Was the "Sinful Woman" in the Gospel of Luke a Child Sex Abuse Survivor?
A woman enters the house of Simon, the Pharisee, and washes Jesus’ feet with her tears and dries them with her hair while he dines. Her story is told in the Gospel of Luke (7:36-50). Simon remarks to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus hears Simon and rebukes him with a parable about two debtors owing money to the creditor. The creditor forgives both debts. Jesus asks Simon which debtor is more grateful. Simon correctly understands that the debtor owing more money is more grateful. The parable is normally understood to illustrate the power of God’s forgiveness of sin. As a survivor of sexual abuse, I think there is an untold story in this Bible passage -- the story of Jesus’ feeling special compassion for the losses and pain endured by abuse survivors. Many people assume that the sinful woman is a prostitute. Her sin of sex outside marriage makes her...