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Who anointed Jesus?
Matthew and Mark: “A woman” ([Matt. xxvi, 7]; [Mark xiv, 3]).
Luke: “A sinful woman” ([vii, 37]).
John: Mary, the sister of Lazarus ([xii, 3]).
Luke’s “sinful woman” is recognized as Mary Magdalene. Farrar says: “In the popular consciousness she will till the end of time be identified with the Magdalene.” Matthew and Mark’s “woman” may be harmonized with either Mary Magdalene or Mary the sister of Lazarus; but Luke and John are irreconcilable.