Alabaster

How Nave’s arranged it

• (A white stone)
• Vessels made ofMatthew 26:7Mark 14:3Luke 7:37

The passages, in Bible order (3)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 3 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Matthew 26:7

   a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table.

   ›Commentary on Matthew 26:72 voices

   “We now approach the closing scene of our Lord Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry. Hitherto we have read of his sayings and doings: we are now about to read of his sufferings and death. Hitherto we have seen him as the Great Prophet; we are now about to see him as the great High Priest. It is a portion of Scripture which ought to be read with peculiar reverence and attention. The place we on we stand is holy ground.

   “(Verse 6) But when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper. About to suffer for the whole world and redeem all nations with his blood, he stayed in Bethany, the house of obedience, which was once Simon the leper's. Not that he remained a leper at that time, but he who was formerly a leper was cleansed by the Savior, with his former name remaining, so that the power of the healer may be apparent.

   Everything gathered on Matthew 26:7→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Mark 14:3

   While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head.

   ›Commentary on Mark 14:32 voices

   This woman has a very special message for you who are about to be baptized. She broke her alabaster jar that Christ may make you "christs," his anointed. Hear what it says in the Canticle of Canticles: "Your name spoken is a spreading perfume, therefore the maidens love you. We will follow you eagerly in the fragrance of your perfume!"

   “Alabaster box - Among critics and learned men there are various conjectures concerning the alabaster mentioned by the evangelists: some think it means a glass phial; others, that it signifies a small vessel without a handle, from α negative and λαβη, a handle; and others imagine that it merely signifies a perfume or essence bottle. There are several species of the soft calcareous stone called alabaster, which are enumerated and described in different chemical works. Spikenard - Or nard. An Indian plant, whose root is very small and slender.

   Everything gathered on Mark 14:3→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Luke 7:37

   When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume.

   ›Commentary on Luke 7:372 voices

   “In the city - What city is meant is unknown. Some have supposed it was Nain; some Capernaum; some Magdala; and some Jerusalem. Which was a sinner - Who was depraved or wicked. This woman, it seems, was known to be a sinner - perhaps an abandoned woman or a prostitute. It is certain that she had much to be forgiven, and she had probably passed her life in crime. There is no evidence that this was the woman commonly called Mary Magdalene. An alabaster-box ... - See the notes at Mar 14:3.

   The deeply interesting narrative contained in these verses, is only found in the Gospel of Luke. In order to see the full beauty of the story — we should read, in connection with it, the eleventh chapter of Matthew. We shall then discover the striking fact that the woman whose conduct is here recorded, most likely owed her conversion to the well-known words, "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden — and I will give you rest."

   Everything gathered on Luke 7:37→

   Verse page →Original language →