The Sweet Smell of Forgiveness

Could this be like the Alabaster Jar?

Photo by Liberty Shultz - Institute of Art - Chicago, Illinois 

Cameo cutting vase produced in the late 1800’s.

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” “Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied. Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said. Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?” And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:36-50

Meditate. Forgiveness.

     As the guests gathered at the home of Simon the Pharisee, others from the community also joined the festivities—sort of an open door policy. Everyone wanted to hear what Jesus had to say…and see if He might perform some more miracles. Simon was having his servants roast a lamb—and it was beginning to smell, well, actually heavenly. Lamb, olives, humus and fresh bread. A marvelous meal fit for a king.  It was just that Simon, the host, didn’t recognize Jesus a the King  

      Perfume in an Alabaster jar was probably worth a year’s wages was carried in by a woman—of ill repute—with whom no one wanted to associate. As she removed the stopper, the fragrance wafted through the room. She poured some over Jesus’ feet and gently massaging His tired feet, continuing to cry and wipe His feet with her hair. With each tear she shed, she repented. She was sorry for the sinful life she had been living. Because of her faith in Him, Jesus forgave her, instructing her to go in peace He confronted Simon, who had not even had his servants follow the custom of washing the dusty feet of his guests. Rude. Now, Simon’s guests were questioning Jesus, the forgiver. Jesus, who smelled wonderful from the fragrant perfume with which His feet had just been anointed. The sweet smell of forgiveness.

     What do we learn about Jesus from this scripture passage?

Prayer ~ Jesus, may the dedication that I feel towards You, like that of the Alabaster woman, be evident and may it be a sweet smell to You.

Verse of Salvation ~ Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:15

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© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.  All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.  New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.