^37 (A)And there was a woman in the city who was a ^[a]sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, ³⁸ and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, and began kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. ³⁹ Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were ^(B)a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a ^[b]sinner!”

The Precious Ointment

^6 (A)Now when Jesus was in ^(B)Bethany, at the home of Simon ^[a]the Leper, ^7 (C)a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very expensive perfume, and she poured it on His head as He was reclining at the table. ⁸ But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, “Why this waste? ⁹ For this perfume could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” ¹⁰ But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you bothering the woman? For she has done a good deed for Me. ¹¹ For you always have ^(D)the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. ¹² For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it ^(E)to prepare Me for burial. ¹³ Truly I say to you, ^(F)wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”

^3 (A)While He was in ^(B)Bethany at the home of Simon ^[a]the Leper, He was reclining at the table, and a woman came with an alabaster vial of very ^(C)expensive perfume of pure ^[b]nard. She broke the vial and poured the perfume over His head. ⁴ But there were some indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? ⁵ For this perfume could have been sold for over three hundred ^[c]denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her. ⁶ But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? She has done a good deed for Me. ⁷ For you always have ^(D)the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. ⁸ She has done what she could; ^(E)she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. ⁹ Truly I say to you, ^(F)wherever the gospel is preached in the entire world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”