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Matthew 26:6-13

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

6. Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 7. There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat [at meat]. 8. But when his disciples saw [it], they had indignation, saying, To what purpose [is] this waste? 9. For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. 10. When Jesus understood [it], he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. 11. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. 12. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did [it] for my burial. 13. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, [there] shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Matthew 26:6-13 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Matthew 26:6

Theological / Devotional

Bethany. [Simon’s Feast, Matt. 26:6-13=Mark 14:3-9=Luke 7:36-50=John 12:1-9. Major comment: Matthew and Luke. See Closing Ministry at Jerusalem; The Ministry of Our Lord, Passion Week, pp. 231, 233.] Concerning the time of the feast see DA 557. Commentators generally deny that the feast of Luke 7:36-50 is to be identified with the one here recorded by Matthew (and also by Mark and John), and assign it to the Galilean ministry, more than a year and a half earlier. For a statement of the reasons why this commentary believes that one feast is described by all four gospel writers see Additional Note on Luke 7.

Simon. A Pharisee (Luke 7:36-40) whom Jesus had healed of the dreaded leprosy.

He considered himself a disciple, had openly associated himself with Jesus’ followers, but was not altogether convinced of His Messiahship (DA 557, 566; Luke 7:39). The feast was held in honor of Jesus. Lazarus was also an honored guest, Martha served, and Mary Magdalene whom Simon had led into sin and whom Jesus had healed of demon possession, was also present (DA 558, 559; see Additional Note on Luke 7).

The leper. Not that he had leprosy at the time, for then he would have been barred from society (see on Mark 1:40). Jesus had, some time previously, cured him of the leprosy, and he, in turn, gave this feast as an expression of his appreciation for what Jesus had done (DA 557).

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