What does "you will always have the poor" teach about ongoing Christian responsibilities? The Setting of Jesus’ Words • Matthew 26:11, Mark 14:7, and John 12:8 record Jesus’ response when His disciples questioned the costly anointing at Bethany. • Mark 14:7 quotes Him plainly: “The poor you will always have with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish, but you will not always have Me.” • Jesus is not dismissing concern for the poor; He is affirming Mary’s act of worship while reminding the disciples of an enduring duty that remains after His departure. The Scriptural Echo • Jesus draws on Deuteronomy 15:11: “For there will never cease to be poor in the land; therefore I command you to open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and the poor in your land.” • The Old Testament command pairs the permanence of poverty with an equally permanent command to generosity. • By quoting it, Jesus links His followers to this ongoing, covenant-long responsibility. Reality Check: Poverty Persists in a Fallen World • Scripture presents poverty as an outworking of sin’s curse on creation (Genesis 3; Romans 8:20-22). • Attempts at perfect social systems will never erase need until Christ returns (Revelation 21:4). • Recognizing this reality guards believers from disillusionment and motivates steady faithfulness rather than sporadic charity. Call to Continuous Compassion • Mark 14:7 emphasizes ability and opportunity: “you can show kindness to them whenever you wish.” • The responsibility is present-tense and open-ended: ‑ Provide material relief (James 2:15-16). ‑ Defend the vulnerable (Proverbs 31:8-9). ‑ Integrate mercy with evangelism (Acts 3:6; 1 John 3:17-18). • Acts 4:34-35 illustrates the early church living this out, distributing to anyone who had need. Serving the Poor Honors Christ • Jesus so identifies with the needy that serving them is serving Him (Matthew 25:40). • Worship and mercy are not rivals. Mary’s extravagant devotion models love for Christ; ongoing care for the poor expresses that same love in daily life. • Galatians 2:10 records Paul’s eagerness to “remember the poor,” even while preaching justification by faith—showing the two belong together. Practical Ways to Obey Today • Personal generosity: set aside planned funds for almsgiving (1 Corinthians 16:2). • Hospitality: share meals and time with those in financial or social poverty (Luke 14:13-14). • Congregational ministries: food pantries, benevolence funds, job-training partnerships (Acts 6:1-4). • Advocacy: speak and act for just treatment in courts, workplaces, and communities (Isaiah 1:17). • Global outreach: support missions that pair gospel proclamation with relief (2 Corinthians 8-9). Heart Check: Motives That Please God • Love for Christ, not guilt, fuels lasting service (2 Corinthians 5:14). • Generosity springs from gratitude for God’s grace (2 Corinthians 8:9). • Faithfulness in small acts counts eternally (Luke 16:10). Summary “You will always have the poor” is not a shrug of indifference. It is Jesus’ reminder that, until He returns, believers have an unending, God-given opportunity to display His love in tangible ways. By steady, compassionate action, Christians honor both the Lord who was anointed at Bethany and the people He calls “brothers and sisters” in need. |
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