Matthew 26:11-15

Mat 26:11 (KJB)
For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

The disciples seemed to have no concept about what was about to happen as they were viewing this woman as just another event. Even though Jesus told them that she was anointing His body for the burial, they still seemed oblivious as to what was about to happen. Jesus tells them that the poor people will always be there and they will have opportunity to help them any time they want. (Deu 15:11 KJV) For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. The events at hand were going to change the world and the disciples did not understand this yet. Jesus told them also that they would not have Him always, that is, the days will come after His resurrection that He will ascend into Heaven and will no longer be with them physically, although He will never leave them spiritually. (Heb 13:5 KJV) Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Mat 26:12 (KJB)
For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

Jesus had valued the woman’s action immensely because it was an act of homage plus it was in anticipation of His burial. It seemed many strangers understood the coming days much better than those disciples who were with Him from the beginning. It was the Jewish custom to wash and anoint the bodies of the dead with spices and ointment. Caring for and burying the dead was a serious religious duty in Israel. The women were unable to anoint the body of Jesus because once He was laid in the tomb, the rock was placed over the door and they could not go back the next day because it was the Sabbath and then Sunday He was risen from the dead. So this was the only anointing His body received concerning His burial.

Mat 26:13 (KJB)
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.

Jesus had praised the deed that she did so much that He told everyone that wherever the Gospel is preached in the entire world, her action of worship would be written in the Holy Scriptures and would also be proclaimed when the Gospel is preached or given in written form. And as you can see, the fact that we are looking at her action means that the Lord fulfilled His word by having it written in the Holy Scriptures. This would be done for a memorial of her and her actions upon the Lord Jesus Christ. A good question that we need to ask ourselves. Is there anything in our lives that we have done for the sake of Christ, worthy to be told as a memorial of us? What will people remember you for? Will it be your zeal to proclaim the true Gospel or will it be your laziness and non-involvement? Which would you like to be remembered for by the Lord?

Mat 26:14 (KJB)
Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

The pouring out of the anointing oil and Judas watching all that silver denarii just running to the ground may have been all the motivation he needed because he then went unto the chief priests to begin the process of betraying Jesus. (Mark 14:10 KJV) And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. Judas was not the only one who was involved in the betrayal. (Luke 22:3 KJV) Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. Satan had entered into Judas and compelled him to betray Jesus. The betrayal by Judas was also a fulfilled prophecy from Psalm 55. (Psalms 55:12 KJV) For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: {13} But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. {14} We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

Mat 26:15 (KJB)
And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

Judas was so blinded by his love for money that his first question to them was what will ye give me? So they had agreed on a price of thirty pieces of silver. These pieces of silver were each worth 4 denarii or drachmas which would have been equal to 120 days wages. The money had not yet been given to Judas as they just gave him the promise. He would be paid upon delivering Jesus. It was also a fulfillment of Zechariah 11:12. (Zec 11:12 KJV) And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. It is absolutely amazing how many prophecies were fulfilled in that weekend.

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