave the sinful woman, rather than Simon the law-abiding Pharisee, people are able to learn about the terms for forgiveness with God.
If you recognize your own sins and need for God's help, like the woman did, God will forgive you.
oil painting by Robert Cushing, date unkown
Works Cited
"Pharisees." In A Dictionary of the Bible. Ed. W. R. F. Browning. Oxford Biblical Studies Online. 04 October
2015. <http://www.oxfordbiblicalstudies.com/article/opr/t94/e1462>.
"Pharisees." In The Oxford Companion to the Bible. Ed. Bruce M. Metzger, Michael D. Coogan, John Riches.
Oxford Biblical Studies Online. 07 October 2015. <http://www.oxfordbiblicalstudies.com/article/opr/t120/e0565>.
"Anointing by a Sinful Woman (Luke 7:36-50) -- JesusWalk." #25. Anointing by a Sinful Woman (Luke 7:36-50)
-- JesusWalk. Web. 21 Oct. 2015.
"A Harmony of the Life of Jesus - The Role of Women." A Harmony of the Life of Jesus - The Role of Women.
This reading begins with Simon the Pharisee inviting Jesus to dinner. Later during the dinner party, a woman arrives, uninvited, and begins to annoint Jesus. He, completely accepting to all people, welcomes the woman, regardless of her status as a sinner that others often judge her for. Much to the dismay of the Pharisees, Jesus then forgives the woman's sins becuase of the faith and love she has for God that were contrary to Simon's behaviors (Luke 7:36-50).
Pharisees also held strict observances of the laws, which emphasizes the significance of Jesus forgiving the sinful woman rather than Simon ("Pharisees" in The Oxford Companion). Therefore, their seemingly perfect moral standards and behaviors caused them to believe that they never sinned against God and were more worthy than others.
Because of Simon's belief that, as a Pharisee, he rarely sinned, he did not realize that he needed to be forgiven by God even for the few sins that he had committed. Consequently, Jesus is more understanding towards the woman and forgives her, because she eventually comes to terms with her sins.
Because of the typically harsh and undesirable views of women, it is significant that Jesus chose to forgive and act kindly towards the woman, especially since she was also a woman known for her sins. This symbolizes how much Jesus focused on and cared for people who were typically marginalized in his society.