Matthew - Week 81

The Alabaster Jar 

READ 

Matthew 26:6-9 

6 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. 7 While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. 8 The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. 9 “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” 

In his Gospel, Matthew tells the reader of Jesus visiting the home of one who previously had been untouchable. At mealtime they reclined rather than sitting in chairs. While this was occurring, a woman poured expensive perfume over the head of Jesus. In his Gospel, John reports the woman was Mary and that Judas was disturbed about this (see John 12:3-6). Mark’s Gospel only records that “some” were indignant (see Mark 14:4-5). Matthew recorded that all the disciples were saying this.  

REFLECT 

Have you had some criticize you for giving your money to religious causes rather than to something else? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a Christian friend about not criticizing how others spend their money, unless they are a parent supervising a child. Each person will someday stand to give account for how he or she has served Jesus (see 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 and 2 Corinthians 5:10). 

This Woman's Deeds 

READ 

Matthew 26:10-13 

10 But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? 11 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. 12 She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.” 

Jesus rebuked those who thought the woman was foolish for pouring the expensive perfume over the head of Jesus. He also predicted that her act would be “remembered and discussed” wherever the Gospel is preached “throughout the world.” That is seen now by what she did being recorded in the Bible that has been translated into so many languages and is available on the Internet the world over. 

REFLECT 

How would you like to be remembered after your death? Think of two or three things you hope will come to the minds of others about you after you leave this earth. 

RESPOND 

Talk with a Christian friend about making it your desire not only to go to heaven but also taking as many people as possible with you. After you are gone, may others remember how you told others about Jesus and the need for them to place their faith in Him. 

Thirty Pieces of Silver 

READ 

Matthew 26:14-16 

14 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests 15 and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus. 

Always concerned about money, Judas decided he would betray Jesus if the religious leaders would pay him enough. The price was agreed for thirty pieces of silver. This was enough to satisfy Judas to betray the one he had followed with the other disciples. All Judas needed after the money was agreed on was to find an opportunity to betray Jesus. 

REFLECT 

What do you imagine was going through the mind of Judas as he planned to betray the one he had followed? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a fellow believer about the need to be cautious in assuming everyone is a believer who says they believe. Judas must have been doing all the things the other disciples were doing such as praying, casting out demons, and performing miracles. Someday, however, Judas, and others like him will hear what Jesus told some in Matthew 7:22-23.  

Preparing for Passover 

READ 

Matthew 26:17-19 

17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?” 18 “As you go into the city,” he told them, “you will see a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there. 

Jesus gave some vague instructions to the disciples about how to find the place for the Passover meal. Luke 22:8 indicates the two disciples involved were Peter and John. This revealed the omniscience of Jesus. He already knew who the man was who would welcome Him and the disciples into his dwelling to celebrate the Passover meal. These two disciples were also involved in preparing the Passover meal. 

REFLECT 

Do you find it interesting that it was Peter and John who sought out the location of the house and prepared the meal? Why these two? 

RESPOND 

For Luke’s recording about this event, read Luke 22:7-13. The Gospel writers wrote about similar events but they did not all tell the same details. It would be like four people today writing about the same event but doing it from four different perspectives.  

A Betrayer Among Us 

READ 

Matthew 26:20-22 

20 When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the Twelve. 21 While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” 22 Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one, Lord?” 

Some modern translations picture Jesus as sitting at a table, but that was not the custom at the time. They would recline, likely with most leaning on their left arm so they could eat with their right hand. Reclining on either side of the host would be guests of honor. When Jesus said someone would betray Him, each disciple thought he might be the one. This reveals they had no suspicion about Judas Iscariot. 

REFLECT 

What if you had been at the meal that day? Would you have thought Jesus was referring to you?  

RESPOND 

To be reminded of all 12 of the disciples, see Matthew 10:2-4. Judas was a common name in that day so the one who would betray Jesus was usually indicated in the text. Notice that two of the disciples had the name “James” so they were distinguished by the names of their fathers.