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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 26:8 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 26:8 describes the reaction of Jesus' disciples to a woman's act of anointing Jesus with an expensive ointment.

The verse reads, "But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?" The disciples were upset because they viewed the act as extravagant and wasteful, considering the high value of the ointment which could have been sold and the money given to the poor.

This verse highlights a tension between practical concerns for the poor and the act of worshipful devotion shown to Jesus.

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Historical Context

Matthew 26:8 occurs during the last days of Jesus' life, specifically at Bethany where Jesus is in the home of Simon the leper. The woman in question, often identified as Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, pours an expensive ointment on Jesus' head as a form of worship.

The cultural norms of the time held that resources should be used judiciously, especially when it came to helping the poor. Anointing with oil was also a significant action in Jewish culture, often used for consecrating priests, kings, or for burial purposes.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse can be interpreted in various ways:

Stewardship vs. Worship: The disciples' indignation suggests a focus on practical stewardship and social justice, whereas the anointing by the woman can be seen as an act of devotion and recognition of Jesus' identity and mission.
Preparation for Burial: Some theologians consider the anointing as foreshadowing Jesus' death and burial, giving the act a prophetic dimension.
Judas Iscariot's Reaction: John's gospel specifically notes that Judas Iscariot, who later betrays Jesus, led the criticism.

This might suggest a contrast between false discipleship and genuine worship.

Practical Applications

In modern times, believers can learn from this verse to balance their responsibilities towards social justice with the need for personal devotion. It encourages individuals to consider the value of sacrificial giving as an expression of love and adoration towards God.

Furthermore, it prompts reflection on one's motives when it comes to charitable acts, are they done out of self-interest or genuine concern for the marginalized?

Cross-References

Mark 14:4-5: "And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?"
John 12:4-6: "Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?"
John 12:7-8: "Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this."

Language Study

In the original Greek text:

"Disciples" is "μαθηταί" (mathētai), meaning students or followers.
"Indignation" is "ἀγανακτέω" (aganakteō), expressing strong disapproval or irritation.
"Waste" is "ἀπώλεια" (apōleia), which can mean destruction or loss, implying that the disciples saw the act as a squandering of resources.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient religious traditions, anointing was also a significant act.

For example, in Egypt, the pharaohs were anointed as part of their coronation, signifying divine approval.

In Greco-Roman culture, anointing athletes and heroes was common.

The act of anointing by Mary takes on a unique significance within the Christian narrative as a recognition of Jesus' kingship and his impending death.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientifically, one might explore the properties of the ointment used, often believed to be spikenard, which had value due to its rarity and importation from distant lands.

While modern science focuses on practical utility and economic value, this passage challenges readers to consider the intangible value of symbolic acts and their significance in human culture and psychology.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians offer differing insights into this verse:

Albert Barnes notes the value of the ointment and the practical mindset of the disciples, who might not have understood the full significance of Jesus' mission.
Matthew Henry emphasizes the beauty of the act of love and sacrifice, pointing out that sincere devotion to Christ is never wasted.
William Barclay discusses the cultural implications of the act and suggests that the best things in life should be given to Christ.

These diverse interpretations provide a broad spectrum of understanding, reflecting the complexity and depth of this biblical event.

Matthew 26

Matthew 26

What does Matthew 26:8 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 26:8 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?