Jesus Anointed at Bethany

3 Meanwhile Jesus was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the house of Simon the leper, and a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment made of pure nard. She broke the alabaster jar and poured the ointment on his head. 4 But some were expressing indignation to one [fn]another, saying, “Why has this ointment been wasted? 5 It could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money could have been given to the poor.” So they began scolding her. 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you causing trouble for her? She has done a good deed to me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and you [fn]can do good to them whenever you want, but you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand to prepare me for burial. 9 Truly I say to you, wherever [fn]this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial to her.”