The Anointing at Bethany

Free Bible Version (FBV)

Mat 26:6–13

6 While Jesus was staying at Simon the leper's house in Bethany,
7 a woman came over to him carrying an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. She poured it on Jesus' head while he was sitting eating. But when the disciples saw what she did, they were upset.
8 “What a terrible waste!” they objected.
9 “This perfume could've been sold for a lot of money and given to the poor!”
10 Jesus was aware of what was going on and told them, “Why are you upset with this woman? She's done something wonderful for me!
11 You'll always have the poor with you, but you won't always have me.
12 By pouring this perfume on my body she's prepared me for burial.
13 I tell you the truth: wherever in the world this good news is spread, the story of what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”

3 Meanwhile Jesus was in Bethany, eating a meal at Simon the leper's home. A woman came in with an alabaster jar of very expensive pure nard perfume. She broke the jar open and poured the perfume on Jesus' head.
4 Some of those who were there became annoyed and said, “Why waste this perfume?
5 It could've been sold for a year's wages and the money given to the poor.” They were angry with her.
6 But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone! Why are you criticizing her for doing something beautiful to me?
7 You'll always have the poor with you, and you can help them whenever you want. But you won't always have me with you.
8 She did what she could: she anointed my body in anticipation of my burial.
9 I tell you the truth: wherever the good news is spread in the world, people will remember what she did.”

1 Six days before the Passover Jesus went to Bethany, to the home of Lazarus who had been raised from the dead.
2 There a dinner was arranged in his honor. Martha helped serve the food while Lazarus sat at the table with Jesus and the others guests.
3 Mary brought a pint of pure nard perfume and anointed Jesus' feet, wiping them dry with her hair. The scent of the perfume filled the whole house.
4 But one of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, who would later betray Jesus, asked,
5 “Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth three hundred denarii.”
6 He wasn't saying this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was the one who looked after the disciples' money and he often took some for himself.
7 “Don't criticize her,” Jesus replied. “She did this in preparation for the day of my burial.
8 You'll always have the poor here with you, but you won't always have me here.”