Matthew 26:7-9
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The text highlights the specific container – an alabaster flask – which was crafted to preserve expensive, volatile oils and sealed to prevent evaporation, making its contents exceptionally valuable. This detail underscores the immense sacrifice the woman made, using not just the precious ointment but also the costly vessel itself.
a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is dining at the home of Simon the leper in Bethany, just two days before the Passover. While Jesus is there, a woman, later identified as Mary (sister of Lazarus), interrupts the meal by anointing Jesus' head with a very expensive perfume. This act provokes anger and criticism from some disciples, who see it as a wasteful extravagance that could have been used for the poor.
Imagine an offering so valuable it sparks outrage. This wasn't just perfume; it was a profound statement of love and faith.
The woman brought an "alabaster flask of very expensive ointment." Scholars note the alabaster flask was often sealed, meaning breaking it was necessary to use the contents, making the act irreversible and complete. The ointment itself, identified by other Gospels as "nard," was incredibly precious – likely imported from distant lands, signifying immense value. It was so costly that the disciples calculated it could have been sold for a laborer's yearly wage, highlighting the sheer extravagance of the woman's act.
This wasn't just a display of wealth, but a deliberate choice to pour out her most valuable possession on Jesus. It speaks volumes about her perception of Jesus' worth.
Was this woman simply showing hospitality, or did she understand something deeper about Jesus' impending fate?
While anointing guests was a custom, Jesus reveals a deeper meaning behind this specific act. He states, "she has done it to prepare me for my burial." This shifts the focus from a mere act of honor to a prophetic gesture.
Jesus, knowing His imminent death, saw this extravagant outpouring not as a waste, but as an anointing for His burial. It's a powerful reminder that even in moments of apparent extravagance, there can be profound spiritual significance. This woman, perhaps uniquely among those present, grasped the gravity of Jesus' mission and responded with an act that prefigured His ultimate sacrifice.
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Some acts are so impactful they echo through eternity. This woman's selfless devotion became part of the eternal Gospel.
Jesus declares, "Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in remembrance of her." This is an astonishing promise! Jesus ensures that this act of love and prophetic foresight would not be forgotten.
It teaches us that God sees and values acts of selfless devotion, especially those done for Christ. While the disciples saw waste, Jesus saw an eternal act that would be woven into the very fabric of the Gospel message. Our faithful, even if seemingly extravagant, acts of love for Jesus have eternal significance and are remembered by God and proclaimed through His Word.
Understand the original words
alabastron · Greek Noun
A container made of a translucent stone often used for costly perfumes or ointments; it symbolizes high value and honor in an act of devotion.
myron · Greek Noun
A substance used for medicinal, aromatic, or ritual purposes (like anointing for burial); in Scripture, it often symbolizes an act of extravagant worship or preparation for death.
mathētēs · Greek Noun
A formal designation for those who follow a teacher; in the New Testament, it refers to the personal followers of Jesus who were called to learn from Him and imitate His life.
aganakteō · Greek Verb
A feeling of deep resentment, displeasure, or anger at what is perceived to be an injustice or an inappropriate act.
apōleia · Greek Noun
An act of squandering or misusing resources; in a spiritual context, it refers to using something valuable in a way that others perceive as purposeless or lacking in utility.
ptōchos · Greek Adjective/Noun
Those lacking material resources; in Scripture, the poor are often the objects of God's special care, and believers are consistently called to support them.
This intimate act of devotion by Mary, set against the backdrop of escalating plots against Jesus and His impending death, highlights a profound moment of love and foresight just days before the Passover.
c. AD 28
Jesus visits Mary and Martha
Jesus visits his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in Bethany. This is likely the occasion John records where Mary anoints Jesus' feet.
c. AD 30
Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead
Jesus miraculously raises his friend Lazarus from the dead, a powerful sign that deeply impresses many but also intensifies the fear and hatred of the Jewish religious authorities.
c. AD 30
The plot against Jesus
The chief priests and scribes, alarmed by Jesus' growing popularity, especially after the resurrection of Lazarus, gather in council to devise a plan to arrest and kill him, though they hesitate to do so during the Passover festival.
c. AD 30— this verse
Supper in Bethany
Jesus attends a supper in Bethany, possibly at the home of Simon the leper. A woman, identified by John as Mary (Lazarus' sister), anoints Jesus' head with very expensive perfume.
c. AD 30
Judas's betrayal
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' disciples, objects to the 'waste' of the expensive ointment, revealing his dishonest motives and likely beginning to finalize his plan to betray Jesus to the authorities.
c. AD 30
Jesus predicts his death
Jesus explains that the woman's act was to prepare his body for burial, directly linking the event to his impending crucifixion and death, which will occur shortly after the Passover feast.
This passage is the most direct parallel, identifying the woman as Mary, the sister of Lazarus, and detailing the event from a different perspective, highlighting Jesus' defense of her actions against Judas' criticism.
Luke 7:36-50This account describes a similar act of anointing Jesus' feet by a sinful woman, demonstrating a recurring theme of extravagant devotion and its powerful impact on forgiveness and love.
Mark 14:3-9Mark's Gospel provides a parallel account, emphasizing the costly nature of the ointment and Jesus' prophetic interpretation that the act was a preparation for His burial, echoing the significance found in Matthew.
Song of Solomon 1:12This verse, mentioning 'my perfume sends out its fragrance,' connects to the rich, aromatic nature of the ointment used, suggesting a poetic foreshadowing of Christ's own preciousness and the fragrant impact of His sacrifice.
Exodus 30:22-33This Old Testament passage describes the anointing oil used for consecrating priests and sacred objects, providing a background for understanding the sacred and ceremonial significance of anointing in biblical tradition.
vincentMatthew 26:7: "There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat."
An alabaster box (ἀλάβαστρον)Rev., cruse; flask in margin. Lit., an alabaster, just as we call a drinking-vessel made of glass a glass. Luther renders glass. It was a kind of cruet, having a cylindrical form at the top. Pliny compares these vessels to a closed rosebud, and says that ointments are best preserved in them.
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…
The text highlights the specific container – an alabaster flask – which was crafted to preserve expensive, volatile oils and sealed to prevent evaporation, making its contents exceptionally valuable. This detail underscores the immense sacrifice the woman made, using not just the precious ointment but also the costly vessel itself.
Jesus is dining at the home of Simon the leper in Bethany, just two days before the Passover. While Jesus is there, a woman, later identified as Mary (sister of Lazarus), interrupts the meal by anointing Jesus' head with a very expensive perfume. This act provokes anger and criticism from some disciples, who see it as a wasteful extravagance that could have been used for the poor.
Jesus is dining at the home of Simon the leper in Bethany, just two days before the Passover. While Jesus is there, a woman, later identified as Mary (sister of Lazarus), interrupts the meal by anointing Jesus' head with a very expensive perfume. This act provokes anger and criticism from some disciples, who see it as a wasteful extravagance that could have been used for the poor.
"a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this could have been sold fo…" — The text highlights the specific container – an alabaster flask – which was crafted to preserve expensive, volatile oils and sealed to prevent evaporation, making its contents exceptionally valuabl…
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Last reviewed October 2026
