The following is a combination of the accounts given in the 4 Gospels
Math 266-16
Mk 143-11
Lu 736-50 221-6
Jn 121-11
Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from
the dead. One of the Pharisees, known as Simon the Leper, invited Jesus to a dinner of honour. Martha
served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.
When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house,
she brought an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. Mary broke the pint jar of pure nard and poured
the perfume on his head and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with
her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. And the house was
filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would
know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is - that she is a sinner." Jesus answered him,
"Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. "Two men owed money to a certain
money-lender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to
pay him back, so he cancelled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon replied,
"I suppose the one who had the bigger debt cancelled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said. Then he
turned towards the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not
give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did
not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not
put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been
forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." Then Jesus said to her, "Your
sins are forgiven." The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
And the disciples were indignant and said to one another, "Why this waste?" And they rebuked her harshly.
One of his disciples, Judas Iscariot objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold at a high price - more than a
year's wages - and the money given to the poor." He did not say this because he cared about the poor but
because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? Leave her alone. It was intended that
she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you
will always have with you and you can help them any time you want, but you will not always have me.
When she poured this perfume on my body, she did what she could to prepare me for burial. I tell you the
truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory
of her." And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the
officers of the temple guard and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" Now
the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers
of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. They were
delighted and counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to
hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also
to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,
for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.
In each of the Gospels there is a similar incident where Jesus is anointed by a woman.
Math 26 and Mk 14 are obviously the same, but Lu 7 and Jn 12 give some different details.
Below is a summary which suggests that the differences are not irreconcilable
and all four writers are giving an account of the same event that occurred in Bethany
in the week before Jesus was crucified.
[M M = Matthew and Mark Lu = Luke Jn = John]
When?
| M M Lu Jn |
Two days before Passover "After this Jesus travelled about from one town and village to another" 81 Six days before the Passover Jesus arrived at Bethany. (i.e. on Saturday) "Next day" (Sunday) the triumphal entry. Jn 121,12 |
This is probably the most difficult aspect to reconcile. The Gospels were not written to a strict chronological account of the events, especially Luke. (See Index at the end of Combined Gospel). Matthew, Mark and John all place the anointing in the week before the last Passover. Luke records the event suggesting in might have been earlier and does not tie it being at any Passover. He was writing about how Jesus was ‘a friend of sinners’, and this would have been an excellent example of it. The “After this Jesus travelled about from one town and village to another..” in Lu 81 could well be after the teaching about ‘John Baptist preaching repentance and Jesus eating and drinking with tax collectors and the Lord’s desire for them to find forgiveness.’ in Lu 733-35; not after the story of the anointing. Luke here was more concerned about forgiveness, the other about the anointing before Calvary. The difference between Matthew/Mark and John is more about precisely which day it occured. Matthew and Mark say it was 2 days before Passover. In John 121 Jesus arrives in Bethany 6 days before Passover. This event took place in Bethany, but he does not say it was on the same day that he arrived. The ‘next day’ of Jn 1212 and his triumphal entry into Jerusalem would refer to the next day after his arrival at Bethany, i.e. on the Sunday, five days before Passover.
Where?
| M M Lu Jn |
Bethany Pharisee's house Bethany |
In Lu 7 & 8 Jesus was clearly in the Galilee area. Capernaum 71 Nain 711 also 81,19,22,26 etc
But see above 'When' which indicates that event did not happen in Galilee, but later on during the last week
of his ministry near Jerusalem.
Whose Home?
| M M Lu Jn |
Simon the Leper One of the Pharisees. Simon -- |
Simon was, and still is, a fairly common name; but Simon the (healed) leper could have been Simon the Pharisee. The accounts are not contradictory, nor do they force the necessity of two people and two events.
Who?
| M M Lu Jn |
A woman A woman who had lived a sinful life Mary - also confirmed in 112 |
Luke needed to reveal the woman's previous activity else the incident would loose its purpose of showing Jesus as the friend of sinners. Matthew, Mark and Luke do not name her as she was probably still living, and they had no wish to shame her. By the time John wrote maybe she had died or he was writing to a different audience, in any case he names her, but not her previously sinful life. Whatever the reasons, there is still not contradiction here. Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha, was certainly a 'woman' and may also have once been 'a sinful woman'. If I am wrong, I do not mean to tarnish her reputation and I hope she will forgive me.
What was used?
| M M Lu Jn |
An alabaster jar of very expensive perfume An alabaster jar of perfume A pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume |
No problems here. Only Mark mentions that the jar was also broken.
How Used?
| M M Lu Jn |
Poured on his head At his feet ... wiped them with her hair ... and poured perfume on them Poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair |
This is not difficult to reconcile if in fact she poured the perfume on both his head and his feet. It is just that Matthew and Mark report one part of the anointing and Luke and John another part. I do not know the 'Jewish roots' of the anointing. When was one used and when was the other? Is it significant that it may have been both?
Criticism?
| M M Lu Jn |
Disciples asked, "Why this waste ... ?" Simon, "If this man knew ... what kind of woman she is ... " Judas, "Why wasn't this perfume sold ... ?" |
Criticism is very infectious. If one starts, many delight to follow. All the disciples thought it was a waste; especially Judas; just think what he might have used it for! (not the poor). And to Simon, the Pharisee, to have such a display of affection by an ex prostitute, and in his house, well, it is not surprising that he was embarrassed and offended. His dignity had been shattered. How could he look his fellow Pharisees in the eye when this story was out? He was even ashamed to ask his servants to wash the feet of Jesus, his invited guest, in case it offended his peers. And he certainly would not do it himself. If only he had known who it was that he had invited. Jesus looked so 'ordinary'; not like his imagination of what the Messiah would be like. But Mary knew who he was - no wonder Jesus wanted this story told wherever the gospel was preached. When Jesus honoured the lady (Math 2610-13) the disciples were humbled; and they received the correction; but Judas was offended (Math 2614-16). For him this was the last straw, so he immediately went to the chief priests and sold his Master for the price of a dead slave! (Exd 2132)
Why done?
| M M Lu Jn |
To prepare me for burial She loved much. (because "her many sins have been forgiven") For the day of my burial |
In Matthew, Mark and John, Jesus makes it very clear that it was an act ordained by God to anoint him for his imminent burial. No one else would have the opportunity. And how fitting that it should be by Mary, who had been such a publicly obvious sinner, wholly forgiven and made righteous by the Son of God. This reason would not have been known to the woman. Her motive was one of appreciation for personal forgiveness. Everyone else had rejected and despised her (except when they wanted to 'use' her). But Jesus accepted, loved and even honoured her. Why not? She had done such a beautiful thing. Luke gives the reason for the anointing from the woman's view. The other three gospels give the reason from God's view point.