Lance Carson
The anointing of Jesus by a woman with a jar of costly perfume is recorded in all four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), with some suggesting there were two or even three separate occasions of anointing. The event is often associated with Mary Magdalene, but there is no biblical text identifying her as such. The anointing is also linked with Jesus' imminent death and burial. While there are differences in the accounts, such as the location and body part anointed, the core elements remain the same: a woman, an expensive perfume, and an objection from onlookers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Anointings | Two or three separate occasions |
| Number of Women | One |
| Location | Bethany, Simon the Leper's home, Simon the Pharisee's home |
| Time | Two or six days before Passover, after Lazarus was raised from the grave |
| Body Part | Head, feet |
| Cost of Perfume | 300 denarii |
| Gospel Accounts | Matthew, Mark, Luke, John |
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What You'll Learn
The woman who anointed Jesus is unnamed in three of the four gospels
The story of Jesus being anointed with perfume is recorded in all four Gospels, with some sources suggesting there were two or even three separate anointing occasions. The woman who anointed Jesus is unnamed in three of the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. John identifies the woman as Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus.
In the Gospel of Matthew, the woman is described as coming to the house of Simon the Leper in Bethany, two days before Passover. She anoints Jesus' head with a costly ointment, which some of the disciples object to due to its high price.
Mark's Gospel also takes place in Bethany, near the end of Jesus' ministry. An unnamed woman comes to the house of Simon the Leper and anoints Jesus' head with a costly ointment of nard. In this account, Jesus explicitly connects the anointing to his burial, and his blessing is similar to that in Matthew's Gospel.
The Gospel of Luke features an unnamed sinful woman, possibly a prostitute or someone with a bad reputation, in the northern regions of Nain and Capernaum. In this account, the woman anoints Jesus' feet and wipes them with her hair, a gesture that is seen as exceptionally intimate. Luke's version also includes the Parable of the Two Debtors.
While the woman who anointed Jesus is unnamed in most of the Gospels, the iconography of her act has traditionally been associated with Mary Magdalene. However, there is no biblical text identifying her as such, and modern scholars generally agree that the Mary in John's Gospel is a different character from the sinful woman in Luke.
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The woman is described as a sinner and possibly a prostitute
The story of Jesus being anointed with perfume is recorded in all four Gospels, with some differences in the accounts. While the woman who anointed Jesus is not named in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, she is identified as Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, in John's Gospel.
In Luke's Gospel, the woman is described as a "
Luke's account describes an unnamed sinful woman anointing Jesus' feet with her tears and hair in the northern region, specifically in the towns of Nain and Capernaum. This event took place about a year before Jesus' death and included the Parable of the Two Debtors, which emphasized Jesus' message of forgiveness.
While the woman is not explicitly identified as a prostitute in the Gospels, the interpretation of her as such adds depth to the story and highlights Jesus' acceptance and grace toward those who were considered outcasts by society.
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The woman uses her tears, as well as perfume
The story of Jesus being anointed with perfume is recorded in all four Gospels, with some differences in the accounts. In the Gospel of Luke, the woman who anoints Jesus is described as a "sinner" or a sinful woman, possibly a prostitute or someone with a bad reputation. This woman uses her tears, in addition to perfume, in an act of worship and gratitude.
According to Luke's account, the woman brought an alabaster jar of fragrant oil or perfume and stood at Jesus' feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she used her hair to wipe them. She then kissed his feet and anointed them with the perfume. This act symbolised her great love and appreciation for Jesus, recognising his unequalled value and expressing her devotion.
The use of tears in this anointing is unique to Luke's version of the story. The inclusion of the Parable of the Two Debtors in the middle of the event is also a distinctive feature of Luke's gospel. The woman's tears and the parable emphasise the theme of forgiveness of sins, which is a central message in this account.
While the other gospels (Matthew, Mark, and John) do not mention the woman's tears, they also describe an anointing with costly perfume. In these accounts, the focus is on the preparation for Jesus' burial and the criticism of the disciples regarding the waste of expensive perfume. However, Jesus defends the woman's act, explaining its significance in light of his impending crucifixion.
The woman's use of her tears, along with perfume, in Luke's account, adds a layer of emotion and devotion to the story of Jesus' anointing. It highlights the woman's sincere repentance and gratitude, which leads to her sins being forgiven by Jesus. This detail has been interpreted as a powerful symbol of her transformation and redemption through her encounter with Jesus.
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The perfume is said to be worth 300 denarii
The anointing of Jesus is recorded in all four Gospels, with some differences in the accounts. In the Gospel of John, Mary anoints Jesus' feet with costly perfume, specifically said to be worth 300 denarii. This was a year's wages and considered extremely expensive. Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' disciples, objects to this, suggesting that the perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor. However, Jesus defends Mary's action, saying that it was done in preparation for his burial.
The Gospel of Luke also mentions an anointing of Jesus' feet by a woman, but she is not named and is described as a "sinner" or a prostitute. This event takes place in the northern regions of Nain and Capernaum. The woman's tears mix with the perfume as she cries. This version includes the Parable of the Two Debtors.
In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, the anointing takes place in the home of Simon the Leper in Bethany. Here, the perfume is poured on Jesus' head. The perfume is described as very expensive and made of pure nard or spikenard.
While there are differences in the accounts, such as the location and body part anointed, the common theme is the recognition of Christ's value and the expression of gratitude through an extravagant act of worship. The anointing is linked to Jesus' imminent death and burial, with Mary's action seen as an example of faithful discipleship.
The value of the perfume, 300 denarii, is notable as it far exceeds the thirty pieces of silver that Judas received for betraying Jesus. This emphasizes the generosity and devotion of Mary's act.
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The anointing is linked with Jesus' imminent death and burial
The anointing of Jesus is mentioned in all four Gospels, with some differences in the accounts. However, they all agree that a woman anointed Jesus with costly perfume. The anointing is indeed linked with Jesus' imminent death and burial.
In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John, Jesus links the anointing with his impending burial, as he knew he would soon be crucified. In John 12:2, Mary anoints Jesus' feet with expensive perfume, which Judas criticized as a waste. Jesus, however, accepted it as a preparation for his burial. This is supported by the fact that in Jewish burial customs, the body is anointed with spices.
In Mark 14:3-9, the unnamed woman's act of anointing Jesus is interpreted as an act of devotion and true discipleship, showing that she understands Jesus' coming death and his role as the Messiah.
Luke's Gospel differs from the other three in that it mentions the anointing of Jesus' feet by a woman who had been sinful. She anointed his feet with her tears and perfume and wiped them with her hair. This woman is unnamed, described only as a "'sinner,' possibly a prostitute or someone with a bad reputation.
Despite the differences in the accounts, the anointing is linked to Jesus' imminent death and burial, with the women recognizing Christ's value and expressing their devotion and gratitude.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are two accounts of anointing Jesus with perfume. One account is found in Matthew, Mark, and John, and the other is in Luke.
Both accounts feature a woman anointing Jesus with expensive perfume during a meal. In both accounts, someone objects to the use of the perfume.
In the first account, the woman is unnamed, and the anointing takes place in the home of Simon the Leper in Bethany. The woman pours the perfume on Jesus' head. In the second account, the woman is identified as Mary, a sinful woman, and the location is the house of a Pharisee, possibly in Capernaum or Nain. In this account, Mary anoints Jesus' feet and wipes them with her hair.
The two accounts are not necessarily contradictory, as different gospel writers may have chosen to emphasize different details. The first account in Matthew, Mark, and John is generally seen as taking place later, just before Jesus' crucifixion, while the account in Luke is believed to have occurred earlier in Jesus' ministry.
