What is the meaning of Matthew 26:7? a woman came to Him “a woman came to Him…” (Matthew 26:7) • She approached Jesus deliberately, mirroring Mary of Bethany in John 12:3 and echoing past moments when seekers pressed through distractions to reach Him, such as the woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 9:20–22. • Scripture repeatedly shows that genuine faith moves toward the Lord—think of blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46–52 or the centurion in Matthew 8:5–13. Each account confirms Hebrews 11:6: “He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” • The setting is Bethany (Matthew 26:6; John 12:1), underscoring that Christ welcomes those who come in humility, whether they sit quietly at His feet (Luke 10:39) or break cultural norms to honor Him. with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume “…with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume…” (Matthew 26:7) • Alabaster, a translucent stone, protected priceless oils from evaporation—fitting symbol of something carefully kept for a special purpose. • John 12:5 values the perfume at “three hundred denarii,” roughly a laborer’s year of wages. The woman held nothing back, living out 2 Samuel 24:24: “I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” • Her gift challenges modern disciples: • Do we treat Jesus as worthy of our costliest treasures—time, resources, reputation? • Are we willing to surrender security the way the widow did with her two small coins in Mark 12:41–44? • This kind of devotion reflects Romans 12:1, presenting our bodies—and all we possess—as “a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” which she poured on His head “…which she poured on His head…” (Matthew 26:7) • Anointing signified honor, consecration, and kingship; Samuel poured oil on Saul’s head in 1 Samuel 10:1, foreshadowing Israel’s rulers. Here, the woman silently proclaims Jesus as the true King. • Mark 14:8 records Jesus’ own interpretation: “She has anointed My body in advance of My burial.” Her action, led by devotion, simultaneously points to His imminent sacrifice, fulfilling Isaiah 53:9 about His burial with the rich. • Psalm 23:5 rejoices, “You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Christ—soon to bear sin’s curse—receives overflowing honor from a grateful heart. • John 12:3 tells us she also anointed His feet and wiped them with her hair, embodying James 2:17’s faith expressed through works. as He reclined at the table “…as He reclined at the table.” (Matthew 26:7) • In first-century culture, reclining at meals signified intimacy and rest—no hurried snack, but lingering fellowship. Luke 22:14 pictures Jesus reclining with the Twelve at the Last Supper, again emphasizing communion before the cross. • Within days, His body would hang on a Roman cross, yet here He shares table fellowship, reminding us of Revelation 3:20: “If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.” • The anointing occurred in the home of Simon the leper (Matthew 26:6), a snapshot of redeemed community: former outcasts now hosting the Savior, foretaste of the future marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9). • Even our ordinary meals can become sacred when Christ is present—Acts 2:46 describes believers “breaking bread from house to house” with glad hearts. summary Matthew 26:7 captures wholehearted worship in motion: a determined woman draws near, brings her finest, lavishly anoints Jesus, and does so in the warmth of shared table fellowship. The narrative calls believers today to: • Seek Him earnestly, confident He welcomes us. • Offer what is costly, not what is convenient. • Honor His kingship and remember His sacrifice. • Invite Him into everyday moments, turning simple tables into holy ground. In responding like this unnamed woman, we declare with our lives that Jesus is worthy—before others, before heaven, and before the cross--defined future He secured for us. |
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