Matthew 26:12
By pouring this perfume on Me, she has prepared My body for burial.
By pouring this perfume on Me
The act of pouring perfume is significant in the cultural and historical context of the time. In ancient Jewish customs, anointing with oil or perfume was a sign of honor and consecration. The Greek word used here for "pouring" is "βάλλω" (ballō), which implies a deliberate and generous action. This act by the woman is not just a simple gesture; it is a profound expression of devotion and recognition of Jesus' divine role. The perfume, likely a costly nard, symbolizes the woman's sacrificial love and acknowledgment of Jesus' impending sacrifice.

she has prepared My body
The phrase "prepared My body" is deeply prophetic and foreshadows the imminent crucifixion and burial of Jesus. The Greek word "ἑτοιμάζω" (hetoimazō) means to make ready or to prepare. In Jewish burial customs, bodies were anointed with spices and perfumes to honor the deceased and to mitigate the odor of decay. This preparation by the woman is an unintentional yet divinely orchestrated act that aligns with the burial practices of the time, highlighting the reality of Jesus' approaching death and the fulfillment of His mission.

for burial
The term "burial" in this context is "ἐνταφιασμός" (entaphiasmos) in Greek, which refers to the act of preparing a body for interment. This phrase underscores the somber reality of Jesus' mission on earth—to die for the sins of humanity. The mention of burial is a direct reference to the Passion narrative, where Jesus' death and resurrection are central themes. Historically, this preparation for burial signifies the transition from Jesus' earthly ministry to His sacrificial death, which is the cornerstone of Christian faith. The woman's act of anointing is thus seen as a prophetic acknowledgment of Jesus' redemptive work, inspiring believers to reflect on the depth of His sacrifice and the hope of resurrection.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is the one who acknowledges the woman's act of anointing Him with perfume as preparation for His burial.

2. The Woman
Although not named in this specific verse, the woman is identified in other Gospel accounts as Mary of Bethany. She performs an act of devotion by anointing Jesus with expensive perfume.

3. Bethany
The village where this event takes place, located near Jerusalem. It is significant as a place where Jesus often visited and performed miracles.

4. The Disciples
Present during this event, some of them express indignation over what they perceive as wastefulness, not understanding the spiritual significance of the act.

5. The Perfume
A costly ointment, likely made of pure nard, used by the woman to anoint Jesus. It symbolizes honor and preparation for His impending death.
Teaching Points
Understanding Sacrificial Worship
The woman's act of anointing Jesus with expensive perfume demonstrates sacrificial worship. True worship often involves giving up something valuable to honor God.

Recognizing Spiritual Significance
The disciples initially misunderstood the woman's actions. Believers are encouraged to seek spiritual discernment to understand God's purposes beyond the surface.

Preparation for Christ's Sacrifice
Jesus' acknowledgment of the anointing as preparation for His burial highlights the importance of recognizing and preparing for the significance of His death and resurrection.

Honoring Christ Above Material Concerns
The woman's willingness to use costly perfume on Jesus teaches us to prioritize honoring Christ above material possessions or concerns.

Legacy of Faithful Acts
Jesus promised that the woman's act would be remembered wherever the Gospel is preached, reminding us that acts of faith and devotion have lasting impact.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the woman's act of anointing Jesus challenge our understanding of sacrificial worship today?

2. In what ways can we ensure that we are discerning the spiritual significance of events in our lives, as opposed to focusing solely on material concerns?

3. How does this passage encourage us to prepare our hearts for the significance of Christ's death and resurrection?

4. What are some ways we can honor Christ in our daily lives, even if it requires sacrificing something valuable to us?

5. How can we leave a legacy of faith and devotion that impacts others, as the woman's act did in this passage?
Connections to Other Scriptures
John 12:1-8
Provides a parallel account of this event, identifying the woman as Mary and offering additional details about the setting and reactions of those present.

Mark 14:3-9
Another parallel account that emphasizes the significance of the woman's act and Jesus' commendation of her.

Psalm 23:5
The anointing of the head with oil is a symbol of blessing and honor, which can be seen as a foreshadowing of Jesus' ultimate sacrifice.

