Test Your Bible Knowledge: Question Ten

Where was Jesus when a woman poured expensive oil on His head?

You got it! While Jesus was in Bethany, at the house of Simon the leper, a woman poured expensive perfumed oil on his head.

Read more about his incident and Jesus’s response in Matthew 26:6-13.

The Love God Greatly Bible offers some commentary on this incident to help the story become impactful for you:

“Jesus knew what was about to happen to Him. He had gathered with His close friends to share a meal and enjoy their company. Suddenly, an alabaster jar crashed and the room grew silent. One of the women took her broken jar and poured expensive oil on Jesus’ head.

We know from other gospel accounts that this woman was Mary of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus and Martha. This is the same Mary who sat at Jesus’ feet, eager to hear His every word (Luke 10:38-42). It is the same Mary who fell at Jesus’ feet and proclaimed, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” It is this Mary whose weeping “greatly distressed” Jesus and moved him to tears (John 11:32-35).

Mary knew Jesus. She had seen HIm do mighty works in her life. He had treated her with dignity, giving her the opportunity to learn from Him, something women were frequently denied in the first century. Mary knew Jesus was the resurrection and the life. Not only did she believe it for the end of days, but she had seen His resurrection power in action: Jesus had raised her brother from the dead (see John 11:43-44).

Mary knew who Jesus was. She knew what He was worth. She had seen Him redeem her and provide for her in inexplicable ways. Jesus was worth all she had. She broke that alabaster jar, giving everything she had to Jesus.

She had done a beautiful thing for her Lord. She honored Him with her life because He had saved hers over and over again.

When the disciples rebuked her for wasting such an expensive gift, Jesus defended her actions. “Why are you bothering this woman,” He said. “She has done a good service for me. For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me” (Matthew 26:10-11).

Mary loved her Lord. She loved her Lord more than her future, more than her present, and more than her past. She had been listening to Jesus and knew what His future held. Her devotion blessed Jesus beyond what she could have comprehended at the moment. It was not a waste. It was a beautiful honor.

He has done the same for us. He has redeemed our hearts, our lives, and our circumstances. He had provided for our past, our present, and our future. May we love Him and honor Him the same way Mary did: with all we have.”