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Matthew 26

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,

Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.

But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?

And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.

And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.

And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?

And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.

Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.

What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,

Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

What does Matthew 26:7 mean?

Explanation

This verse from the Gospel of Matthew describes a scene where a woman approaches Jesus while he is dining and anoints him with expensive ointment from an alabaster box.

The ointment is described as "very precious," indicating both its monetary value and possibly its symbolic significance.

Pouring the ointment on Jesus' head would have been understood by those present as a mark of honor, respect, and possibly a recognition of Jesus' kingship, as anointing was a common ritual for installing kings and priests in ancient times.

The act of anointing in this verse also prefigures Jesus' upcoming death, burial, and his role as the Messiah ("Christ" or "Anointed One").

While on the surface, this event may seem straightforward, it is rich with meaning and laden with symbolic undertones that play out in the narrative of the Gospel.

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Historical Context

The event described in Matthew 26:7 occurs during the week leading up to Jesus' crucifixion.

The woman's act of anointing Jesus happens in the home of Simon the leper in Bethany, a small village near Jerusalem.

During the time of Jesus, such anointing with costly perfume was a lavish gesture, often reserved for guests of high status or for preparing a body for burial.

The use of an alabaster box to contain the expensive ointment signifies the value of the contents; alabaster was commonly used for storing precious substances.

Such containers would be sealed, meaning that the act of breaking them open to use their contents implied a one-time, sacrificial event.

The oil itself, possibly spikenard, was also used for its aromatic properties and could symbolize purity, healing, and love.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse has various interpretations:

Traditional Christian Viewpoint: Many Christians see the woman's act of anointing Jesus as a sign of her devotion and faith in him as the Messiah.

It is also seen as a prophetic act regarding his burial, as Jesus himself mentions in subsequent verses.

Messianic Symbolism: The act of anointing the head of Jesus is symbolic of his identity as the "Anointed One" or Messiah, the chosen King and High Priest.
Sacrificial Giving: The woman's use of costly ointment can represent the idea of sacrificial giving, suggesting that devotion to Jesus should be lavish and without concern for cost.

Practical Applications

Sacrificial Love and Giving: Followers of Jesus are encouraged to show their devotion and love not only in words but also through sacrificial acts.
Recognition of Jesus' Lordship: The act of anointing signifies acknowledgment of Jesus' divine kingship and authority.
Value of Spiritual over Material: The choice to use such valuable possession for Jesus highlights the priority of spiritual devotion over material wealth.

Cross-References

Mark 14:3: "And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head."
John 12:3: "Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment."
Luke 7:37-38: "And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment."

Language Study

The original Greek language used in this verse contains key terms:

Alabaster (ἀλάβαστρον, alabastron): A kind of box or vessel made from a particular mineral (alabaster) used for storing precious oils and perfumes, signifying the value and purity of its contents.
Ointment (μύρον, myron): This term, often translated as "ointment," refers to a perfumed oil or fragrant ointment, which was costly and reserved for special occasions.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Ancient Egyptian Practices: The use of alabaster containers for precious oils parallels ancient Egyptian traditions where alabaster was used for storing ointments, especially for religious and burial purposes.
Anointing Rituals in Other Cultures: Many ancient cultures had rituals involving anointing as a sign of honor or divine selection.

Kings and priests in various traditions were often anointed as part of their consecration ceremonies.

Scientific Perspectives

Perfume Composition: Modern chemistry allows understanding of the compounds found in ancient ointments, which can include oils and resins with preservative and aromatic properties.
Medicinal Properties: Some of the oils and spices historically used in anointing, like myrrh, have been found to possess medicinal qualities, such as anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, which can provide insight into their value and uses in ancient times.

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary: Henry sees this event as an expression of the woman's faith and love for Jesus, interpreting the anointing as preparing Christ beforehand for his burial.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary: This commentary discusses the symbolic significance of the ointment being poured on Jesus' head, likening it to the anointing of priests and kings.
The New International Commentary on the New Testament: This source highlights the tension between the woman's act of devotion and the disciples' indignation, setting the scene for Jesus' teachings on true discipleship and service.

Matthew 26

Matthew 26

What does Matthew 26:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 26:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?