Isaiah 53:7-9
Prophecies about the suffering servant, which align with Jesus' acknowledgment of His impending death and burial.
A Woman's MemorialC. H. Spurgeon.Matthew 26:6-13
Christ Anointed for His BurialR. Woodford, M. A.Matthew 26:6-13
Immortality of Good DeedsC. Dickens.Matthew 26:6-13
Jesus Christ Deserves to be Served After an Extraordinary MannerC. H. Spurgeon.Matthew 26:6-13
Love the Great Energy in ReligionA. G. Brown.Matthew 26:6-13
Mary Anointing ChristC. Molyneux, B. A.Matthew 26:6-13
Mediocrity in Religion Best Liked by the WorldA. G. Brown.Matthew 26:6-13
Ointment Poured ForthW.F. Adeney Matthew 26:6-13
Originality in ReligionA. G. Brown.Matthew 26:6-13
Profitable WasteAnon.Matthew 26:6-13
Spiritual Emotion not to be SuppressedA. Watson, D. D.Matthew 26:6-13
Superiority of Christian to Humanitarian VirtuesR. B. Fairbairn, D. D.Matthew 26:6-13
The Anointing At BethanyC. W. Baird.Matthew 26:6-13
The Anointing of the Feet of JesusH. M. Jackson.Matthew 26:6-13
The Originality of ServiceC. H. Spurgeon.Matthew 26:6-13
The Problem of Poverty, and How to Deal with ItAmerican Homiletic ReviewMatthew 26:6-13
The Saviour's Defence of Sublime DevotionA. G. Brown.Matthew 26:6-13
The Universal MemorialJ. Alexander.Matthew 26:6-13
The Woman that Anointed JesusN. Lardner.Matthew 26:6-13
The Worth of Life Enhanced by Kinder ActsA. Watson, D. D.Matthew 26:6-13
Things of Highest Value have not a Marked PriceJ. R. S. Harington.Matthew 26:6-13
True FameW. M. Taylor D. D.Matthew 26:6-13
True Principles of Christian EconomyJ. R. McGavin, D. D.Matthew 26:6-13
Troublers of the GoodJ.A. Macdonald Matthew 26:6-16
People
Caiaphas, Jesus, Judas, Peter, Simon, Zabdi, Zebedee
Places
Bethany, Galilee, Gethsemane, Jerusalem, Mount of Olives, Nazareth
Topics
Body, Burial, Burying, Object, Ointment, Perfume, Poured, Pouring, Prepare, Putting, Ready, Resting-place
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Matthew 26:12

     2411   cross, predictions
     2530   Christ, death of
     4490   ointment
     4496   perfume
     5241   burial
     5288   dead, the

Matthew 26:6-12

     7304   anointing

Matthew 26:6-13

     5745   women
     5979   waste
     8356   unselfishness

Library
January 9. "Not as I Will, but as Thou Wilt" (Matt. xxvi. 39).
"Not as I will, but as Thou wilt" (Matt. xxvi. 39). "To will and do of His good pleasure" (Phil. ii. 13). There are two attitudes in which our will should be given to God. First. We should have the surrendered will. This is where we must all begin, by yielding up to God our natural will, and having Him possess it. But next, He wants us to have the victorious will. As soon as He receives our will in honest surrender, He wants to put His will into it and make it stronger than ever for Him. It is henceforth
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

November 29. "Could Ye not Watch with Me one Hour?" (Matt. xxvi. 40. )
"Could ye not watch with Me one hour?" (Matt. xxvi. 40.) A young lady whose parents had died while she was an infant, had been kindly cared for by a dear friend of the family. Before she was old enough to know him, he went to Europe. Regularly he wrote to her through all his years of absence, and never failed to send her money for all her wants. Finally word came that during a certain week he would return and visit her. He did not fix the day or the hour. She received several invitations to take
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

January 3. "Watch and Pray" (Matt. xxvi. 41).
"Watch and pray" (Matt. xxvi. 41). We need to watch for prayers as well as for the answers to our prayers. It needs as much wisdom to pray rightly as it does faith to receive the answers to our prayers. We met a friend the other day, who had been in years of darkness because God had failed to answer certain prayers, and the result had been a state bordering on infidelity. A very few moments were sufficient to convince this friend that these prayers had been entirely unauthorized, and that God had
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

