Daily Devotional For Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Good morning Southside and thank you for joining us as we make our way through the Gospel of Matthew. Today we come to Matthew 26:6-13:
“Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, (7) a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table. (8) But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, ‘Why this waste? (9) For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.’ (10) But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, ‘Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. (11) For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. (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” (NASB).
Both Matthew and Mark put this event just prior to the Last Supper. John places it just prior to the Triumphant Entry, which is probably when it occurred. Matthew sandwiches this story between plots to kill Jesus. We have the true devotion of Mary, who is our heroine versus the demonic treachery of the religious leaders. Matthew and Mark do not attempt to be specific when this event occurred, but to simply point out that it did. It is possible they both placed it here to contrast Mary’s beloved devotion to Jesus versus the coming betrayal of Jesus.
Bethany was located on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem on the western slope. If you remember, Bethany was also the home of 3 friends and supporters of Jesus: Mary, Martha and Lazarus. In all likelihood, Jesus and His disciples had been staying with this family while in Jerusalem during His final week and then returning to their home at night since it was just a short walk. It seems that at dinner one night, Jesus is the honored guest.
Simon the Leper is there. If he still had leprosy, he would have been forbidden by the Mosaic Law. At some time Jesus probably had healed him but his nickname still stuck. Leprosy was a highly contagious skin disease that created gross disfigurements. Today, it is called Hansen’s Disease and it is curable. Since there are several Marys mentioned in the New Testament, which Mark is this. Based on where they are staying, I think it is Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus.
An alabaster jar was very expensive and only the rich could afford to have one. Today, it would be like pouring a 2580ml bottle of Shumukh which is valued at $1.29 million or Le Monde Sur Mesure (Morreale Paris): Up to $1.8 million for a 5000ml bottle. An Alabaster Jar was sleek with a long neck. It is possible this was a family heirloom. It was carved from translucent gypsum. The perfume inside the jar is described as “pure nard” (Mark 14:3), a fragrant ointment imported from the mountains of India.
Matthew records that Mary poured it on Jesus’ head and John says she also poured it on Jesus’ feet. It was a common way to honor a special guest at a meal (see Luke 7:44-47), but it would not have been expensive. Expensive anointings such as this were reserved for royalty and in this case for the Messiah. Matthew says the disciples were indignant she did this. John says that Judas led the denunciation in John 12:4-5. Judas’ indignation was not over Mary’s acts of worship, or for any concern for the poor. He was greedy and lusted after money. Because he was the treasurer, he often stole from the ministry funds (see John 12:6).
The disciples resented what Mary did. We know that during Passover, pilgrims were encouraged to give money to help with the poor (see John 13:27-29). The sale of this would have helped a lot of poor people. French philosopher, Jacques Ellul said, “Efficiency is the relentless taskmasker that drives all our decisions, proposals, and all the parts of our lives.” Everything we do is justified by its calculated contribution to established goals. Thus the disciples were quite modern to protest the “waste” of valuable oil. Sadly, this attitude has permeated the church as well. Jesus rebuked His disciples for their attitude not just toward Mary, but Him.
She had prepared Jesus’ body for His death. Jesus was not downplaying the poor nor telling us to ignore or neglect them with an attitude of indifference. Jesus’ words “you will not always have Me” was His way of alluding to His death and Ascension. Jesus commanded that Mary’s unselfish act never to be forgotten, especially in sharing the Gospel. Mary is an example of unselfish devotion to Jesus Christ.
Reflection Assignment: Up to this point in your life, what act of devotion might the Lord say should be remembered about you for all time? Why this one? If there isn’t one, why? Should everything we do be determined by calculated contributions to established goals? Has who we are been reduced to just goals, purposes void of devotion to the Lord?
Scripture To Meditate On: Matthew 22:37, Jesus said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (NASB).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, I want to pour out my best to and for You no matter its cost regardless of what others might think, just like Mary did. There is nothing too expensive I won’t give to you. Thank you for pouring out Your life for me. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly