Matthew 26 6

Matthew 26:6 kjv

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

Matthew 26:6 nkjv

And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper,

Matthew 26:6 niv

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,

Matthew 26:6 esv

Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,

Matthew 26:6 nlt

Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy.

Matthew 26 verses

Matthew 26 6 Meaning

Matthew 26:6 precisely locates Jesus in Bethany, within the home of a man named Simon, who was known as "the leper." This verse establishes the setting for the momentous anointing incident that immediately follows, signifying Jesus' close proximity to Jerusalem and His Passion, and subtly highlights His transformative power and compassion by associating Him with a once-outcast individual.

Matthew 26 6 Context

Matthew 26:6 is situated within the narrative of Jesus' final days before His crucifixion, often referred to as Passion Week. This specific verse immediately precedes the anointing of Jesus by a woman with expensive perfume in Bethany. Chapter 26 opens with Jesus' clear prophecy of His impending crucifixion during Passover, followed by the plot of the chief priests and elders to seize Him. The event at Simon's house stands in stark contrast to the religious leaders' rejection and Judas Iscariot's imminent betrayal (described immediately after the anointing). Historically and culturally, Bethany was a small village near Jerusalem, making it a natural stopping point for pilgrims during Passover. The mention of "Simon the leper" is significant, as leprosy rendered individuals ceremonially unclean and socially ostracized in Jewish society (Lev 13-14). Jesus' presence in his home would have been highly unusual and demonstrated His disregard for ceremonial restrictions in favor of human connection and spiritual healing. It also implicitly suggests Simon was a former leper, likely healed by Jesus Himself, highlighting the ongoing impact of Jesus' ministry.

Matthew 26 6 Word analysis

• Now (Δὲ - De): A particle of transition, introducing a new event in the narrative flow. It links this scene to the preceding declaration of Jesus' impending crucifixion, setting the stage for significant events.

• when (οὖν - oun): In this context, functions to indicate a moment in time, signifying that "it came to pass when..."

• Jesus (Ἰησοῦς - Iēsous): The Greek form of "Yeshua" or "Joshua," meaning "The Lord is salvation." This refers to the divine Son of God, who deliberately sets Himself in this location for the events to unfold.

• was (γίνεσθαι - ginesthai): Indicates "came to be" or "happened to be." It denotes Jesus' physical presence at a particular location at that moment.

• in (ἐν - en): A preposition signifying location, "within" or "at."

• Bethany (Βηθανία - Bethania): A village east of Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives. Its name possibly relates to "house of figs" or "house of misery." It was a familiar place for Jesus, being home to Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, and was a common point of rest and fellowship before entering Jerusalem.

• in the house (ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ - en tē oikia): Refers to a specific private dwelling. This suggests a setting of intimate hospitality, demonstrating Jesus' accessibility and His willingness to participate in personal fellowship.

• of Simon (Σίμωνος - Simōnos): A common Hebrew name meaning "he has heard." The name itself identifies the host without unique individual significance apart from his distinguishing epithet.

• the leper (τοῦ λεπροῦ - tou leprou): A crucial descriptive title. "Leprosy" (λεπρός - lepros) broadly encompassed various chronic skin diseases that rendered individuals ritually unclean (Lev 13) and socially ostracized in Jewish society. The fact that Simon was a leper, yet hosts a meal, strongly implies he was a former leper, almost certainly healed by Jesus Himself. This highlights Jesus' power to cleanse, heal, and restore individuals not only physically but also socially and religiously, re-integrating them into communal life.

• "Now when Jesus was in Bethany": This phrase establishes the immediate temporal and geographical context for the narrative, placing Jesus in a well-known location very close to Jerusalem during His final week.

• "in the house of Simon the leper": This specific detail is profound. It demonstrates Jesus' radical compassion and willingness to engage with, and be hosted by, someone previously an outcast due to illness and ritual impurity. It powerfully illustrates the inclusive nature of Jesus' kingdom and His ability to bring restoration and community even to those considered marginalized by society. It also implicitly functions as a silent testimony to Jesus' healing power, as an unhealed leper could not have hosted such a gathering.

Matthew 26 6 Bonus section

The selection of Simon's house as the location subtly reinforces Jesus' constant ministry focus on outcasts and the vulnerable. While Bethany was home to His friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (and they were present, John 12:2), Matthew and Mark choose to highlight Simon the leper as the host, drawing attention to the broader scope of Jesus' redemptive work beyond just His intimate circle. This emphasizes that Jesus' last moments of peace and fellowship before His Passion were spent with someone He had likely brought back from complete isolation, underlining the depth of gratitude His acts of mercy could inspire. The narrative of Simon's home receiving Jesus stands as a profound illustration of those who, having been "forgiven much," also "love much."

Matthew 26 6 Commentary

Matthew 26:6 serves as a concise yet profoundly meaningful scene-setter in the Gospel narrative. Jesus, just days before His crucifixion, is found in Bethany, a familiar haven, at the home of a man named Simon, who carried the label "the leper." This is a significant detail, as strict Mosaic law isolated lepers (Lev 13-14) from communal life, particularly from participating in shared meals. The implication, therefore, is that Simon was a former leper, very likely healed by Jesus. This moment thus functions as a powerful, unspoken testament to Jesus' transformative power—not merely physical healing, but restoration into social and religious community. His presence in such a house underscores His mission to embrace the marginalized and the "unclean," demonstrating His kingdom's upside-down values where love and compassion override strict legalistic barriers. This backdrop of mercy and radical acceptance beautifully precedes the selfless anointing that follows, contrasting acts of devoted love with the approaching betrayals of Judas and the religious establishment.