Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

Since Jesus accepted an invitation from this Pharisee named Simon, Jesus cannot be accused of spurning the Pharisees socially. The woman took advantage of the social customs that permitted needy people to visit such a banquet to receive some of the leftovers, but she came specifically to see Jesus, bringing a jar or little bottle of perfume. Since Jesus was reclining at the table according to custom (v.36), she prepared to pour the perfume on his feet, a humble act (cf. 3:16). A flow of tears preceded the outpouring of the perfume; so she wiped his feet lovingly with her hair and, perhaps impulsively, kissed them before using the perfume. Jesus allows her to proceed without shunning her.