Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 38:75 (Autumn 2025)
Article: Simon And The Sinful Woman: One Or Two Believers? (Luke 7:36–50)
Author: Kenneth W. Yates

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Simon And The Sinful Woman: One Or Two Believers? (Luke 7:36–50)

Kenneth Yates

Editor

Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society

I. Introduction

In Luke 7, we read about a Pharisee named Simon who invites the Lord to his home for a meal. The meal is interrupted by a woman who washes the Lord’s feet with her tears and dries them with her hair. Christ uses the situation to teach about the forgiveness of sins and love for Him.

It is common to understand this passage (Luke 7:36–50) in an evangelistic way. Simon is seen as an unbeliever, while the woman is portrayed as a believer. She sees her own sinfulness, but Simon does not see his. She responds to her sin in a God-pleasing way, but Simon does not. She experiences the forgiveness of sins, which results in eternal salvation. Simon is not forgiven of his sins and is therefore spiritually condemned.

In this article, I will argue that both Simon and the woman are believers. The Lord’s teaching about the forgiveness of sins is not evangelistic, but intended to instruct believers, one of whom was Simon.

II. The Passage

Before discussing the highlights of the dinner at Simon’s house, it would be helpful to consider the immediate context.

A. The Context (Luke 7:29–35)

Luke records how the people of Israel had responded to the ministry of John the Baptist. Many of the tax collectors and sinners submitted to his baptism. Most of the religious leaders did not (vv 29–30).

The Lord compares the leaders to silly children in the marketplace. It is impossible to please them. They rejected John’s preaching because he was a strict ascetic. They rejected Christ’s preaching because He

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was perceived as being too lenient—even eating with sinners. John, in their opinion, had a demon. This was either because John was seen as a lunatic or because demonic activity was associated with the desert, the place of John’s ministry.1 The Pharisees thought Christ was an immoral drunk (vv 31–34).

Christ refers to those who accepted the preaching of John and Christ as wise (v 35). They were not like the foolish, unbelieving religious leaders.

Many fail to distinguish between John’s ministry and the ministry of the...