NOTES for Luk 7:36-50
36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. |
37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, |
38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. |
39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. |
40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. |
41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. |
42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? |
43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. |
44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. |
45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. |
46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. |
47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. |
48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. |
49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? |
50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. |
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All the biblical books tell us about two spiritual paths: the path of righteousness, leading to life, and the path of sin, leading to death. And now, when the Messiah has come, it suddenly turns out that the situation is not so unambiguous, that not every sinner is walking the path of sin and not every righteous person stands on the path of righteousness as firmly as he thinks.
Yet if we think about it, there is nothing surprising here: after all, there are no absolute righteous people in the world, completely untouched by sin, except Christ. Therefore righteousness by definition is only a relative state, one that depends on the fullness and intensity of communion with God available to the righteous person. Righteousness is like breathing: it is not static; if communion with God ceases, it disappears, just as breath disappears from someone who has stopped breathing.
And then it turns out that a repentant sinner is closer to righteousness than an imaginary righteous person who contemplates his own righteousness and judges others. Indeed, in order to repent, in order to ask forgiveness for the sin committed, one must at least turn to God, and therefore establish with Him those very relationships without which there is no righteousness. And then one can consider the matter done, for God needs only to establish relationships with us; after that He will find the way and the possibility to solve all our problems. It is enough for Him simply to enter our heart, and here it no longer matters what becomes the reason for our openness to Him. Even if the reason was regret over a sin committed and repentance for it, He will find how to do in our heart the spiritual work that we need for our salvation.
Readings for 20 October 2025
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