(A)While He was in (B)Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very (C)costly perfume of pure [a]nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head. But some were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred [b]denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me. For you always have (D)the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. She has done what she could; (E)she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. Truly I say to you, (F)wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 14:3 An aromatic oil extracted from an East Indian plant
  2. Mark 14:5 The denarius was equivalent to a day’s wages

Mary Anoints Jesus

12 (A)Jesus, therefore, six days before (B)the Passover, came to (C)Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they made Him a supper there, and (D)Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. (E)Mary then took a [a]pound of very costly (F)perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But (G)Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to [b]betray Him, *said, “Why was this perfume not sold for [c]three hundred denarii and given to poor people?” Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he (H)had the money box, he used to pilfer (I)what was put into it. Therefore Jesus said, “Let her alone, so that she may keep [d]it for (J)the day of My burial. (K)For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”

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Footnotes

  1. John 12:3 I.e. a Roman pound, equaling 12 oz
  2. John 12:4 Or hand Him over
  3. John 12:5 Equivalent to 11 months’ wages
  4. John 12:7 I.e. the custom of preparing the body for burial