How does Matthew 26:9 illustrate the value of sacrificial giving to Jesus? Setting the Scene at Bethany Matthew 26:6-13 records Jesus dining in Bethany when a woman pours very expensive perfume on His head. Verse 9 captures the disciples’ reaction: “For this perfume could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” The High Price Tag: Material Value vs. Spiritual Worth • The alabaster jar’s contents were worth about a year’s wages; the disciples focused on that earthly calculation. • Jesus saw the gift’s deeper value—devotion flowing from a grateful heart (Matthew 26:10-13). • Scripture consistently teaches that costly offerings honor God: 2 Samuel 24:24; 1 Chronicles 21:24. True Sacrifice Reveals Authentic Worship • Sacrifice means offering something of real personal worth (Hebrews 13:15-16). • The woman’s act echoed David’s resolve “I will not offer… that which costs me nothing.” • Such giving springs from love, not obligation (2 Corinthians 9:7). When Critics Misjudge Generosity • The disciples framed the act as wasteful, yet their concern masked a limited perspective. • John 12:4-6 notes Judas voiced similar objections while harboring greed. • God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7); true motives matter more than surface calculations. Overflowing Love Anticipates Christ’s Sacrifice • Jesus linked her gift to His impending burial (Matthew 26:12). • Her lavish offering foreshadowed His infinitely greater self-giving on the cross (Ephesians 5:2). • Sacrificial giving mirrors Christ’s pattern: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Practical Takeaways for Today • Give with a heart fixed on Jesus, not on others’ opinions. • Let generosity flow proportionate to gratitude; costliness can be a God-honoring testimony. • Remember that Christ values devotion over monetary calculations; He receives sacrificial gifts as fragrant worship (Philippians 4:18). • Trust that no offering given to Him is ever wasted; it becomes part of His redemptive story, just as this woman’s deed is memorialized “wherever this gospel is preached” (Matthew 26:13). |
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