Hope for the Rejected

³⁶Now one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. ³⁷Then when a woman of that town, who was a sinner, learned that Jesus was dining at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfumed oil. ³⁸As she stood behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. She wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfumed oil. ³⁹Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” ⁴⁰So Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He replied, “Say it, Teacher.” ⁴¹“A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed him 500 silver coins, and the other 50. ⁴²When they could not pay, he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” ⁴³Simon answered, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” ⁴⁴Then, turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house. You gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵You gave me no kiss of greeting, but from the time I entered she has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfumed oil. ⁴⁷Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little loves little.” ⁴⁸Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” ⁴⁹But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” ⁵⁰He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”