Knowing The Word in Matthew 26:6-13

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

[Matthew provides an interlude. All four gospels have a story of a woman anointing Jesus. Matthew, Mark, and John all place it in Bethany, although John has his story before Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Luke 7:36-50, however, differs so much in setting and content, that it may be an earlier incident. It could be an attempt that had to be aborted and was later carried out.]

6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper [unknown to us, perhaps a man Jesus had cured], 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment [probably nard, imported from India and used to anoint the dead], and she poured it on his head [acknowledging Jesus was the Anointed One (Messiah)] as he reclined at table. 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. [Jesus’ disciples were regarding as waste what was a beautiful act of devotion.] 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. [Jesus tells us what this act actually means.] 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” [This is a remarkable use of the word gospel by Jesus, clearly suggesting that it contains the message of his passion.]