What does Luke 7:46 mean?
"My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment." - Luke 7:46
In Luke 7:46 of the King James Version of the Bible, Jesus says to Simon, "Mine head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment." This verse comes from a larger narrative in the book of Luke, in which Jesus visits the house of Simon the Pharisee and a woman known as a sinner comes to anoint Jesus' feet with expensive ointment and her tears.
The context of this verse is important in understanding its meaning. Simon the Pharisee had invited Jesus to dinner, but he did not offer Jesus the customary hospitality of anointing his head with oil. Additionally, Simon looked down on the woman who anointed Jesus' feet, thinking that if Jesus were a prophet, he would have known what kind of woman she was (Luke 7:39).
In this verse, Jesus is drawing a sharp contrast between Simon's lack of hospitality and the woman's extravagant display of love and devotion. The anointing of Jesus' feet with oil and tears was an act of deep humility and reverence from the woman, who was aware of her own sinfulness and unworthiness. In contrast, Simon, who was outwardly righteous, showed no such love or reverence for Jesus.
There are several themes and symbols present in this verse. One of the primary themes is the contrast between outward appearances and inner realities. Simon appeared righteous and hospitable on the outside, but his heart was lacking in love and humility. The woman, on the other hand, appeared sinful and unworthy, but her heart was full of love and devotion for Jesus. This serves as a powerful reminder that God looks at the heart rather than outward appearances.
Another important theme is the concept of forgiveness and grace. The woman's actions demonstrate her deep awareness of her own sinfulness and her need for forgiveness. Jesus responds to her with compassion and forgiveness, declaring that her sins are forgiven and commending her for her great love (Luke 7:48-50). This shows that Jesus values repentance and genuine love over outward displays of righteousness.
The anointing with oil in this verse also carries important symbolic meaning. Anointing with oil was a common practice in biblical times, used to signify consecration, healing, and blessing. In this context, the anointing of Jesus' feet with oil and the woman's tears can be seen as an act of consecration and worship. It symbolizes the woman's repentance, her desire for healing and blessing, and her recognition of Jesus' authority and divinity.
Overall, Luke 7:46 speaks to the fundamental principles of humility, love, and forgiveness. It challenges us to look beyond outward appearances and to recognize the true state of our hearts. It reminds us that our actions and attitudes should reflect our inner love and devotion for God, and it emphasizes the importance of genuine repentance and the experience of God's grace and forgiveness. This verse serves as a powerful example of the transformative power of love and the radical inclusivity of God's grace, reaching out to those who are humble and repentant, regardless of their outward status or appearance.
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Luke 7:46 - "My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment."
"My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment." - Luke 7:46
Luke 9:46 - "¶ Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest."
Luke 1:46 - "And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,"
Luke 8:46 - "And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me."
Numbers 7:46 - "One kid of the goats for a sin offering:"
Luke 6:46 - "¶ And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"
Psalms 46:7 - "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah."
Luke 22:46 - "And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation."
Nehemiah 7:46 - "¶ The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth,"
John 7:46 - "The officers answered, Never man spake like this man."
Luke 19:46 - "Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves."
Luke 1:46-47 - "And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior."
Acts 7:46 - "Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob."
"And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord," - Luke 1:46
Luke 20:46 - "Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;"
Jeremiah 46:7 - "Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?"
Luke 24:46 - "And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:"
Luke 2:46 - "And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions."
"One kid of the goats for a sin offering:" - Numbers 7:46
1 Kings 7:46 - "In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan."
"¶ Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest." - Luke 9:46
Luke 12:46 - "The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers."
Luke 8:46 - "And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me."
Luke 8:46 - "And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me."
Luke 23:46 - "¶ And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost."
"The officers answered, Never man spake like this man." - John 7:46
"¶ The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth," - Nehemiah 7:46
Luke 11:46 - "And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers."
"The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah." - Psalms 46:7