'Until that Day'
'I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.'--MATT. xxvi. 29. This remarkable saying of our Lord's is recorded in all of the accounts of the institution of the Lord's Supper. The thought embodied in it ought to be present in the minds of all who partake of that rite. It converts what is primarily a memorial into a prophecy. It bids us hope as well as, and because we, remember. The light behind us is cast forward on to
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Last Pleading of Love
'And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come?'--MATT. xxvi. 50. We are accustomed to think of the betrayer of our Lord as a kind of monster, whose crime is so mysterious in its atrocity as to put him beyond the pale of human sympathy. The awful picture which the great Italian poet draws of him as alone in hell, shunned even there, as guilty beyond all others, expresses the general feeling about him. And even the attempts which have been made to diminish the greatness of his guilt, by
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Jesus Charged with Blasphemy
'Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses?'--MATT. xxvi. 65. Jesus was tried and condemned by two tribunals, the Jewish ecclesiastical and the Roman civil. In each case the charge corresponded to the Court. The Sanhedrin took no cognisance of, and had no concern with, rebellion against Caesar; though for the time they pretended loyalty. Pilate had still less concern about Jewish superstitions. And so the investigation in each
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The New Passover
'Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto Him, Where wilt Thou that we prepare for Thee to eat the passover? 18. And He said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with My disciples. 19. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover. 20. Now when the even was come, He sat down with the twelve. 21. And as they did eat, He said,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

'This Cup'
'And Jesus took the cup, and grave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28. For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins'--MATT. xxvi. 27, 28. The comparative silence of our Lord as to the sacrificial character of His death has very often been urged as a reason for doubting that doctrine, and for regarding it as no part of the original Christian teaching. That silence may be accounted for by sufficient reasons. It has been very much
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Gethsemane, the Oil-Press
'Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37. And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38. Then saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me. 39. And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Real High Priest and his Counterfeit
'And they that had laid hold on Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. 58. But Peter followed Him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. 59. Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put Him to death; 60. But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, 61. And said,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Defence of Uncalculating Love
'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
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Power of Prayer in Relation to Outward Circumstances.
TEXT: MATT. xxvi. 36-46. TO be a religious man and to pray are really one and the same thing. To join the thought of God with every thought of any importance that occurs to us; in all our admiration of external nature, to regard it as the work of His wisdom; to take counsel with God about all our plans, that we may be able to carry them out in His name; and even in our most mirthful hours to remember His all-seeing eye; this is the prayer without ceasing to which we are called, and which is really
Friedrich Schleiermacher—Selected Sermons of Schleiermacher

An Awful Contrast
"Then did they spit in his face."--Matthew 26:67. "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away."--Revelation 20:11. GUIDED BY OUR TEXT in Matthew's Gospel, let us first go in thought to the palace of Caiaphas the high priest, and there let us, in deepest sorrow, realize the meaning of these terrible words: "Then did they spit in his face." There is more of deep and awful thunder in them than in the bolt that bursts overhead, there is
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 42: 1896

A Woman's Memorial
And now my prayer is that we may be endued this morning with the same spirit as that which prompted the woman, when she broke her alabaster box upon the head of Christ. There must be something wonderful about this story, or else Christ would not have linked it with his gospel, for so hath he done. So long as this gospel lives shall this story of the woman be told; and when this story of the woman ceaseth to exist, then the gospel must cease to exist also, for they are co-eternal. As long as this
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 6: 1860

Sunday Next Before Easter.
What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. These words, we cannot doubt, have an application to ourselves, and to all Christians, far beyond the particular occasion on which they were actually spoken. They are, in fact, the words which Christ addresses daily to all of us. Every day, when he sees how often we have gone astray from him, he repeats to us, Could ye not watch with me one hour? Every
Thomas Arnold—The Christian Life

"For they that are after the Flesh do Mind the Things of the Flesh,",
Rom. viii. 5.--"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh,", &c. Though sin hath taken up the principal and inmost cabinet of the heart of man--though it hath fixed its imperial throne in the spirit of man, and makes use of all the powers and faculties in the soul to accomplish its accursed desires and fulfil its boundless lusts, yet it is not without good reason expressed in scripture, ordinarily under the name of "flesh," and a "body of death," and men dead in sins, are
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Wyclif -- Christ's Real Body not in the Eucharist
John Wyclif, eminent as scholar, preacher, and translator, was born in 1324 in Spresswel, near Richmond, Yorkshire, England. Known as the "Morning Star of the Reformation" he was a vigorous and argumentative speaker, exemplifying his own definition of preaching as something which should be "apt, apparent, full of true feeling, fearless in rebuking sins, and so addrest to the heart as to enlighten the spirit and subdue the will." On these lines he organized a band of Bible preachers who worked largely
Various—The World's Great Sermons, Volume I

