Marbaniang, Domenic

The Gospels, especially the Synoptics (Matthew, Mark, Luke), distinctly use the term "sinners" as a class of people that were categorically avoided by the Jews. Usually, the term is used along with the term "tax collectors" (Matt.9:10; Mark 2:15; Luke 5:30) as if to indicate both of them as belonging to the same religiously unacceptable group. Luke introduces the woman with the alabaster box as "a sinner" (Luke 7:37). Why? Was everybody else not a sinner? Did Luke identify her belonging to an objective, separate sinner-class? Of course, Luke knew that there was none righteous. However, he uses the term as used by the Jews without buying into their theology. He meant to say that this was a woman who was identified in the public as one who belonged to the class of sinners, shunned by the religious Jews. He specifically mentions the title "sinner" to show that Christ came for such as these and that these were the ones who were justified because of t...