Lance Carson
The Bible mentions fragrant substances, ointments, anointing oils, and incense in several places. These substances were used for religious, health, personal, and funeral purposes. In the New Testament, Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus, anoints Jesus' feet with a costly perfume made from essence of nard. This act is interpreted as an expression of love and devotion towards Jesus, who defends her against the disciple Judas Iscariot, who objects to this wasteful extravagance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amount | A pound or about a pint |
| Container | A jar or bottle |
| Material | Alabaster |
| Composition | Pure nard |
| Cost | A year's wages, or 300 silver coins |
| Occasion | Six days before Passover |
| Location | Bethany |
| Host | Simon the Leper |
| Recipient | Jesus |
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What You'll Learn
Mary's costly perfume was made of pure nard
Mary's costly perfume, made of pure nard, features in the Bible in John 12:3-8. Mary took about a pint of the expensive perfume, worth a year's wages, and anointed Jesus' feet. She wiped his feet with her hair, and the sweet fragrance filled the house.
This act by Mary is significant in the Christian tradition for several reasons. Firstly, it symbolises Mary's devotion and love for Jesus. By anointing his feet with such costly perfume, she demonstrates her willingness to honour and serve him. Secondly, Jesus himself interprets the act as a preparation for his burial, as recorded in the same passage: "Leave her alone! She has kept this perfume for the day of my burial." This statement foreshadows Jesus' imminent death and underscores the prophetic nature of Mary's action.
The costly perfume, made of pure nard, is also mentioned in other Gospel accounts, such as Mark 14:3-9 and Matthew 26:6-13. In these accounts, the perfume is offered by an unnamed woman, who pours it on Jesus' head. The disciples, similar to the narrative in John, express dismay at what they perceive as a waste of expensive perfume. Jesus, however, defends the woman's action, stating that she has prepared him for his burial.
The expensive nature of the perfume, made of pure nard, underscores the significance of the act. Nard, also known as spikenard, was a highly valued fragrance in ancient times. It was derived from the nard plant, which grew in mountainous regions. The extraction of the oil from the plant's roots was a labour-intensive process, contributing to its high cost.
In the context of the Bible, Mary's use of this costly perfume carries symbolic weight. It represents her sacrificial offering, a gift of great value presented to Jesus. Additionally, the act of anointing one's head or feet with perfume was often associated with hospitality and honour in ancient cultures. By anointing Jesus with the costly perfume, Mary expresses her deep respect and adoration for him.
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The perfume was worth a year's wages
The Bible describes an instance where Mary of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, anoints Jesus' feet with a costly perfume. This event is recorded in the four gospels of the Bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. According to the Gospel of John, Mary took about a pint or a 12-ounce jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, worth a year's wages. She poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped them with her hair, filling the house with a sweet fragrance.
The disciples, particularly Judas Iscariot, who would later betray Jesus, objected to this act, questioning why the expensive perfume was not sold and the money given to the poor. In the Gospel of Mark, the disciples also describe the act as excessive, suggesting the perfume could have been sold for more than a year's wages. However, Jesus defended Mary, acknowledging her act as a beautiful expression of love and devotion towards him. He also explained that the anointing prepared his body for burial.
The value of the perfume is significant, as it underscores the extravagance and selfless love of Mary's gesture. The fact that it was worth a year's wages emphasizes the sacrifice and generosity inherent in her act. This episode serves as a powerful illustration of devotion and gratitude towards Jesus, who is God's anointed Messiah, or "Christ," which also means "anointed one."
The specific mention of the perfume's value in the Bible provides a glimpse into the economic and social context of the time. It also highlights the importance of fragrances and anointing in biblical culture. Perfumes and ointments were commonly used in religious rituals, health practices, personal grooming, and funeral customs. They were often valued for their aromatic and symbolic qualities, with certain fragrances holding sacred meanings.
The episode of Mary anointing Jesus' feet with expensive perfume has been interpreted as a significant moment in the gospels, offering theological and symbolic insights into the nature of Jesus' ministry and the expression of love and preparation for his impending death and burial.
