Matthew 26:6-13

Expanded Bible

Perfume for Jesus’ Burial^(A)

⁶ Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon, ·who had a skin disease [^Lthe leper; ^Cfor leprosy, see 8:2; Simon may have been healed by Jesus.]. ⁷ While Jesus was there, a woman approached him with an alabaster ·jar [vial] filled with expensive perfume. She poured this perfume on Jesus’ head while he was ·eating [^Lreclining; ^Cthe posture for a banquet or dinner party].

⁸ His ·followers [disciples] were ·upset [indignant] when they saw the woman do this. They asked, “Why waste that perfume? ⁹ It could have been sold for a great deal of money and the money given to the poor.”

¹⁰ Knowing what had happened, Jesus said, “Why are you ·troubling [bothering; criticizing] this woman? She did an ·excellent thing [beautiful/good deed] for me. ¹¹ You will always have the poor with you [Deut. 15:11], but you will not always have me. ¹² This woman poured perfume on my body to prepare me for burial. ¹³ I tell you the truth, wherever the ·Good News [Gospel] is preached in all the world, what this woman has done will be told, and people will remember her.”