But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me?
Parallel translations
- WEB But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for me.
- KJV And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on 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.
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 3:14Let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they may not be unfruitful.
- Matt 26:10However, knowing this, Jesus said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? Because she has done a good work for me.
- Heb 10:24Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works,
- Heb 13:21make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
- 2 Tim 2:21If anyone therefore purges himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and suitable for the master’s use, prepared for every good work.
- Titus 2:14who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.
- Acts 9:36Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated, means Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did.
- Titus 2:7in all things showing yourself an example of good works; in your teaching showing integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility,
- Eph 2:10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
- Job 42:7–8It was so, that after Yahweh had spoken these words to Job, Yahweh said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you, and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has.
- Col 1:10that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
- 2 Th 2:17comfort your hearts and establish you in every good work and word.
- 1 Tim 5:10being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work.
- Titus 3:8This saying is faithful, and concerning these things I desire that you affirm confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men;
- 2 Tim 3:17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
- 2 Cor 9:8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work.
- John 10:32–33Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?”
- 1 Tim 6:18that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
- Isa 54:17No weapon that is formed against you will prevail; and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of Yahweh’s servants, and their righteousness is of me,” says Yahweh.
- 2 Cor 10:18For it isn’t he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
- 1 Pet 2:12having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, 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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