Matthew 26:6-13

The Precious Ointment

⁶ Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, ⁷ a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table. ⁸ But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, “Why this waste? ⁹ For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” ¹⁰ But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. ¹¹ For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. ¹² For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. ¹³ Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”

Here they are in Bethany (meaning “house of the poor”), possibly where some of the poorest people were cared for. Jesus and some of His followers are sitting around waiting for a meal and this woman comes and pours ointment over Jesus’ head – this ointment was valued at a years’ wages! You could use that to help a lot of people. After being ridiculed, the woman turns to leave…But Jesus announces that she’s done a beautiful thing – she’s prepared Him for burial and what she’s done will always be remembered. Jesus knew He had to die to fulfill His Kingdom-mission.

Prayer: Lord, give me the wisdom to understand Your mission, and my role in it. Help me to proclaim Your Good News to those around me.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation (www.lockman.org)