The Precious Ointment

(A)Now when Jesus was in (B)Bethany, at the home of Simon [a]the Leper, (C)a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very expensive perfume, and she poured it on His head as He was reclining at the table. But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, “Why this waste? For this perfume could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you bothering the woman? For she has done a good deed for Me. 11 For you always have (D)the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. 12 For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it (E)to prepare Me for burial. 13 Truly I say to you, (F)wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 26:6 I.e., a nickname; the man no doubt was cured

6-9 When Jesus was at Bethany, a guest of Simon the Leper, a woman came up to him as he was eating dinner and anointed him with a bottle of very expensive perfume. When the disciples saw what was happening, they were furious. “That’s criminal! This could have been sold for a lot and the money handed out to the poor.”

10-13 When Jesus realized what was going on, he intervened. “Why are you giving this woman a hard time? She has just done something wonderfully significant for me. You will have the poor with you every day for the rest of your lives, but not me. When she poured this perfume on my body, what she really did was anoint me for burial. You can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she has just done is going to be remembered and admired.”

Read full chapter