141 And the passover and the unleavened food were after two days, and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how, by guile, having taken hold of him, they might kill him; 2 and they said, 'Not in the feast, lest there shall be a tumult of the people.'
3 And he, being in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, at his reclining (at meat), there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment, of spikenard, very precious, and having broken the alabaster box, did pour on his head; 4 and there were certain much displeased within themselves, and saying, 'For what hath this waste of the ointment been made? 5 for this could have been sold for more than three hundred denaries, and given to the poor;' and they were murmuring at her. 6 And Jesus said, 'Let her alone; why are ye giving her trouble? a good work she wrought on me; 7 for the poor always ye have with you, and whenever ye may will ye are able to do them good, but me ye have not always; 8 what she could she did, she anticipated to anoint my body for the embalming. 9 Verily I say to you, wherever this good news may be proclaimed in the whole world, what also this woman did shall be spoken of—for a memorial of her.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 14:1-9
Commentary on Mark 14:1-11
(Read Mark 14:1-11)
Did Christ pour out his soul unto death for us, and shall we think any thing too precious for him? Do we give him the precious ointment of our best affections? Let us love him with all the heart, though it is common for zeal and affection to be misunderstood and blamed; and remember that charity to the poor will not excuse any from particular acts of piety to the Lord Jesus. Christ commended this woman's pious attention to the notice of believers in all ages. Those who honour Christ he will honour. Covetousness was Judas' master lust, and that betrayed him to the sin of betraying his Master; the devil suited his temptation to that, and so conquered him. And see what wicked contrivances many have in their sinful pursuits; but what appears to forward their plans, will prove curses in the end.