Mary Anoints Jesus

(Matthew 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9; Luke 7:36–50)

12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, [the hometown of] Lazarus, whom [He] had raised from [the] dead. 2 So they hosted a dinner for [Jesus] there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[fn] of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, [and] she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped [them] with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii[fn] and [the money] given to [the] poor?” 6 [Judas] did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into [it].

7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She has kept [this perfume] in preparation for the day of My burial. 8 The poor you will always have with you,[fn] but {you will} not always have Me.”