Martha and Mary

³⁸ While they were traveling, He entered a village, and a woman named Martha^(A) welcomed Him into her home.^{[a] 39} She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s^[b] feet^(B) and was listening to what He said.^{[c] 40} But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t You care^(C) that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.”^[d](D)

⁴¹ The Lord^[e] answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things,^{(E) 42} but one thing is necessary.^(F) Mary has made the right choice,^[f] and it will not be taken away from her.”

³¹ The Jews who were with her in the house consoling her saw that Mary got up quickly and went out. So they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb^(A) to cry there.

³² When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet^(B) and told Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died!”

The Anointing at Bethany

12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany^(A) where Lazarus^[a] was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead.^{(B) 2} So^(C) they gave a dinner for Him there; Martha^(D) was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. ³ Then Mary took a pound of fragrant oil—pure and expensive nard—anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped His feet with her hair.^(E) So the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

⁴ Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot^(F) (who was about to betray Him), said, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this fragrant oil sold for 300 denarii^[b](G) and given to the poor?” ⁶ He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief.^(H) He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.

⁷ Jesus answered, “Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of My burial.^{(I) 8} For you always have the poor with you,^(J) but you do not always have Me.”