Jesus Anointed at Bethany

In Simon the Leper’s house, a woman anoints Jesus with expensive perfume. The disciples object, but Jesus defends her act, says the poor remain with them while he does not, explains that she has prepared his body for burial, and promises that her deed will be told wherever the gospel goes.

W⁶hile Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, ⁷a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table. ⁸When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, “Why this waste? ⁹This perfume could have been sold at a high price, and the money given to the poor.” ¹⁰Aware of this, Jesus asked, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful deed to Me. ¹¹The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me. ¹²By pouring this perfume on Me, she has prepared My body for burial. ¹³Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”