Mary heard the words of criticism. Her heart trembled within her. She feared that her sister would reproach her for extravagance. The Master, too, might think her improvident. Without apology or excuse she was about to shrink away, when the voice of her Lord was heard, "Let her alone; why trouble ye her?" He saw that she was embarrassed and distressed. He knew that in this act of service she had expressed her gratitude for the forgiveness of her sins, and He brought relief to her mind. Lifting His voice above the murmur of criticism, He said, "She hath wrought a good work on Me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but Me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint My body to the burying."

Maria hørte de misbilligende ord. Hendes hjerte bævede. Hun blev bange for, at hendes søster skulle bebrejde hende hendes ødselhed. Måske også Mesteren fandt, at hun handlede letsindigt. Hun skulle lige til at liste sig bort uden at sige et ord til sin undskyldning, da hun hørte Mesterens stemme: "Lad hende være, hvorfor volder I hende bryderi?" Han så, at hun var forlegen og ulykkelig. Han vidste, at denne handling havde været et udtryk for hendes taknemmelighed for hendes synders forladelse, og han bragte lindring til hendes sjæl. Han hævede sin stemme, så den overdøvede den misbilligende mumlen, og sagde: "En god gerning har hun gjort imod mig. De fattige har I jo altid hos jer, og når I vil, kan I gøre vel imod dem; men mig har I ikke altid. Hun gjorde, hvad hun kunne; hun har forud salvet mit legeme til min jordefærd."