An Appreciative Woman’s “Very Expensive” Gift

13. (a) What were the circumstances surrounding Mary’s putting perfumed oil on Jesus’ head and feet? (b) What was the material value of Mary’s oil?

¹³ On Friday evening, Nisan 8, Jesus arrived at Bethany, a small village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, about two miles [3 km] from Jerusalem. Jesus had dear friends in this town—Mary, Martha, and their brother, Lazarus. Jesus had been a guest in their home, perhaps frequently. But on Saturday evening, Jesus and his friends dined at the home of Simon, a former leper who possibly had been healed by Jesus. As Jesus was reclining at the table, Mary performed a humble gesture that demonstrated her deep love for the man who had resurrected her brother. She broke open a flask containing perfumed oil, “very expensive.” Expensive, indeed! It was worth 300 denarii, the equivalent of about a year’s wages. She poured this fragrant oil on Jesus’ head and on his feet. She even wiped his feet dry with her hair.—Mark 14:3; Luke 10:38-42; John 11:38-44; 12:1-3.

14. (a) How did the disciples react to Mary’s gesture? (b) How did Jesus come to Mary’s defense?

¹⁴ The disciples were indignant! ‘Why this waste?’ they asked. Judas, concealing his thieving motive behind a suggestion of charity for the needy, said: “Why was it this perfumed oil was not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor people?” Mary remained silent. Jesus, however, told the disciples: “Let her alone. Why do you try to make trouble for her? She did a fine [a form of ka·losʹ] deed toward me. . . . She did what she could; she undertook beforehand to put perfumed oil on my body in view of the burial. Truly I say to you, Wherever the good news is preached in all the world, what this woman did shall also be told as a remembrance of her.” How the warmth of Jesus’ words must have calmed Mary’s heart!—Mark 14:4-9; John 12:4-8.

15. Why was Jesus so moved by what Mary had done, and what do we thereby learn about whole-souled service?

¹⁵ Jesus was deeply moved by what Mary had done. In his estimation, she had performed a praiseworthy deed. It was not the material value of the gift that mattered to Jesus but the fact that “she did what she could.” She embraced the opportunity and gave what she was able to give. Other translations have rendered these words, “She has done all she could,” or, “She has done what was in her power to do.” (An American Translation; The Jerusalem Bible) Mary’s giving was whole-souled because she gave her best. That is what whole-souled service is all about.

18. What do we learn from Jesus’ dealings with the two women?

¹⁸ From Jesus’ dealings with these two women, we learn some heartwarming lessons about how Jehovah views whole-souled service. (John 5:19) Jesus did not compare the widow with Mary. He valued the widow’s two coins no less than he did Mary’s “very expensive” oil. Since each woman gave her best, in God’s eyes their gifts were both of value. So if feelings of unworthiness well up within you because you are not able to do all that you want to do in serving God, do not despair. Jehovah is pleased to accept the best that you can give. Remember, Jehovah “sees what the heart is,” so he is fully aware of the yearnings of your heart.—1 Samuel 16:7.