John 12:3-8
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
3 Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus[a] and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.(A) 4 Then Judas the Iscariot, one [of] his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, 5 “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages[b] and given to the poor?” 6 He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions.(B) 7 So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial.[c] 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”(C)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 12:3 The feet of Jesus: so Mk 14:3; but in Mt 26:6, Mary anoints Jesus’ head as a sign of regal, messianic anointing.
- 12:5 Days’ wages: literally, “denarii.” A denarius is a day’s wage in Mt 20:2; see note on Jn 6:7.
- 12:7 Jesus’ response reflects the rabbinical discussion of what was the greatest act of mercy, almsgiving or burying the dead. Those who favored proper burial of the dead thought it an essential condition for sharing in the resurrection.
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