Matthew 26:1-13
Q.1. Had Jesus completed sharing all His teaching with His disciples? At what time in the Jewish calendar would He die? What do we learn about God’s plans and people’s plans? – (Mt.26:1-5)
John confirmed the record of Matthew, that – 1 Jesus knew that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father … 3 knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God (Jn.13:1 & 3). Jesus told His disciples again – You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be handed over for crucifixion (Mt.26:2 c.f. Ps.22:16). This would happen because the Jewish leaders -… plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him (Mt.26:4). Nevertheless, they had planned to avoid the Passover festival, because they wanted to avoid a riot from the people (Mt.26:5). These people had their plans, but Jesus would in fact die exactly when God planned it. That is, when the sacrificial lambs were slain at the Passover (c.f. Jn.18:28). John the Baptist had prophesied a few years earlier, that Jesus would be God’s sacrificial Lamb for the sins of the world (Jn.1:29).
Q.2. What was odd about the venue for this meal? Do we know the identity of the woman? How valuable was the perfume? What value did the disciples place on Jesus? – (Mt.26:6-9 c.f. Jn.12:3-6)
The story of Mary’s devotion was recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John. All the writers agreed that it happened at Bethany. Matthew and Mark told us that the venue was Simon’s home. Simon had been a leper. John informed us, not surprisingly, that Martha was serving (c.f. Lk.10:38-40; Jn.12:2). He also revealed that it was Mary who performed the sacrificial anointing, worth in excess of fifty thousand dollars or about 300 days’ wages (c.f. Mk.14:5; Jn.12:5). The indignation of the disciples showed a complete lack of sensitivity for the devotion of Mary, and the low value they placed on Jesus (Mt.26:8-9). John stated that the ringleader in this reaction was Judas Iscariot. He reported that – he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it (Jn.12:6). No disciple could mirror the care that Jesus gave to the poor, in any way.
Q.3. How did Jesus view the attitude of His disciples? Why was the extravagance warranted? What did Mary’s sacrifice mean? What has this act got to do with the Gospel? – (Mt.26:10-13)
Jesus was aware of the murmur of complaint against Mary. He stepped in to defend her generous offering (Mt.26:10). He knew the truth and identified that Mary’s act was noble, in contrast to the attitude of the disciples. He pointed out that – you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me (Mk.14:7). It seemed that only Mary took Jesus’ predictions about His pending death to heart. She determined to take the opportunity to lavish her love on Him while it was still possible. Jesus got Mary’s message loudly and clearly and made a stunning prophecy about her – 12 For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. 13 Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her (Mt.26:12-13). Mary’s gift keeps giving, and her devotion must have greatly heartened Jesus, as He faced the Day of Reckoning for the sinners of the world.