Matthew 26:10-12
But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus doesn't just say she did a "good" thing; he calls it a "beautiful" or "noble" thing, highlighting not just the action itself but the exquisite love and foresight behind it that the disciples completely missed. He's pointing out that her act of lavish devotion, while appearing wasteful to them, was actually a profound recognition of his unique identity and impending fate.
Just before Passover, while Jesus is at dinner in Bethany, a woman breaks a very expensive jar of perfume and pours it over his head. The disciples are outraged, seeing it as a wasteful extravagance that could have been sold to help the poor. Jesus, however, immediately understands the woman's loving devotion and defends her actions, recognizing this beautiful act as a preparation for his impending burial.
The disciples saw waste, but Jesus saw devotion. How did He know the difference, and what does that mean for us?
When the woman poured expensive perfume on Jesus, some disciples grumbled. They saw a financial loss – a waste of money that could have gone to the poor. But Jesus saw something far deeper.
Divine Perception
The text tells us "Jesus, aware of this, said..." (Matthew 26:10). He didn't just hear their grumbling; He understood the heart behind it. He perceived the woman's loving intention, a beautiful act stemming from gratitude and faith. The original Greek word for 'understood' here implies a deep, intuitive knowing, not just a surface-level awareness.
Beyond the Material
The disciples focused on the cost of the ointment. Jesus focused on the giver's heart. This encounter highlights that God's evaluation of our actions is based on our motives and love, not just the outward appearance or practical utility. He sees the beautiful, spiritual work even when others see only a material deficit.
Jesus calls the woman's act a 'beautiful thing.' What makes an act beautiful in God's eyes, especially when it seems extravagant?
The word Jesus uses for 'beautiful' (Greek: kalos) signifies more than just pretty. It points to something intrinsically good, noble, and excellent – a moral and spiritual beauty. This wasn't just a nice gesture; it was a profoundly meaningful act.
Timely Devotion
This act was 'beautiful' because it was done with deep love and foresight. While the disciples saw waste, Jesus recognized that this woman, unlike them, understood His impending death. She was anointing His body in advance for burial, a profound act of faith and devotion. Her action was a tangible expression of her love and belief when others were still slow to grasp the reality of His fate.
Understand the original words
kalos · Greek Adjective
That which is morally good, virtuous, or aesthetically pleasing; in this context, it refers to an act that is profoundly fitting and honors God.
ptōchos · Greek Adjective/Noun
Those who lack material wealth, often appearing in Scripture as a group requiring justice, compassion, and divine protection. In a spiritual sense, it often refers to those who recognize their need for God.
myron · Greek Noun
A fragrant, often expensive oil used for medicinal, cosmetic, or funerary purposes. In Scripture, it is used for anointing people and objects set apart for sacred service or honor.
entaphiasmos · Greek Noun
The interment or placement of a corpse in a grave. Biblically, this represents the finality of death and the transition of the body to the ground.
This act of devotion by Mary occurred in the immediate lead-up to Jesus' arrest and crucifixion. Jesus' defense of her highlights that while caring for the poor is essential, his own impending sacrifice is a unique, unrepeatable event.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Anointing in Bethany
During a meal in Bethany, a woman (identified by John as Mary, Lazarus' sister) anoints Jesus' head with expensive perfume. Some disciples, led by Judas, protest this as a waste of resources that could have gone to the poor.
c. AD 30, days before Passover
Plot to Kill Jesus
The chief priests and scribes, fearing Jesus' popularity, gather to conspire how to arrest and kill him secretly, deciding not to act during the Passover festival itself to avoid public unrest.
c. AD 30, shortly after anointing
Judas's Agreement to Betray Jesus
Following the incident at Bethany, Judas Iscariot goes to the chief priests and agrees to hand Jesus over to them for a sum of money.
c. AD 30, during Passover week
Jesus Enters Jerusalem
Jesus makes his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, a move that further escalates the tension and urgency for the religious leaders to act against him.
This passage directly follows the anointing narrative in John's Gospel, where Jesus states Mary's action was 'in preparation for my burial,' adding a deeper prophetic layer to her 'beautiful thing.'
1 Samuel 16:7This verse highlights God's perspective on judging outward actions, contrasting with the disciples' focus on the 'waste.' It echoes Jesus's focus on the woman's inner motive and the 'beautiful thing' she did, rather than its perceived cost.
Proverbs 3:9-10This proverb speaks of honoring God with our 'firstfruits' and 'treasured possessions.' The woman's lavish anointing, though questioned by the disciples, can be seen as an expression of this principle, offering her most valuable possession to Jesus.
Luke 7:47Jesus's statement here, 'Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loves much,' spoken to a woman who anointed his feet, strongly parallels the sentiment in Matthew 26:10. It shows Jesus valuing immense love and devotion expressed through costly acts.
Mark 14:8Mark's account, which is closely linked, adds that she 'broke the jar and poured it on his head.' This detail emphasizes the completeness and finality of her act of devotion, underlining why Jesus called it a 'beautiful thing.'
vincentMatthew 26:10: "When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me."
When Jesus understood it (γνοὺς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς)The A. V. implies that some time elapsed before Jesus was aware of the disciples' complaint. But the statement is that Jesus perceived it at once. Rev., rightly, Jesus perceiving it.Good work (καλὸν)Lit., beautiful, but in a moral sense: an excellent, morally beautiful deed.
barnesMatthew 26:10: "When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me."
Trouble ye the woman - That is, disturb her mind by insinuations, as if she had done wrong. A good work on me - She has done it with a mind grateful, and full of love to me. The work was good, also, as it was preparative for his death, Matthew 26:12.
Jesus doesn't just say she did a "good" thing; he calls it a "beautiful" or "noble" thing, highlighting not just the action itself but the exquisite love and foresight behind it that the disciples completely missed. He's pointing out that her act of lavish devotion, while appearing wasteful to them, was actually a profound recognition of his unique identity and impending fate.
Just before Passover, while Jesus is at dinner in Bethany, a woman breaks a very expensive jar of perfume and pours it over his head. The disciples are outraged, seeing it as a wasteful extravagance that could have been sold to help the poor. Jesus, however, immediately understands the woman's loving devotion and defends her actions, recognizing this beautiful act as a preparation for his impending burial.
Just before Passover, while Jesus is at dinner in Bethany, a woman breaks a very expensive jar of perfume and pours it over his head. The disciples are outraged, seeing it as a wasteful extravagance that could have been sold to help the poor. Jesus, however, immediately understands the woman's loving devotion and defends her actions, recognizing this beautiful act as a preparation for his impending burial.
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A Higher Priority
Jesus contrasts her action with helping the poor. He doesn't diminish the importance of caring for the needy; the poor are always with us. However, He highlights that this specific act of devotion to Him, in anticipation of His sacrifice, held a unique and immediate significance. It was a beautiful, singular moment meant to honor Him directly before His death.
"But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it t…" — Jesus doesn't just say she did a "good" thing; he calls it a "beautiful" or "noble" thing, highlighting not just the action itself but the exquisite love and foresight behind it that the disciples co…
