Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible
























Then Mary took about a pint of expensive, aromatic perfume; [it was] genuine nard [Note: This was a sweet-smelling herb] and poured [some of] it on Jesus' feet and wiped them with her hair. The [whole] house was filled with the fragrant scent of the perfume. Verse ConceptsSweet OdoursFeetAnointing, Social CustomAnointing With OilGuestsHairsPerfumeSmellsAdoration, Of ChristAdmirationAnointed By PeopleExpensiveOther References To HairPure ThingsWeights Of Other ThingsHair

"Why was this perfume not sold for a large sum of money [Note: The amount here was equivalent to three hundred days of a farm laborer's pay, or over $20,000 in 1994] and [then] the money given to poor people?" Verse ConceptsDenariusMoney, Uses OfOintmentWagesGiving To The PoorWorthValueFeeding The Poor





Then one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have a meal with him. So, He went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the [dinner] table. [Note: Matt. 23:6]. And when a sinful woman from the town learned that He was having dinner at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster [i.e., stone] jar of liquid perfume, and stood behind Jesus, at His feet, crying. She began wetting His feet with her tears and wiping them dry with the hair of her head. Then she kissed His feet and poured the perfume on them.

One of Jesus' disciples, [the one] He loved [Note: Probably this was the apostle John] was reclining at the dinner table close to Jesus. Verse ConceptsLove Of Jesus, Examples OfDivine FriendshipThe Beloved DiscipleReclining To EatChrist's LoveOther References To The Disciplesbreastsheartbeat

So, I tell you this, and insist [on it] by [the authority of] the Lord: Do not continue to live with worthless thoughts as [unconverted] Gentiles do. Their understanding [of spiritual things] is darkened and excluded from the [spiritual] life that God gives, because of the ignorance in their minds and the stubbornness in their hearts. They have stopped caring [i.e., about morality], so God has abandoned them to lives of unrestrained indecency and to engage in all kinds of [moral] impurity, with a constant desire for more.



Everything is pure [i.e., ceremonially acceptable] to the person who is pure [i.e., who has been cleansed by the blood of Christ], but to those who are [spiritually] corrupt, and do not believe [in Christ], nothing is pure, but both their minds and consciences are corrupted. [Note: This statement was intended to remove the physical restrictions imposed by the law of Moses]. Verse ConceptsThe Carnal MindFall Of Man, Consequences OfSex Within MarriageImagination, Evil SchemingPurity, Moral And SpiritualUnbelief, As Response To GodEvil HeartsNot Believing The GospelPure PeopleDefilementPurityStaying PositiveWork Ethicconsciencecatscorruptioneverything





The Jewish authorities will expel you from their synagogues. In fact, the time will come when whoever kills you will think he is doing a service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known [either] the Father or me.

Now they knew who God was, but they did not honor Him as God or thank Him [for their blessings]. Instead they engaged in their useless speculations and their foolish minds were filled with [spiritual] darkness. They claimed to be wise, but became fools, and exchanged the honor belonging to the immortal God for the statues of mortal men, and birds, and animals and reptiles. read more.
So, God allowed [or, abandoned] them to have the impure desires of their hearts, and to [practice] degrading behavior with their bodies among themselves. For they exchanged God's truth for the [devil's] lie, and worshiped and served what was created instead of the Creator, who is to be praised forever. May it be so.








And while Jesus was in Bethany [Note: This was a small village fewer than two miles east of Jerusalem], sitting at the dinner table in the house of Simon, the man with an infectious skin disease [Note: This man had probably been healed by now], a woman with an alabaster [i.e., stone] jar of very expensive perfume came to Him, broke the jar and poured the perfume on His head. But some [of the disciples. See Matt. 26:8] were upset among themselves, saying, "What is the reason for wasting this perfume? It might have been sold for a large sum of money and the money given to poor people. [Note: The amount indicated here was equivalent to days of a farm laborer's pay, or over $20,000 in 1994]. And they complained about her [doing this].

Then Mary took about a pint of expensive, aromatic perfume; [it was] genuine nard [Note: This was a sweet-smelling herb] and poured [some of] it on Jesus' feet and wiped them with her hair. The [whole] house was filled with the fragrant scent of the perfume. But one of Jesus' disciples named Judas Iscariot, who later turned Him over [i.e., to the Jewish authorities], said, "Why was this perfume not sold for a large sum of money [Note: The amount here was equivalent to three hundred days of a farm laborer's pay, or over $20,000 in 1994] and [then] the money given to poor people?"


And a few days later, this younger son gathered everything together and traveled to a distant country where he squandered his possessions in wild living. Verse ConceptsGluttonyExtravaganceExcessBad Decision Making ExamplesBuying and sellingLeisure, Nature And Purpose OfLossThriftWantonnessDeparturesA Short TimeFar From HereShort Time Till The EndThey Committed Immorality

But when this son of yours came [home], after having squandered all you gave him on prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.' Verse ConceptsBitterness, Examples OfProstitutionWantonnessFat AnimalsKilling Domesticated AnimalsEating Cattle




And a few days later, this younger son gathered everything together and traveled to a distant country where he squandered his possessions in wild living. Verse ConceptsGluttonyExtravaganceExcessBad Decision Making ExamplesBuying and sellingLeisure, Nature And Purpose OfLossThriftWantonnessDeparturesA Short TimeFar From HereShort Time Till The EndThey Committed Immorality

But when this son of yours came [home], after having squandered all you gave him on prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.' Verse ConceptsBitterness, Examples OfProstitutionWantonnessFat AnimalsKilling Domesticated AnimalsEating Cattle







And a few days later, this younger son gathered everything together and traveled to a distant country where he squandered his possessions in wild living. Verse ConceptsGluttonyExtravaganceExcessBad Decision Making ExamplesBuying and sellingLeisure, Nature And Purpose OfLossThriftWantonnessDeparturesA Short TimeFar From HereShort Time Till The EndThey Committed Immorality

But when this son of yours came [home], after having squandered all you gave him on prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.' Verse ConceptsBitterness, Examples OfProstitutionWantonnessFat AnimalsKilling Domesticated AnimalsEating Cattle