Jesus Anointed at Bethany

(A)Now when Jesus was at (B)Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,[a] a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and (C)given to the poor.” 10 But (D)Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For (E)you always have the poor with you, but (F)you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it (G)to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever (H)this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told (I)in memory of her.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 26:6 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13

Mary Anoints Jesus at Bethany

12 Six days before (A)the Passover, (B)Jesus therefore came to Bethany, (C)where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. (D)Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. (E)Mary therefore took a pound[a] of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii[b] and (F)given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and (G)having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it[c] for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. John 12:3 Greek litra; a litra (or Roman pound) was equal to about 11 1/2 ounces or 327 grams
  2. John 12:5 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
  3. John 12:7 Or Leave her alone; she intended to keep it

37 (A)And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and (B)wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If (C)this man were (D)a prophet, he (E)would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends

ESV Economy Bible, Large Print Softcover
ESV Economy Bible, Large Print Softcover
Retail: $7.99
Our Price: $4.99
Save: $3.00 (38%)
4.0 of 5.0 stars
ESV Economy Bible, Softcover, Case of 40
ESV Economy Bible, Softcover, Case of 40
Retail: $199.60
Our Price: $95.60
Save: $104.00 (52%)
ESV Economy Bible, Giant Print Softcover
ESV Economy Bible, Giant Print Softcover
Retail: $11.99
Our Price: $7.79
Save: $4.20 (35%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
ESV Thinline Bible--buffalo leather, brown
ESV Thinline Bible--buffalo leather, brown
Retail: $79.99
Our Price: $53.99
Save: $26.00 (33%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars