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The Anointing of Jesus refers to an episode in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, according to the Gospels of Mark (14:3–9), Matthew (26:6-13), Luke (7:36-50), and John (12:1-8).

Overview

The anointing of Jesus by a woman during a banquet, and the controversy that such an act generated, are recorded with some substantial differences by Mark-Matthew, Luke, and John.

In Mark and Matthew, the dinner happened at Bethany after the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. The host was "Simon the leper", and an unnamed woman anointed Jesus' "head," provoking the reaction of "some who were there" (Mark), or "the disciples" of Jesus (Matthew), because of the costly anointment she used.

Luke knew the story of the anointment, but located it (apparently in Galilee) long before the events of the last week in Jerusalem. An unnamed woman anointed Jesus' feet in the house of "one of the Pharisees," named "Simon." The reaction of the Pharisees had nothing to do with the cost of the anointment but with the woman's sinfulness. Later Christian tradition would identify the unnamed woman of the story with Mary Magdalene, with no textual foundation.

According to the Gospel of John, Lazarus was the one who "six days before the Passover" and before the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem hosted the banquet in his house at Bethany (=Mark-Matthew) when his sister Mary anointed Jesus' feet (=Luke) provoking the reaction of Judas Iscariot (similarly to Mark-Matthew).

It is very unlikely that there were originally two (or three) separate incidents (one at the house of the Pharisees in Galilee, and one/two at Bethany). The presence of common literary details in the Synoptics (i.e. the "alabaster jar" and the host's name, "Simon") and John (i.e. the Bethany location and the reference to "the poor") demonstrate that the oral tradition had produced a single written narrative in Greek. The anointment of Jesus' head in Mark-Matthew gives a messianic emphasis to the event, that is missing in Luke and John (who both had a strong interest in downplaying any politically charged details). The Mark-Matthew version should be then considered closer to the original. Luke transformed the story into yet another example of Jesus' forgiving attitude toward the sinners. John maintained the original setting but made the anointment an act of hospitality by Lazarus and his sisters with no messianic emphasis; John even eliminated any reference to the Cleansing of the Temple as he wanted to focus on the religious conflict around the identity of Jesus. John, however, preserved an astonishingly accurate chronological detail ("six days before the Passover") which more logically locates the episode before (and not after, as claimed by Mark-Matthew) the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus spent the Sabbath at Bethany, where he was anointed Messiah and as such the following day entered into Jerusalem.

The Anointing of Jesus in ancient sources

Gospel of Mark

...-> Eschatological Discourse -> Plot to Kill Jesus / Anointing of Jesus / Betrayal of Judas -> Last Supper ->...

Mark 14:3–9 (NRSV) -- 3 While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. 4 But some were there who said to one another in anger, "Why was the ointment wasted in this way? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor." And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, "Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her."

Gospel of Matthew

...-> Judgment of the Son of Man -> Plot to Kill Jesus / Anointing of Jesus / Betrayal of Judas -> Last Supper ->...

Matthew 26:6-13 (NRSV) -- 6 Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. 8 But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, "Why this waste? 9 For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor." 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her."

Gospel of Luke

Luke 7:36-50 (NRSV) -- 36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. 37 And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38 She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him--that she is a sinner." 40 Jesus spoke up and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Teacher," he replied, "Speak." 41 "A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt." And Jesus said to him, "You have judged rightly." 44 Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." 48 Then he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49 But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" 50 And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Gospel of John

...-> Raising of Lazarus -> Plot to Kill Jesus -> Anointing at Bethany / Plot to Kill Lazarus -> Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem ->...

John 12:1-8 (NRSV) -- [1] Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. [2] There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. [3] Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. [4] But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, [5] "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" [6] (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) [7] Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. [8] You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."

The Anointing of Jesus in Scholarship

The Anointing of Jesus in Fiction

External links

• Wikipedia