In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't just acknowledging the woman's generosity; he's revealing a deeper spiritual truth. By saying she prepared him for burial, he's pointing out that her act, even if she didn't fully grasp it, prophetically symbolized the embalming of his body after death. This highlights how God can use even unwitting actions to fulfill His divine purposes.
In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just days before Passover, religious leaders plot to arrest Jesus secretly, while Jesus is dining with friends in Bethany. A woman dramatically pours a very expensive ointment over Jesus' head, sparking anger and accusations of waste from his disciples. Jesus defends her action, explaining it's a special preparation for his impending burial.
Why did Jesus interpret this extravagant act of devotion as preparation for His death, rather than just a display of love?
This moment is far more than just an act of kindness; it’s a prophetic declaration. Jesus, with His divine insight, understands the woman's action on a deeper level than even she might have fully grasped. He reveals that her pouring out of precious ointment wasn't just about honoring Him in the present, but about performing a sacred duty typically reserved for the deceased.
A Sacred Service
In ancient Jewish custom, anointing a body with fragrant oils was a crucial part of preparing someone for burial. It was a final act of honor, meant to preserve and offer a pleasant aroma. By stating, "she has done it to prepare me for burial," Jesus is highlighting that this woman's generous act is fulfilling a role traditionally assigned to those mourning the dead.
Foreshadowing the Sacrifice
This anointing, therefore, becomes a symbolic act, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice He is about to make. It’s a tangible sign that His impending death isn't an accident or a defeat, but a planned, sacred event. The fragrance of the ointment isn't just about pleasantness; it points to the unique and potent sacrifice that will bring life to the world.
The disciples were outraged, calling this an act of waste. How does Jesus reframe this perceived extravagance?
The disciples saw a wasteful expenditure of valuable resources. Their hearts were focused on the practical – the money could have fed the poor. But Jesus saw something more profound: a divine purpose unfolding.
Ask a follow-up
The Disciples' Limited View
The disciples, though followers of Jesus, were still operating with earthly logic. They saw the cost of the ointment and the immediate needs of the poor, and judged the woman's action through that lens. Their anger and murmuring reveal a misunderstanding of the unique moment and Jesus' mission.
Jesus' Higher Perspective
Jesus gently rebukes their judgment, not by dismissing the importance of the poor, but by elevating the significance of this particular act. He points out that while the poor will always be with them, His time is short. This wasn't about ordinary charity; it was about a singular, sacred event connected to His death and the salvation of the world. He validates the woman's extravagant love as an act that pleased God, even if its full meaning was only clear to Him.
Understand the original words
myron · Greek Noun
A fragrant, often expensive oil used for medicinal, cosmetic, or funerary purposes. In Scripture, it is used for anointing people and objects set apart for sacred service or honor.
entaphiasmos · Greek Noun
The interment or placement of a corpse in a grave. Biblically, this represents the finality of death and the transition of the body to the ground.
Understanding the ancient custom of anointing the dead adds profound weight to Jesus' words, revealing that the woman's generous act, though perhaps not fully comprehended by her, was a divinely appointed foreshadowing of His imminent burial and the salvific purpose of His death.
c. 700 BC - 30 BC
Jewish tradition of anointing the dead
The practice of anointing the deceased with precious oils and spices was a significant part of Jewish funeral rites, intended to preserve the body and honor the deceased.
c. AD 30
Jesus' public ministry nears its end
Jesus has been teaching and healing throughout Galilee and Judea, drawing large crowds, but also attracting the opposition of religious leaders.
c. AD 30
Chief priests and elders plot Jesus' death
The religious authorities, fearing Jesus' growing influence and the potential for popular uprising, actively seek a way to arrest and kill him, though they hesitate to do so during the Passover festival.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus accepts an invitation to Bethany
Jesus stays in Bethany, hosted by Simon the leper, just days before the Passover feast and his impending crucifixion.
c. AD 30
The anointing of Jesus
A woman, identified as Mary in the Gospel of John, anoints Jesus with a very expensive perfume, an act that Jesus interprets as preparing his body for burial.
c. AD 30
Jesus' prediction of His death and resurrection
Jesus uses the woman's act of anointing him to once again teach His disciples about His impending death and resurrection, highlighting the inevitability and purpose of His sacrifice.
This passage mentions Mary, the sister of Lazarus, who is widely believed to be the same woman who anointed Jesus. It sets the stage for her deep devotion and love for Jesus.
John 12:7Jesus' response here directly addresses the 'waste' of the ointment, explaining that Mary was saving it for His burial, mirroring the statement in Matthew 26:12. This highlights Jesus' understanding of the act's deeper significance.
2 Chronicles 16:14This verse describes King Asa's funeral, noting that the body was laid in a bed filled with sweet odors and various spices prepared by apothecaries. This ancient practice of anointing the dead with perfumes connects directly to Jesus' interpretation of the woman's act as preparation for His burial.
This verse speaks of women preparing spices and ointments for Jesus' body after His death, and then resting on the Sabbath. It shows the continuation of the practice of preparing bodies with aromatic substances, reinforcing the context of Jesus' burial preparation.
calvinMatthew 26:1-13: "And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,"
- And it happened when Jesus had finished all these discourses, he said to his disciples, 2. You know that after two days is the passover; and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. 3. Then were assembled the chief priests, and scribes, and elders of the people, in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4. And entered into consultation how they would take Jesus b…
barnesMatthew 26:12: "For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial."
She did it for my burial - It is not to be supposed that Mary understood clearly that he was then about to die - for the apostles, it seems, did not fully comprehend it, or that she intended it for his burial; but she had done it as an act of kindness and love, to show her regard for her Lord. He said that it was a proper preparation for his burial. In ancient times, bodies were anointed and embalme…
Jesus isn't just acknowledging the woman's generosity; he's revealing a deeper spiritual truth. By saying she prepared him for burial, he's pointing out that her act, even if she didn't fully grasp it, prophetically symbolized the embalming of his body after death. This highlights how God can use even unwitting actions to fulfill His divine purposes.
Just days before Passover, religious leaders plot to arrest Jesus secretly, while Jesus is dining with friends in Bethany. A woman dramatically pours a very expensive ointment over Jesus' head, sparking anger and accusations of waste from his disciples. Jesus defends her action, explaining it's a special preparation for his impending burial.
Just days before Passover, religious leaders plot to arrest Jesus secretly, while Jesus is dining with friends in Bethany. A woman dramatically pours a very expensive ointment over Jesus' head, sparking anger and accusations of waste from his disciples. Jesus defends her action, explaining it's a special preparation for his impending burial.
"In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial." — Jesus isn't just acknowledging the woman's generosity; he's revealing a deeper spiritual truth. By saying she prepared him for burial, he's pointing out that her act, even if she didn't fully grasp i…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026