Mark 14:3-9
3 While He was in Bethany [as a guest] at the home of (a)Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, a (b)woman came with an alabaster vial of very costly and precious perfume of pure (c)nard; and she broke the vial and poured the perfume over His head.
4 But there were (d)some who were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted?
5 For this perfume might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii [a laborer’s wages for almost a year], and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her.
6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why are you bothering her and causing trouble? She has done a good and beautiful thing to Me.
7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do something good to them; but you will not always have Me.(A)
8 She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.
9 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, wherever the good news [regarding salvation] is proclaimed throughout the world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”
Footnotes:
a.
Mark 14:3: See note Matt 26:6.
b.
Mark 14:3: John the Apostle identifies this woman as Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus (Matt 26:7; John 12:3). Jesus was anointed in a similar way by an unnamed woman when he was in Galilee dining at the home of a Pharisee (Luke 7:36-39).
c.
Mark 14:3: See note Matt 26:7.
d.
Mark 14:4: Judas may have been the instigator of this complaint (John 12:4-6).