Now
when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.” However, knowing this, Jesus said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? Because she has done a good work for me. For you always have the poor with you; but you don’t always have me. For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial of her.”
Matthew 26:6-13
Matthew 26 [3.] Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas. They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit, and kill him. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people.”
Matthew 26 [6.] Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.”
Matthew 26 [10.] However, knowing this, Jesus said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? Because she has done a good work for me. For you always have the poor with you; but you don’t always have me. For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial of her.”
Matthew 26 [14.] Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, and said, “What are you willing to give me, that I should deliver him to you?” They weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver. From that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
Meaning:
Between the plot of the chief priests and the bargain of Judas, Matthew places a scene of pure devotion. In a home at Bethany a woman pours very expensive ointment on Jesus’ head. The disciples call it waste; Jesus calls it “a good work” and promises that it will be remembered wherever the Good News is preached. Mark tells the same story (Mark 14:3-5; Mark 14:6-9), and John adds names and details (John 12:4-6).
- “in the house of Simon the leper”
Bethany was a village on the Mount of Olives, about two miles from Jerusalem, where Jesus stayed during that last week. Simon is called “the leper”, probably because Jesus had healed him; a man with active leprosy had to live apart and cry, “Unclean! Unclean!” (Leviticus 13:45-46). Now he hosts a meal for Jesus. John tells us that Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead, was at the table, that Martha served, and that the woman was Mary, Lazarus’ sister (John 12:1-6).
- “an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment”
Mark says the ointment was “pure nard—very costly”, worth “more than three hundred denarii” (Mark 14:3-5), close to a year’s wages for a labourer. Such perfume was often a family treasure. In Israel kings and priests were anointed on the head, and the title Messiah, or Christ, means “Anointed One.” Whether or not the woman fully understood it, she honoured Jesus as the King on the eve of his death.
- “Why this waste?”
Matthew says “his disciples” were indignant. They thought of how much the poor could have been helped. John reveals that Judas led the complaint, “not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it” (John 12:6). Care for the poor was a real duty under the Law, and Jesus does not dismiss it. Rather he quotes the Law’s own words. Deuteronomy says, “For the poor will never cease out of the land,” and therefore commands, “open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor” (Deuteronomy 15:11). There would be many opportunities to help the poor, but only a few days left to honour Jesus in person.
- “she did it to prepare me for burial”
Jesus gives the act a meaning the guests had missed. He had just told his disciples that he would be crucified in two days (Matthew 26:2). Bodies were anointed with spices for burial, but Jesus would die as a criminal and be buried in haste. After the Sabbath the women came to the tomb with spices, “that they might come and anoint him”, yet by then he had risen (Mark 16:1). This woman’s anointing was the only one his body received.
- “wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world”
Jesus had said that “this Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations” (Matthew 24:14). Now he says that her deed will be told with it. The promise has come true: her love is remembered in every land where the Gospels are read.
The Significance of Matthew 26:6-13
- Love gives its best to Jesus
The woman did not calculate. She gave what was most precious, at the right moment, to the right person. Worship that seems wasteful to others can be beautiful to Jesus.
- Beware of a critical spirit
The disciples’ complaint sounded generous, but it judged a sincere act harshly, and in Judas it hid greed. We need to examine our motives before we criticise the devotion of others.
- Devotion and generosity belong together
Jesus does not set worship against care for the poor. Those who love him most will also open their hands to the needy, as he taught: “because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40).
Cross-References:
Mark 14:6-9: "She has done what she could. She has anointed my body beforehand for the burying." Mark’s account of Jesus’ defence of the woman.
John 12:4-6: "Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?" Judas leads the complaint.
Deuteronomy 15:11: "For the poor will never cease out of the land." The Law behind Jesus’ words about the poor.
Matthew 24:14: "This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world." The worldwide message that carries her memorial.
Conclusion: Matthew 26:6-13 records how a woman at Bethany poured very expensive ointment on Jesus’ head in the house of Simon the leper. The disciples called it waste, but Jesus defended her, saying she had done a good work and prepared his body for burial. He promised that her act would be told wherever the Good News is preached, and so it is, as an example of wholehearted love for Jesus.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible