Indeed, table fellowship so strongly indicates status in the first-century Mediterranean world that anyone who chose to associate with men like Zacchaeus would be tainted. Jesus' decision to invite himself to dinner enacts profound forgiveness. Jesus includes Zacchaeus before he repents. He returns Zacchaeus to community through the dramatic intimacy of table fellowship, and Zacchaeus responds as if forgiven. He repents and radically departs from his alienating behavior.
Forgiveness precedes repentance.
Jesus' forgiveness allows us the freedom to face our lives enough to repent. Repentance connects Zacchaeus, connects us, with forgiveness. The woman is profoundly alienated. There is no one to protect her or to take her side. No one accompanies her, and no one offers her support.