Matthew 26:6

Jesus’ Anointing

26:6 Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper,

Mark 14:3

Jesus’ Anointing

14:3 Now ¹  while Jesus ²  was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, reclining at the table, ³  a woman came with an alabaster jar ⁴  of costly aromatic oil ⁵  from pure nard. After breaking open the jar, she poured it on his head.

Luke 10:38-42

Jesus and Martha

10:38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus ⁶  entered a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him as a guest. ⁷  10:39 She ⁸  had a sister named Mary, who sat ⁹  at the Lord’s feet ¹⁰  and listened to what he said. 10:40 But Martha was distracted ¹¹  with all the preparations she had to make, ¹²  so ¹³  she came up to him and said, “Lord, don’t you care ¹⁴  that my sister has left me to do all the work ¹⁵  alone? Tell ¹⁶  her to help me.” 10:41 But the Lord ¹⁷  answered her, ¹⁸  “Martha, Martha, ¹⁹  you are worried and troubled ²⁰  about many things, 10:42 but one thing ²¹  is needed. Mary has chosen the best ²²  part; it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 12:37

12:37 Blessed are those slaves ²³  whom their master finds alert ²⁴  when he returns! I tell you the truth, ²⁵  he will dress himself to serve, ²⁶  have them take their place at the table, ²⁷  and will come ²⁸  and wait on them! ²⁹ 

Luke 22:27

22:27 For who is greater, the one who is seated at the table, ³⁰  or the one who serves? Is it not ³¹  the one who is seated at the table? But I am among you as one ³²  who serves.

[14:3]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

[14:3]  ² tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[14:3]  ³ sn 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.

[14:3]  ⁴ sn A jar made of alabaster stone was normally used for very precious substances like perfumes. It normally had a long neck which was sealed and had to be broken off so the contents could be used.

[14:3]  ⁵ tn Μύρον (muron) was usually made of myrrh (from which the English word is derived) but here it is used in the sense of ointment or perfumed oil (L&N 6.205). The adjective πιστικῆς (pistikh") is difficult with regard to its exact meaning; some have taken it to derive from πίστις (pistis) and relate to the purity of the oil of nard. More probably it is something like a brand name, “pistic nard,” the exact significance of which has not been discovered.

[10:38]  ⁶ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[10:38]  ⁷ tc Most mss have “into the house” (Ì^3vid א C L Ξ 33 579 pc) or “into her house” (א¹ A C² D W Θ Ψ 070 Ë^1,13 Ï lat) at the end of the sentence. But the English translation masks the multitude of variants: Different forms of “house” (οἰκίαν [oikian], οἶκον [oikon]) and “her” occur (see TCGNT 129). These variations argue against authenticity; they no doubt arose because of the abrupt ending of the sentence (the Greek is more literally translated simply as “Martha received him”), prompting copyists to add the location. The shorter reading is found in Ì^45,75 B sa.

[10:39]  ⁸ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[10:39]  ⁹ tn This reflexive makes it clear that Mary took the initiative in sitting by Jesus.

[10:39]  ¹⁰ sn The description of Mary sitting at the Lord’s feet and listening to him makes her sound like a disciple (compare Luke 8:35).

[10:40]  ¹¹ sn The term distracted means “to be pulled away” by something (L&N 25.238). It is a narrative comment that makes clear who is right in the account.

[10:40]  ¹² tn Grk “with much serving.”

[10:40]  ¹³ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate that the following was a result of Martha’s distraction.

[10:40]  ¹⁴ tn The negative οὐ (ou) used with the verb expects a positive reply. Martha expected Jesus to respond and rebuke Mary.

[10:40]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “has left me to serve alone.”

[10:40]  ¹⁶ tn The conjunction οὖν (oun, “then, therefore”) has not been translated here.

[10:41]  ¹⁷ tc Most mss (A B* C D W Θ Ψ Ë^1,13 Ï it) read “Jesus” instead of “the Lord” here, but κύριος (kurios, “Lord”) has the support of some weighty papyri, uncials, and other witnesses (Ì^3,[45],75 א B² L 579 892 pc lat sa).

[10:41]  ¹⁸ tn Grk “answering, said to her.” This is redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified to “answered her.”

[10:41]  ¹⁹ sn The double vocative Martha, Martha communicates emotion.

[10:41]  ²⁰ tn Or “upset.” Here the meanings of μεριμνάω (merimnaw) and θορυβάζομαι (qorubazomai) reinforce each other (L&N 25.234).

[10:42]  ²¹ tc Or, with some mss (̳ [א] B C² L 070^vid ˹ 33 [579] pc), “few things are needed – or only one” (as well as other variants). The textual problem here is a difficult one to decide. The shorter reading is normally preferred, but it is not altogether clear how the variants would arise from it. However, the reading followed in the translation has good support (with some internal variations) from a number of witnesses (Ì^45,75 A C* W Θ Ψ Ë¹³ Ï lat sa).

[10:42]  ²² tn Or “better”; Grk “good.” This is an instance of the positive adjective used in place of the superlative adjective. According to ExSyn 298, this could also be treated as a positive for comparative (“better”).

[12:37]  ²³ tn See the note on the word “slave” in 7:2.

[12:37]  ²⁴ tn Or “watching”; Grk “awake,” but in context this is not just being awake but alert and looking out.

[12:37]  ²⁵ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[12:37]  ²⁶ tn See v. 35 (same verb).

[12:37]  ²⁷ tn Grk “have them recline at table,” as 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.

[12:37]  ²⁸ tn The participle παρελθών (parelqwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[12:37]  ²⁹ sn He…will come and wait on them is a reversal of expectation, but shows that what Jesus asks for he is willing to do as well; see John 13:5 and 15:18-27, although those instances merely foreshadow what is in view here.

[22:27]  ³⁰ tn Grk “who reclines at table,” as 1st century middle eastern meals were not eaten while sitting at a table, but while reclining on one’s side on the floor with the head closest to the low table and the feet farthest away.

[22:27]  ³¹ tn The interrogative particle used here in the Greek text (οὐχί, ouci) expects a positive reply.

[22:27]  ³² sn Jesus’ example of humble service, as one who serves, shows that the standard for a disciple is different from that of the world. For an example see John 13:1-17.