That Man must not be Immersed in Business
"My Son, always commit thy cause to Me; I will dispose it aright in due time. Wait for My arrangement of it, and then thou shalt find it for thy profit." 2. O Lord, right freely I commit all things to Thee; for my planning can profit but little. Oh that I did not dwell so much on future events, but could offer myself altogether to Thy pleasures without delay. 3. "My Son, a man often striveth vehemently after somewhat which he desireth; but when he hath obtained it he beginneth to be of another
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

Jesus Predicts, the Rulers Plot For, and Judas Bargains for his Death.
(Mount of Olives, Bethany, and Jerusalem. Tuesday After Sunset, Which Jews Regarded as the Beginning of Wednesday.) ^A Matt. XXVI. 1-5, 14-16; ^B Mark XIV. 1, 2, 10, 11; ^C Luke XXII. 1-6. ^c 1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. { ^b 1 Now after two days was the feast of the passover and the unleavened bread:} ^a 1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these words, he said unto his disciples, 2 Ye know that after two days the passover cometh, and
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Preparation for Passover. Disciples Contend for Precedence.
(Bethany to Jerusalem. Thursday Afternoon and, After Sunset, Beginning of Friday.) ^A Matt. XXVI. 17-20; ^B Mark XIV. 12-17; ^C Luke XXII. 7-18, 24-30. ^c 7 And the day of unleavened bread came, on which the passover must be sacrificed. [See p. 57. Leaven was to the Jew a symbol of corruption and impurity, because it causes bread to become stale. The feast of unleavened bread began properly on the fifteenth of Nisan, and lasted seven days, but this was the fourteenth Nisan, the day on which the paschal
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Judas' Betrayal and Peter's Denial Foretold.
(Jerusalem. Evening Before the Crucifixion.) ^A Matt. XXVI. 21-25, 31-35; ^B Mark XIV. 18-21, 27-31; ^C Luke XXII. 21-23, 31-38; ^D John XIII. 21-38. ^b 18 And ^d 21 When Jesus had thus said, ^b as they sat and were eating, ^d he was troubled in the spirit, and ^b Jesus ^d testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. ^b even he that eateth with me. ^c 21 But behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. [The foreknowledge of Judas' crime
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Lord's Supper Instituted.
(Jerusalem. Evening Before the Crucifixion.) ^A Matt. XXVI. 26-29; ^B Mark XIV. 22-25; ^C Luke XXII. 19, 20; ^F I. Cor. XI. 23-26. ^a 26 And as they were eating, ^f the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; 24 and when he had given thanks, { ^b blessed,} ^f he brake it, ^a and he gave to the disciples, and said, ^b Take ye: ^a Take, eat; this is my body. ^f which is ^c given ^f for you: this do in remembrance of me. [As only unleavened bread was eaten during the paschal supper,
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Betrayed, Arrested, and Forsaken.
(Gethsemane. Friday, Several Hours Before Dawn.) ^A Matt. XXVI. 47-56; ^B Mark XIV. 43-52; ^C Luke XXII. 47-53; ^D John XVIII. 2-11. ^d 2 Now Judas also, who betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. [See p. 583.] 3 Judas then, having received the band of soldiers, and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. ^b 43 And straightway, while he yet spake, ^a lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came,
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Second Stage of Jewish Trial. Jesus Condemned by Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin.
(Palace of Caiaphas. Friday.) ^A Matt. XXVI. 57, 59-68; ^B Mark XIV. 53, 55-65; ^C Luke XXII. 54, 63-65; ^D John XVIII. 24. ^d 24 Annas therefore sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. [Foiled in his attempted examination of Jesus, Annas sends him to trial.] ^b and there come together with him all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes. ^a 57 And they that had taken Jesus led him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, ^c and brought him into the high priest's house. ^a where
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

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