LUKE Til. 36—60.
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 Jestia sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabas- ter 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 with- in 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 thed. And he saith, Master, say on.
41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors : the one owed five hundred pence, and theotherfifty.
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 sup- pose 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 mj 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 Myhead«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, t}ie 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 ?
60 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee ; go in peace.
The deeply interesting narrative contained in these verses, is only found in the Gospel of St. Luke. In order to see the fuU beauty of the story, we should read, in connection with it, the eleventh chapter of St. Matthew. We shall then discover the striking fact, that the woman whose conduct is here recorded, most likely owed her conversion to the well-known words, " Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." That wondrous invitation, in all human probability, was the saving of her soul, and gave her that sense of peace for which we see her so grateful. — ^A full offer of free pardon is generally God's chosen instrument for bringing the chief of sinners to repentance.