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.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

And he was in Beit-Anyah at the bais of Shimon the leper, reclining at tish, and an isha (woman) came, having an alabaster flask of costly perfume, pure nard, and having broken open the alabaster flask, she poured [it on] the head of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.

Now some were there who in ka’as (anger) said to one another, For what reason has this waste of ointment taken place?

For this was able to be sold for more than three hundred denarii and to be given to the aniyim. And they were reproaching her.

But Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, Leave her alone. Why are you bringing about difficulty for the isha? Has she not performed one of the Gemilut Chasadim on me?

For always the aniyim you have with you, and when you wish you are able to do maasim tovim for them, but me you do not always have. [DEVARIM 15:11]

With what she had she did all she could. She prepared ahead of time to anoint my basar for the kevurah (burial) [TEHILLIM 16:9-10; IYOV 19:25-27; YESHAYAH 53:9].

And, omein, I say to you, wherever the Besuras HaGeulah is proclaimed in kol haaretz, also what this isha did will be spoken in her memory.

Read full chapter