Matthew 26:6-13..Is there something we are to learn from this beautiful story?

Question

Every time I read these scriptures about this woman who poured the very expensive perfume on the head of Jesus and when the disciples were upset about it, saying it was wasteful and it could have been sold and money given to the poor..Jesus asked why they were bothering her for doing the beautiful thing for him, saying that they will always have the poor but they would not always have Him ..

Then He went on to say that wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.

That was so beautiful to me that Jesus wanted her memory to be told along with the gospel. But, is there also a message here for us?

Answer 1

There are a few things to point out.

First is the Hebrew tradition of anointing a body for burial to help cover the stench. Although this woman may not have known the exact significance of her action, she was moved by the Holy Spirit to demonstrate her love for her Lord in this way, which mimicked the anointing of His soon to be dead body. It's one more reminder of the Old Testament prophets' prophecies about just how the Messiah would save His people (i.e. through His death).

Second is that this woman loved her Lord above material possessions. Her love for her Savior and her acceptance of Him as Lord is what saved her. If she had sold the perfume and given the money to the poor, that would have been a nice gesture, but good works will not save anyone.

Finally, as Jesus pointed out, the poor would still be poor. Unless this woman sold her perfume and gave the money to only one or two poor people, they would still all be poor. No amount of money can truly abolish poverty, so while helping those in need is charitable and something all Christians should be ready to do, it should be done out of love and moving of the spirit, rather than madated by a government or by popular opinion (e.g. the grumbling Apostle).

Answer 2

Yes.

We will always have the poor.

Bible says if a man doesn't work, he shouldn't eat.

My way of fighting poverty is by working

Answer 3

This has always been a point of great debate and argument in the Bible, particularly between believers and non-believers.  In the musical, Jesus Christ Superstar (which can be very Christian OR Anti-Christian, depending on how the director and actors portray it) that Bible story is actually a pivotal scene.

I've always felt personally that it tells us that we can do nice things for ourselves, even though other people may be suffering.  One of the lines in that particular song in the music from Jesus is "There will be poor always," which brings about the valid point that, yes, there will always be poor, no matter what we do, and that we shouldn't always have to struggle to make the lives of the poor better.

The body is also supposed to be the temple of the Lord, and that means we should treat it well, at times relaxing it with nice things after working so hard.  I think the disciples may have been so obsessed with helping the poor at times that they may have forgotten about themselves, and that's no good.

Hope that's insightful for you!

Answer 4

the message in this story is that jesus is saying pour everything you have into him give him everything you got everything will still be here on earth but u only get one chance into heaven it is also saying that when u put everything into god you are making a memorial of you in heaven

Answer 5

My thing about this story is this...  Jesus touts being the ultimate altruist but here we see that he views himself with great self-importance, at least to the writer of Matthew.

Jesus is always talking about helping people, even giving the shirt off your back.  So the disciples response seems very reasonable.

Incredibly we don't even know the name of this woman.  So much for the memory.

Maybe I'm just a cynic?

Answer 6

It is a character study.  Judas took care of the money and it would have been Judas who would make this statement about wasting money.

This happened in the Father of Lazarus' house and Lazarus, Martha and Mary were there.  Mary worshiped as she anointed the body of Jesus for His Crucifixion.  

Judas coveted the money because 300 denarii was almost a year's wages.  This was expensive perfume.  Evidently the other disciples agreed with Judas.  John portrays Judas as a thief.  John says that Judas said this not because he cared for the poor but that he carried the money sack.

Simon the Leper is probably the father of Lazarus, Martha and Mary.

Mary was exceedingly good to the Lord in using her perfume to anoint Him which was a very expensive gift.  Jesus honored her gift to Him with great prominence in her name throughout history as the Word of God is read.  Not even all the apostles knew what Jesus was saying about his death, but Mary knew that Christ would not be with her for long.  The Bible mentions that Mary listened very intently to the Lord.  She hung on every word as if it were His last words to her.  This is how I feel often while reading the Bible.   I have such a hunger for God's words and I can't get enough.  I would gladly give the most expensive thing I own to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him as He speaks to me.  I've heard His voice audibly twice in my life and I yearn to hear His voice again.  The Holy Spirit guides me daily, but there is something about the audible voice.  

Mary knew that this was her most important time in her entire life and Mary did not waste this time.

Answer 7

Well Paul never spoke of her. :)

Answer 8

they would not always have him, he liked the pampering and there will always be poor people.  

Answer 9

Praise the Lord yes! She understood the time at hand, and she gave everything to him. Thanks for sharing!

(btw I think it was Judas Iscariot that said she was wasting it)

Answer 10

Not everything is measurable, and therefore not everything can be reduced to "science". Or at least, if you do try to measure it you become as pharisaical as the disciples were on that occasion.

Answer 11

The stranger honored Jesus; Jesus' disciples valued the perfume.

Answer 12

Always hear the motive of a person.  

Answer 13

To me the message is that we're not forbidden from having nice things, that helping the poor is important, but that we are allowed to help ourselves to so long as the objects don't become the focus of our lives (as they were for the rich young ruler).