And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
Parallel translations
- WEB But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for me.
- BSB But Jesus said, “Leave her alone; why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.
- NKJV But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.
- NASB But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? She has done a good deed for Me.
- NLT But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus defends her: 'Leave her alone. She has done a good work for me.' He receives her devotion as beautiful and right.
Overview
Jesus rebukes the critics and commends the woman, calling her act a genuinely good work directed toward him. Worship lavished on Christ is never misspent. In a chapter full of betrayal and plotting, Jesus singles out her love for honor, teaching that whole-hearted devotion to him is precisely what God delights to receive.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 21
- Titus 3:14And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
- Matt 26:10When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
- Heb 10:24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
- Heb 13:21Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
- 2 Tim 2:21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
- Titus 2:14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
- Acts 9:36Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
- Titus 2:7In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
- Eph 2:10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
- Job 42:7–8And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
- Col 1:10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
- 2 Th 2:17Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
- 1 Tim 5:10Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
- Titus 3:8This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
- 2 Tim 3:17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
- 2 Cor 9:8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
- John 10:32–33Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
- 1 Tim 6:18That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
- Isa 54:17No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
- 2 Cor 10:18For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
- 1 Pet 2:12Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 14:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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