This painting depicts a Biblical tale about Simon hosting Jesus Christ for dinner. In front of the table, a sinful woman is overcome and washes the Messiah's feet with her tears before drying them with her hair and then anointing them with fragrance from the pot that lies beside her. Simon is incensed that Jesus is allowing the prostitute to touch him, but Christ admonishes him, saying that the woman's sins are forgiven. Some of Jesus' disciples look on through the window with astonished expressions.

The woman later becomes a consort of Jesus and is known as Mary Magdalene.