Luke 7:48

Luke 7:48, in plain English

Then Jesus turned to the woman and said, 'Your sins are forgiven.' Right there, in front of everyone who judged her.

Why it's here

He said it publicly, in the Pharisee's own house. Her forgiveness wasn't a private, whispered thing — it was a bold, public declaration.

Who's speaking

Jesus speaks directly and publicly to the woman, forgiving her sins.

Where it sits in the story

Jesus isn't embarrassed by you. He declared her forgiveness in front of the very people who condemned her. He'll do the same for you — your past doesn't disqualify you from His grace.

The scholarly reading

Jesus' direct declaration to the woman — aphewntai sou hai hamartiai ("your sins are forgiven") — makes explicit what was implied by her love. This public pronouncement restores her status and validates her faith.

Language and setting

The declaration parallels the forgiveness of the paralytic (Luke 5:20), again provoking the question of Jesus' authority to forgive sins and implicitly asserting His divine identity.

Voice

Jesus speaks directly to the woman, publicly pronouncing her forgiveness.

Significance

Jesus gives the woman what Simon's system never could: public, unconditional forgiveness. Her tears of repentance are met with words of grace that restore her dignity before the watching crowd.

46You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume.

47Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

48Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50And Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Read all of Luke 7 — A Roman centurion's faith astonishes Jesus, a widow's dead son is raised, and a sinful woman's tears become an act of worship.