How does Matthew 26:11 challenge your personal approach to charity and giving? Setting of Matthew 26:11 “ ‘The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.’ ” (Matthew 26:11) Jesus speaks these words in Bethany after a woman anoints Him with costly perfume. Some disciples protest the “waste,” arguing the perfume could have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. Christ’s response re-sets their priorities: honor Him first, yet never neglect the needy. Face-to-Face with Jesus’ Priorities • Jesus affirms Deuteronomy 15:11: “For there will never cease to be poor in the land.” Poverty is a persisting reality. • He simultaneously highlights His imminent death. Worshipping Him in that moment took precedence over any other good work. • The verse challenges me to evaluate whether my giving is God-directed or simply driven by human calculations. Ongoing Presence of the Poor: A Call, Not an Excuse • Christ’s words are descriptive, not dismissive. Poverty’s persistence intensifies, rather than diminishes, my responsibility (Proverbs 19:17; James 2:15-17). • Because the poor will “always” be present, my generosity must be continual, not sporadic charity stirred only by emotional appeals. • This verse exposes a subtle temptation: using “there are always poor people” as justification for inertia. Scripture leaves no room for that (Proverbs 28:27). Balancing Worship and Works • Matthew 26:11 sets a hierarchy: devotion to Jesus first, deeds of mercy close behind. The woman’s lavish act honored Christ directly; the disciples’ proposal to sell the perfume honored a valid cause. Both matter, yet worship tops the list (cf. John 12:3-8). • My giving must never eclipse my personal communion with Christ—regular prayer, Scripture intake, corporate worship. Generous wallets cannot substitute surrendered hearts. Practical Implications for My Giving • Budget worshipful giving: support Gospel-centered ministries that exalt Christ, not merely humanitarian projects. • Schedule consistent, predictable generosity toward the poor—monthly, not merely at Christmas or in crisis. • Hold resources loosely. If the Spirit prompts a costly, even “extravagant,” gift to honor Christ, resist the instinct to bargain Him down. • Integrate service: volunteer where I give so compassion remains personal, not detached. Heart Check: Motives and Methods • Matthew 6:3-4 warns against showy charity; Matthew 26:11 warns against self-righteous critiques of others’ giving. • 2 Corinthians 9:7 demands cheerful, willing hearts. If I begrudge generosity, my heart—not my budget—needs recalibration. • Ask: Am I prizing efficiency over obedience? The disciples’ cost-analysis missed the spiritual significance of the moment. Living It Out This Week • Set aside time to praise Jesus intentionally—sing, read a psalm, journal gratitude—before writing any checks. • Review current giving: Does it reflect the reality that the poor “will always” need help? • Identify one ministry that unites Gospel proclamation with practical aid; commit support for the next twelve months. • Carry a small “mercy fund” in cash or digital form, ready for spontaneous Spirit-led generosity. |
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