(A)While He was in (B)Bethany at the home of Simon [a]the Leper, He was reclining at the table, and a woman came with an alabaster vial of very (C)expensive perfume of pure [b]nard. She broke the vial and poured the perfume over His head. But there were some indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? For this perfume could have been sold for over three hundred [c]denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? She has done a good deed for Me. For you always have (D)the poor with you, and whenever you want, 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 entire world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 14:3 I.e., a nickname; the man no doubt was cured
  2. Mark 14:3 An aromatic oil extracted from an East Indian plant
  3. Mark 14:5 The denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer

The Anointing at Bethany(A)

(B)And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly [a]oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred (C)denarii and given to the poor.” And they (D)criticized[b] her sharply.

But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. (E)For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; (F)but Me you do not have always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is (G)preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 14:3 Perfume of pure nard
  2. Mark 14:5 scolded