A time for every purpose

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, 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. But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, “Why this waste? For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. 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.” —Matthew 26:6-13 

Mark 14:1-11 and John 12:1-11 also record this event, with slight variations. (Luke 7:37-39 is a similar, but separate, occasion.) Did it happen at Simon’s house, or the home of Lazarus? Who was the woman—Mary (Lazarus and Martha’s sister), or someone else? Did she anoint Jesus’ feet, head, or both? Who was upset—Judas, or all the disciples?

Several things appear in all three accounts:

• The extravagance of the anointing shocked people into complaining. Suddenly they were avid supporters of the poor. Isn’t this what Jesus wanted people to do (Matt 19:16-22)? Hadn’t He commended Zaccheus for doing this? It sounds as though they were trying to catch Him in an inconsistency.
• Jesus rebuked them, not her. He affirmed her decision and graciously accepted her lavish gift that would soon fade away.
• He may have surprised her by linking the expensive perfume to preparation for His coming death and burial—something He’d constantly spoken of, and which they all had a hard time accepting. 
• He would not be with them much longer, but the poor would. It’s almost as though we would be reminded of Jesus by the enduring presence of poor people.

This last idea comes from Deuteronomy 15:11. We’ve talked about this passage in a previous post. It acknowledges mankind’s fallenness and the brokenness of nature and society. It is a given that people will continue to need help. Those who have the means are not exempt from helping brothers, fellow church members, neighbors, fellow citizens, strangers, even enemies.

I think Jesus was also acknowledging proper timing, as in Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “There is an appointed time for everything.” On the cusp of His crucifixion, it was appropriate to make a lavish display of tender love, respect, and honor toward Jesus. Yes, it was unusual and broke into the routine of their everyday lives—if you could call the life of a disciple “routine”—but it was the right thing to do.

I cite Matthew’s account because it came so soon after Jesus’ enigmatic description of His return and the judgment of nations (Matthew 25:31-46). Sheep nations will be separated from goat nations. Sheep are the ones with whom He’s pleased, while goats are the objects of displeasure. Sheep will be blessed with eternal life and welcomed into God’s kingdom, while goats are banished to eternal punishment.

We’re left with many questions: Who are the nations? (People-groups? Governments?) Who are Jesus’ brothers? (His disciples? Jews?) And who are the least of them? (Persecuted believers, particularly during the coming tribulation? Itinerant pastors or evangelists carrying the gospel with no means of support?)

As a child, when my mother read this passage to me, all I could think was, “Oh no! Have I ever helped anyone? What can I do?” It’s a passage that still causes me to tremble.

We have plenty of indications of what the early church did with Jesus’ statement. They amply demonstrated that they indeed took Jesus’ words to heart.

• We have accounts of the early church caring for the poor among them – Acts 6:1, Romans 15:26, and Galatians 2:10 
• We have related passages – James 2:15-16, Galatians 6:10, Hebrews 13:1-3, and 3 John 1:5-8 (in contrast with 2 Jn 1:10-12, which issues a caveat about not helping false teachers). 
• We have instructions – 1 Timothy 5:9-10 (widows worthy of help must themselves have done the things for which the sheep of the parable are commended: showing hospitality to strangers, washing the feet of saints, assisting those in distress)
• We even have a necessary attitude adjustment – 1 Corinthians 13:3 (giving to the poor could become a matter of course, so Paul reminds believers to do so with love)

The apostles and early church certainly understood what Jesus meant. Even though they themselves were not rich, they did not exempt themselves from helping others, or quibble over who was eligible for help. Whether it’s a matter of individuals suffering persecution, or the repression of Christians through government policies, it is dangerous and costly for believers to come to their aid.

Even Judas knew what Jesus’s words meant. Because he’d been stealing from the coffers, he was enraged by Jesus’ rebuke. He was not moved by the Master’s worthiness or the plight of the poor. The woman’s extravagance became his impetus for offering to help the religious leaders kill Jesus. It moved up their timeline. God used his rage over God’s ways to ensure the most climactic event in salvation history would happen at the appointed time.

“There is a time for every purpose under heaven.” (Eccl. 3:1)

Is Jesus teaching salvation by works?

For all their attention to the poor, the early church did not tell people they could be saved by giving all their money to them. They did say, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” and,  “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 16:31, Romans 10:13).

But when they shared the good news, they also told the woman’s story, as Jesus predicted. And so do we. It testifies to how wonderful He is.

The lesson of His anointing is to put love for Jesus ahead of service to others. Salvation is through grace alone. We receive it by faith in what Jesus has done for us.

These passages in Matthew authorize believers to help the poor in Jesus’ name and for His glory. Through our good works done in His name, Jesus performs His duty as a brother-keeper. 

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Related post: The poor are always with you

Image credit: Anointing at Bethany (Christus in het huis van Simon de Melaatse), by Jan Rombouts, ca. 1525-1550, https://artinflanders.be/en/artwork/christus-het-huis-van-simon-de-melaatse (Museum Leuven; Cedric Verhelst, photographer), public domain.