Study Desk

"To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like?

They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to each other: We played the flute for you, but you didn't dance; we sang a lament, but you didn't weep!

For John the Baptist did not come eating bread or drinking wine,^(x) and you say, ‘He has a demon!'

The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'^(y)

Yet wisdom is vindicated^[m] by all her children."

Then one of the Pharisees invited Him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.^(z)

And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house.^(aa) She brought an alabaster jar of fragrant oil

and stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hair of her head, kissing them and anointing them with the fragrant oil.^(ab)

When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching Him—she's a sinner!"^(ac)

Jesus replied to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Teacher," he said, "say it."

"A creditor had two debtors. One owed 500 denarii,^(ad) and the other 50.

Since they could not pay it back,^(ae) he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?"

Simon answered, "I suppose the one he forgave more." "You have judged correctly," He told him.

Turning to the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet,^(af) but she, with her tears, has washed My feet and wiped them with her hair.

You gave Me no kiss,^(ag) but she hasn't stopped kissing My feet since I came in.

You didn't anoint My head with olive oil,^(ah) but she has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.

Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that's why^[n] she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little."

Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." ^(ai)

Those who were at the table with Him began to say among themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?"^(aj)

And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you.^(ak) Go in peace." ^(al)