The Anointing at Bethany^(A)

³ 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.

⁴ There were some with indignation within themselves, saying, “Why was this ointment wasted? ⁵ It might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii^[a] and given to the poor.” And they grumbled against her.

⁶ Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. ⁷ You always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish, you may do good to them. But you will not always have Me. ⁸ She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. ⁹ 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.”