Twelve Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur
Week 12: Chapter 11 — The Woman Who Anointed Jesus: An Extraordinary Act of Love
Read Chapter 11 of Twelve Extraordinary Women. Primary passages: Luke 7:36–50; Mark 14:3–9; Matthew 26:6–13.
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Jesus said that wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman did would be told in memory of her — so we should pay very close attention to what she actually did and why He said that.
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.MacArthur is careful to distinguish between the sinful woman of Luke 7 and the anointing at Bethany in Mark 14 and Matthew 26, arguing these are separate events. Why does this distinction matter, and how does it affect the way we read each account on its own terms?
2.The sinful woman of Luke 7 entered a Pharisee's house uninvited, wept over Jesus's feet, wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them. MacArthur notes that every element of this act would have been considered socially outrageous. What do you think gave her the courage to enter that room? What does her act reveal about the extremity of her gratitude?
3.Simon the Pharisee thought to himself: "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is" (Luke 7:39). MacArthur points out that Jesus did know — and still allowed it. What does Jesus's acceptance of her worship say about how He values repentant sinners versus self-righteous religious observers?
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