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The Anointing at Bethany(A)

While He was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at supper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of ointment, a very costly spikenard. She broke the jar and poured the ointment on His head.

There were some with indignation within themselves, saying, “Why was this ointment wasted? It might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii[a] and given to the poor.” And they grumbled against her.

Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. You always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish, you may do good to them. But you will not always have Me. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel will be preached throughout the whole world, what she has done will also be spoken of as a memorial to her.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 14:5 A year’s wages.

The Anointing at Bethany(A)

12 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. They prepared a supper for Him there. Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pint[a] of very costly ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.

But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii[b] and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief. And having the money box, he used to steal what was put in it.

But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of My burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”

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Footnotes

  1. John 12:3 Gk. a litra, or half a liter.
  2. John 12:5 About a year’s wages.