In the Mediterranean world of the first century, scented oils were a customary element of personal hygiene and a gesture of welcome. Jesus assumes this norm when He teaches, “But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face” (Matthew 6:17). In Luke 7:46 He contrasts the neglect of a Pharisee who failed to provide oil for His head with the lavish devotion of the repentant woman who anointed His feet. The word here describes a simple, tangible act of refreshment that showed respect for a guest. Its appearance in the Gospels underscores that the Lord entered fully into ordinary human life, accepting commonplace tokens of courtesy while revealing their deeper meaning.

Medicinal and Pastoral Care

The apostles continued Israel’s practice of applying oil as a therapeutic aid. When Jesus sent out the Twelve, “they drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil” (Mark 6:13). Likewise James exhorts the church, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord” (James 5:14). In both settings the physical application of oil accompanies believing prayer, signalling dependence on God as ultimate healer. The rite is neither magical nor merely medicinal; it joins tangible care to spiritual intercession, affirming that the whole person—body and soul—belongs to the Lord.

Burial Preparations and Honor for the Dead

Perfumed ointments were also reserved for the dead. After the Sabbath, “Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they could go and anoint Jesus’ body” (Mark 16:1). Their intention highlights the devotion of the disciples and sets the stage for the empty tomb. By contrast, John notes that Mary of Bethany had already “anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped His feet with her hair” (John 11:2), an act Jesus interprets as anticipatory preparation for His burial (John 12:7). Thus the term frames both love’s last offices and the proclamation that death could not hold the Anointed One.

Devotional Worship and Recognition of Jesus’ Identity

Luke 7:38 and John 12:3 record two distinct occasions on which a woman pours costly perfume upon Jesus. In each case the anointing is a personal, sacrificial expression of faith. Luke presents the unnamed woman’s tears, kisses, and continual anointing as a vivid picture of repentance and gratitude. John portrays Mary of Bethany’s act as a prophetic acknowledgment of Jesus’ messianic mission. These events remind believers that worship involves costly surrender, that Christ is worthy of the most precious substance poured out in humble love.

Symbolic Foreshadowing of the Anointed One

Though the verb denotes a physical action, every New Testament occurrence reverberates with the larger biblical theme of anointing as divine appointment. Kings, priests, and prophets were set apart with oil, prefiguring the Messiah—literally “the Anointed One.” Jesus accepts human anointings during His earthly ministry, but He is finally anointed by the Father with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38). The gospel narratives therefore unite daily custom with redemptive purpose: the One who permits others to anoint Him is Himself the source of the Spirit who consecrates His people.

Guidelines for Christian Practice Today

1. Hospitality: Simple acts of physical care—refreshment, cleanliness, fragrance—still convey honor to guests and embody the love of Christ.
2. Pastoral visitation: Following James 5:14, elders should be ready to anoint the sick, praying in faith while submitting outcomes to God’s sovereign will.
3. Worship: Extravagant devotion, modeled by the women who anointed Jesus, calls believers to offer their best resources, time, and affection.
4. Hope in death: Burial rituals remain secondary for those who trust the risen Lord, yet caring for the dying and deceased shows biblical compassion.
5. Gospel proclamation: Every reference to physical anointing ultimately points to Jesus as the long-awaited Anointed One, reinforcing the unity of Scripture and urging the church to proclaim Him without hesitation.