Why did the disciples consider the woman's act a "waste" in Matthew 26:8? Setting the Scene • Matthew 26:6-7 places Jesus in Bethany, reclined at Simon the leper’s table. • A woman (John 12:3 identifies her as Mary of Bethany) brings “an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume” and pours it on Jesus’ head. • Immediately afterward, “When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, ‘Why this waste?’” (Matthew 26:8). Why the Perfume Looked Like a “Waste” • Monetary shock: Mark 14:5 notes the ointment could have been sold for “over three hundred denarii”—roughly a full year’s wages. To men who had often relied on daily provision (Luke 9:3), the sum felt staggering. • Judas’s influence: John 12:4-6 reveals the strongest protest came from Judas Iscariot, “who was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.” His covetous heart colored the group’s outlook. • Misapplied compassion: “This could have been sold for a high price and given to the poor” (Matthew 26:9). Caring for the needy was—and remains—important (Deuteronomy 15:11), yet they allowed a good cause to eclipse supreme devotion to Christ. • Short-sighted timing: Jesus had repeatedly predicted His death (Matthew 16:21; 20:18-19). Still, the disciples failed to grasp its nearness. Consequently, they missed the prophetic significance of anointing Him for burial (Matthew 26:12). • Earth-bound values: In first-century culture, perfume was a portable investment, similar to a savings account. Pouring it out felt like draining a bank account—with no “practical” return. Jesus’ Correction • “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful deed to Me” (Matthew 26:10). Beauty, in Christ’s eyes, outweighed their cost analysis. • “You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have Me” (Matthew 26:11; cf. Deuteronomy 15:11). Opportunity to honor Him physically was fleeting. • “By pouring this perfume on Me, she has prepared My body for burial” (Matthew 26:12). The act was prophetic worship, not extravagance. • “Wherever this gospel is preached… what she has done will also be told in memory of her” (Matthew 26:13). Heaven’s ledger recorded eternal value. Key Takeaways • Genuine worship can appear impractical to onlookers who calculate only in earthly terms. • Good works (like giving to the poor) never outrank wholehearted adoration of Christ. • Misunderstanding Jesus’ mission breeds misjudgment of others’ devotion. • Jesus affirms sacrificial giving of our best—time, treasure, or talents—when motivated by love for Him (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). Living It Out • Evaluate motives: Are stewardship concerns masking reluctance to offer Christ your best? • Remember the cross: Like Mary, keep Jesus’ sacrificial death central; it reframes all generosity. • Worship first, serve second: Let adoration fuel ministry, not replace it (Luke 10:38-42). |
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