The Anointing at Bethany

³ While^(A) He was in Bethany^(B) at the house of Simon who had a serious skin disease,^(C) as He was reclining at the table,^(D) a woman came with an alabaster jar of pure and expensive fragrant oil of nard. She broke the jar and poured it on His head.^{(E) 4} But some were expressing indignation to one another: “Why has this fragrant oil been wasted? ⁵ For this oil might have been sold for more than 300 denarii^(F) and given to the poor.”^(G) And they began to scold her.

⁶ Then Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a noble thing^(H) for Me. ⁷ You always have the poor^(I) with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have Me.^{(J) 8} She has done what she could; she has anointed My body^(K) in advance for burial.^{(L) 9} I assure you:^(M) Wherever the gospel^(N) is proclaimed in the whole world,^(O) what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”

The Anointing at Bethany

12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany^(A) where Lazarus^[a] was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead.^{(B) 2} So^(C) they gave a dinner for Him there; Martha^(D) was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. ³ Then Mary took a pound of fragrant oil—pure and expensive nard—anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped His feet with her hair.^(E) So the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

⁴ Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot^(F) (who was about to betray Him), said, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this fragrant oil sold for 300 denarii^[b](G) and given to the poor?” ⁶ He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief.^(H) He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.

⁷ Jesus answered, “Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of My burial.^{(I) 8} For you always have the poor with you,^(J) but you do not always have Me.”