6: This section about the dinner at Simon’s house is a flashback to the previous Sabbath, the day before Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a colt. It is here to show that Judas had already gone to the chief priests at this point. Neither he, nor the Jewish leaders, knew, as Jesus had said, that he would find an opportunity to betray Christ as soon as he did.
Simon the Leper must not be confused with Simon the Pharisee. There was another incident in which Jesus was anointed by a woman. This occurred in the house of Simon the Pharisee in Galilee earlier in Christ’s ministry. Simon the Leper lived in Bethany, the same town as Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, and was presumably healed of his leprosy by Jesus.