⁶ Jesus now proceeded to Bethany, to the home of Simon the leper. ⁷ While he was eating, a woman came in with a bottle of very expensive perfume and poured it over his head.

^8-9 The disciples were indignant. “What a waste of good money,” they said. “Why, she could have sold it for a fortune and given it to the poor.”

¹⁰ Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why are you criticizing her? For she has done a good thing to me. ¹¹ You will always have the poor among you, but you won’t always have me. ¹² She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. ¹³ And she will always be remembered for this deed. The story of what she has done will be told throughout the whole world, wherever the Good News is preached.”

³ Then Mary took a jar of costly perfume made from essence of nard, and anointed Jesus’ feet with it and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with fragrance.

⁴ But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples—the one who would betray him—said, ⁵ “That perfume was worth a fortune. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” ⁶ Not that he cared for the poor, but he was in charge of the disciples’ funds and often dipped into them for his own use!

⁷ Jesus replied, “Let her alone. She did it in preparation for my burial. ⁸ You can always help the poor, but I won’t be with you very long.”

³⁹ Her sister Mary sat on the floor, listening to Jesus as he talked.