# An unnamed woman anoints Jesus

Life of Jesus · Draft · BSB

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Date: Ministry in Galilee. A guided comparison of Gospel accounts, not a measured calendar or a claim that every parallel follows the same sequence.

At a Pharisee’s meal an unnamed woman weeps at Jesus’s feet and anoints them. Jesus answers the host’s judgment with a story of forgiven debts, contrasting their responses and assuring her of forgiveness and peace.

Luke does not name her Mary Magdalene or Mary of Bethany, and does not specify her sins. This earlier meal should not be silently merged with the Bethany anointing before the final Passover.

## Primary Scripture

[Luke 7:36–50 (BSB)](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%207%3A36%E2%80%9350&version=BSB)

7:36 Then one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

7:37 When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume.

7:38 As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume.

7:39 When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!”

7:40 But Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, Teacher,” he said.

7:41 “Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

7:42 When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?”

7:43 “I suppose the one who was forgiven more,” Simon replied. “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

7:44 And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

7:45 You did not greet Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived.

7:46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume.

7:47 Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

7:48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

7:49 But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

7:50 And Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

## Related Scripture

[Luke 18:9–14 · teaching](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2018%3A9%E2%80%9314&version=BSB)

The later parable about two people praying also challenges confidence in one’s own righteousness.

## Location evidence

Luke says the woman is from that town but never names it. The house belongs to Simon the Pharisee; it is not identified as the Bethany house of Simon the leper.

No event map marker is assigned. Do not infer an exact venue from related places.

## For the class

How does the debt illustration change the way the host is asked to see the woman?

## Interpretation and reuse

Narrative order is a reading arrangement, not a proven chronology. Dates retain their stated uncertainty. An identified locality does not establish the exact venue or prove an event. Region extents and routes are illustrative, not surveyed boundaries or ancient roads. Draft material has not completed editorial review.

Record source: theographic (301)

Record source: editorial

Events and places adapted from Theographic Bible Metadata (github.com/robertrouse/theographic-bible-metadata), CC BY-SA 4.0. This adapted data is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Place coordinates from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding Data, CC BY 4.0.

Teaching stops, summaries and regional extents are original editorial content of this atlas.

Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain. https://berean.bible/licensing.htm

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