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Judas's betrayal fee was worth a third of the perfume's value
The Bible mentions an expensive perfume, valued at 300 denarii, which was used to anoint the feet of Jesus. This amount was nearly a full year's wages. The perfume was so expensive because it was made of pure nard. Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, poured the perfume on Jesus' feet and wiped them with her hair. The sweet fragrance of the perfume filled the house.
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' disciples, objected to the use of the expensive perfume. He asked why it was not sold and the money given to the poor. However, Judas did not truly care about the poor. He was a thief and, as the keeper of the money bag, he often stole from it. His real motivation was his desire for money. Soon after this incident, Judas went to the chief priests and asked them, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver him to you?" The priests then offered him thirty pieces of silver.
Judas' betrayal fee of thirty pieces of silver was worth far less than the perfume. Even if Judas was paid in the most valuable coin, the Athenian tetradrachm, his fee would only be about a third of the value of the perfume. The perfume would have been worth around 91 pieces of the same coin. Thus, Judas' fee for betraying Jesus was a fraction of the worth of the perfume used to anoint Jesus' feet.
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The perfume was used to anoint Jesus' feet
The Bible mentions the use of perfumes, fragrances, and ointments in several places. These fragrant substances were used for various purposes, including religious rituals, health, cosmetics, and funerals. One particular instance of perfume being used to anoint Jesus' feet is described in the Bible.
According to the Bible, Mary took a very expensive bottle of perfume, containing about a pint of pure nard, worth a year's wages, and poured it on Jesus' feet. She then wiped his feet with her hair, filling the house with the sweet fragrance of the perfume. This act by Mary was an expression of her devotion and love for Jesus, recognizing his impending death and burial.
The perfume used by Mary was not just any ordinary perfume, but a costly and precious ointment. It is believed that the perfume was worth significantly more than 30 pieces of silver, which was the compensation for the loss of a servant mentioned in Exodus 21:32. Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' disciples, objected to this act, suggesting that the perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor. However, Jesus defended Mary's action, stating that she had kept the perfume for his burial.
This incident holds a deeper significance in the context of Jesus' upcoming death and burial. Mary's anointing of Jesus' feet with expensive perfume symbolizes honor, love, and preparation for his impending burial. It is a reminder that Jesus' death and burial are approaching, and Mary's act is an expression of her understanding and acceptance of this fate.
The use of perfume in this narrative also holds symbolic value. In biblical times, perfumes were associated with royalty and status. By anointing Jesus' feet with expensive perfume, Mary is honoring him as a king and recognizing his significance. This act becomes a powerful symbol of devotion and sacrifice, as Mary pours out the costly perfume as an offering to Jesus.
The narrative of Mary anointing Jesus' feet with expensive perfume serves as a reminder of the importance of humility, sacrifice, and devotion. It also highlights the value and significance of perfumes in biblical times, both as a practical and symbolic element in various cultural and religious contexts.
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The fragrance filled the house
The Bible mentions fragrant ointments, anointing oils, and incense several times. These substances were used for religious rituals, health, cosmetic purposes, and funerals. They were also used to anoint the body of Jesus after his death, as was the burial custom of the Jews.
The Bible also mentions specific instances of perfume being used, such as in the story of Mary of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, who anointed Jesus with a costly perfume made from pure nard. This event is described in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
In the Gospel of John, it is described that Mary took about a pint or a 12-ounce jar of this expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus' feet. She then wiped his feet with her hair, and the sweet fragrance of the perfume filled the house.
The disciple Judas Iscariot, who was present, objected to this act, asking why the perfume was not sold and the money given to the poor. According to Judas, the perfume was worth a year's wages. However, Jesus defended Mary, saying that she had kept the perfume for the day of his burial.
The fragrance filling the house symbolizes the impact of Mary's selfless act of devotion, which Jesus himself recognized as an appropriate way to honor him as the Messiah. This event also highlights the messianic significance of Jesus' anointing and foreshadows his upcoming burial.
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Frequently asked questions
The expensive perfume in the Bible is referred to as nard, an essential oil derived from the aromatic bark of the Cassia tree.
Mary of Bethany, sister to Martha and Lazarus, used the perfume to anoint Jesus feet.
This act was a display of love and devotion to Jesus, preparing his body for burial.
The perfume was worth a year's wages, or 300 silver coins, and was kept for Jesus' burial.
