Explanation: A few days before his crucifixion, Jesus came to supper at the house of Simon the leper. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were there, and Martha was serving. Mary took a container of very pure and costly ointment and anointed Jesus feet with it and wiped his feet with her hair. Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus, spoke against this act as a waste of ointment which could have been sold and given to the poor. The others in the room agreed with him, except for Jesus who commended the act and noted it as a memorial for Mary. Many of the common people came to see Jesus and Lazarus, but the chief priests took counsel about how they might be able to kill both Lazarus and Jesus.

^{Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 11:55 - 12:11     John 11:55} And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves. ^{John 11:56} Then sought they for Jesus, and spoke among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think you, that he will not come to the feast? ^{John 11:57} Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he was, he should show it, that they might take him. ^{John 12:1} Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead, ^{John 12:2} There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. ^{Mark 14:3} And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman [^{John 12:3} Mary] having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she broke the box, and poured it on his head. ^{Matthew 26:7} There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious [^{John 12:3} very costly] ointment, [^{Mark 14:3} spikenard and she broke the box, and poured it on his head] as he sat at meat [^{John 12:3} and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.] ^{John 12:4} Then said one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, ^{John 12:5} Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? ^{John 12:6} This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bore what was put therein. ^{Mark 14:4} And there were some [(including) ^{Matthew 26:8} his disciples] that had indignation within themselves, and said, [^{Matthew 26:8} To what purpose] was this waste of the ointment made? ^{Matthew 26:10} When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble you the woman? for she has wrought a good work upon me. ^{Mark 14:6} And Jesus said, Let her alone; ^{Mark 14:8} She has done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. ^{Matthew 26:12} For in that she has poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. ^{John 12:8} For the poor always you have with you; but me you have not always. ^{Mark 14:7} and whensoever you will you may do them good: ^{Matthew 26:13} Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. ^{John 12:9} Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. ^{John 12:10} But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; ^{John 12:11} Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

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