{A woman which was in the city, a sinner} (gun(8820)h(8874)is en
t(8869) polei hamart(936c)os). Probably in Capernaum. The use of h(8874)is
means "Who was of such a character as to be" (cf.  8:3 ) and so
more than merely the relative h(885c), who, that is, "who was a
sinner in the city," a woman of the town, in other words, and
known to be such. Hamart(936c)os, from hamartan(935c), to sin, means
devoted to sin and uses the same form for feminine and masculine.
It is false and unjust to Mary Magdalene, introduced as a new
character in  Lu 8:2 , to identify this woman with her. Luke
would have no motive in concealing her name here and the life of
a courtesan would be incompatible with the sevenfold possession
of demons. Still worse is it to identify this courtesan not only
with Mary Magdalene, but also with Mary of Bethany simply because
it is a Simon who gives there a feast to Jesus when Mary of
Bethany does a beautiful deed somewhat like this one here ( Mr
14:3-9  Mt 26:6-13  Joh 12:2-8 ). Certainly Luke knew full well
the real character of Mary of Bethany ( 10:38-42 ) so beautifully
pictured by him. But a falsehood, once started, seems to have
more lives than the cat's proverbial nine. The very name
Magdalene has come to mean a repentant courtesan. But we can at
least refuse to countenance such a slander on Mary Magdalene and
on Mary of Bethany. This sinful woman had undoubtedly repented
and changed her life and wished to show her gratitude to Jesus
who had rescued her. Her bad reputation as a harlot clung to her
and made her an unwelcome visitor in the Pharisee's house. {When
she knew} (epignousa). Second aorist active participle from
epigin(9373)k(935c), to know fully, to recognize. She came in by a
curious custom of the time that allowed strangers to enter a
house uninvited at a feast, especially beggars seeking a gift.
This woman was an intruder whereas Mary of Bethany was an invited
guest. "Many came in and took their places on the side seats,
uninvited and yet unchallenged. They spoke to those at table on
business or the news of the day, and our host spoke freely to
them" (Trench in his _Parables_, describing a dinner at a
Consul's house at Damietta). {He was sitting at meat}
(katakeitai). Literally, he is reclining (present tense
retained in indirect discourse in Greek). {An alabaster cruse of
ointment} (alabastron murou). See on 烘t 26:7| for discussion
of alabastron and murou.