Jesus now confirmed to the woman what had already taken place. This was a word of assurance. Jesus used the perfect tense in Greek (sosoken). We could translate it, "Your sins have been forgiven and stand forgiven." She had evidently obtained God"s forgiveness sometime before she entered Simon"s house. Jesus was not now imparting forgiveness to her for the first time but was commenting on her forgiven condition. This is clear because throughout the story Jesus consistently regarded the woman as a forgiven person. Her acts of love sprang from her sense of gratitude for having received forgiveness. Jesus had earlier forgiven the sins of the paralytic man in Capernaum ( Luke 5:20). Here he did not forgive the sins of the sinful woman but announced authoritatively that they stood forgiven. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Luke 7:36-50 - The Forgiven Sinner's Grateful Love
What a trio! Christ stands here as a manifestation of the divine love, as it comes among sinners. The love of God is not dependent on our merits; frankly, Luke 7:42, is "freely." It is not turned away by our sins: she is a sinner. It ever manifests itself as the clearing of debts. But it demands recognition and service: thou gavest me no kiss.
The woman represents those who penitently and lovingly recognize the divine love. She was not forgiven because of her love; but her love was the sign that she had been forgiven and recognized it. What will not God's love do! The tropical sun produces rare fruit. What Jesus did for her He can do for your many sins. Pardon will lead to much love, and love becomes the gate of knowledge and the source of obedience.
Simon, the Pharisee, stands for the unloving and self-righteous, who are ignorant of the love of God. They may be respectable in life, rigid in morality, unquestioned in orthodoxy, but what are these without love? See 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Note the contrasts between thou and she, thy and her. [source]
Chapter Summary: Luke 7
1Jesus finds a greater faith in the centurion; 10heals his servant, being absent; 11raises from death the widow's son at Nain; 18answers John's messengers with the declaration of his miracles; 24testifies to the people what opinion he held of John; 31compares this generation to the children in the marketplaces, 36and allowing his feet to be washed and anointed by a woman who was a sinner, 44he shows how he is a friend to sinners, to forgive them their sins, upon their repentance
Greek Commentary for Luke 7:48
Are forgiven [απεωνται] As in Luke 7:47. Remain forgiven, Jesus means, in spite of the slur of the Pharisee. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 7:48
Luke 5:20Man [αντρωπε] Mark and Matthew have “child” or “Son” Are forgiven This Doric form of the perfect passive indicative is for the Attic απεινται apheintai It appears also in Luke 5:23; Luke 7:47,Luke 7:48; John 20:23; 1 John 2:12. Mark 2:6; Matthew 9:2 have the present passive απιενται aphientai Possibly this man‘s malady was due to his sin as is sometimes true (John 5:14). The man had faith along with that of the four, but he was still a paralytic when Jesus forgave his sins. [source]
Greek Commentary for Luke 7:48
As in Luke 7:47. Remain forgiven, Jesus means, in spite of the slur of the Pharisee. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 7:48
Mark and Matthew have “child” or “Son” Are forgiven This Doric form of the perfect passive indicative is for the Attic απεινται apheintai It appears also in Luke 5:23; Luke 7:47, Luke 7:48; John 20:23; 1 John 2:12. Mark 2:6; Matthew 9:2 have the present passive απιενται aphientai Possibly this man‘s malady was due to his sin as is sometimes true (John 5:14). The man had faith along with that of the four, but he was still a paralytic when Jesus forgave his sins. [source]