Albert Barnes Commentary Luke 7:38

"and standing behind at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment." — Luke 7:38 (ASV)

Stood at his feet behind him. They reclined, at their meals, on their left side, and their feet, therefore, were extended from the table, so that persons could easily approach them. (See Barnes on Matthew 23:6).

Began to wash his feet. The Jews wore sandals. These were taken off when they entered a house. It was an act of hospitality and kindness to wash the feet of a guest. She therefore began to show her love for the Saviour, and at the same time her humility and penitence, by pouring forth a flood of tears, and washing his feet in the manner of a servant.

Kissed his feet. The kiss was an emblem of love and affection. In this manner she testified her love for the Lord Jesus, and at the same time her humility and sense of sin by kissing his feet. There could be few expressions of penitence more deep and tender than were these.

A sense of all her sins rushed over her mind; her heart burst at the remembrance of them, and at the presence of the pure Redeemer; with deep sorrow she humbled herself and sought forgiveness. She showed her love for him by a kiss of affection; her humility, by bathing his feet; her veneration, by breaking a costly box—perhaps procured by a guilty life—and anointing his feet.

In this way we should all come, embracing him as the loved Redeemer, humbled at his feet, and offering all we have—all that we have gained in lives of sin, in our professions, by merchandise and toil, while we were sinners—offering all to his service. Thus we will show the sincerity of our repentance, and thus we will hear his gracious voice pronounce our sins forgiven.