A woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume,
which she poured on [Jesus’] head as he was reclining at the table. When the
disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This
perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
(Matthew 26:7-9)
(Matthew 26:7-9)
* * * * *
Game show host: Welcome, Paul, to our game show, “Situational Ethics.” Are you ready to play?
Paul: Sure, Alex! I can’t wait! (Hi, Mom!)
Host: OK! Here we go! You’ve received a generous donation of perfume equal to a year’s wages. Do you A) sell it and give the money to the poor, or B) dump it out on someone’s head?
Paul [laughing]: Oh my goodness, Alex, that’s an easy one! Why, we feed the poor, of course!
[LOUD BUZZER!]
Host: I’m sorry, Paul. The right thing to do in this case was to dump the perfume out on someone’s head. But thanks for playing “Situational Ethics”! Johnny, do we have anything for our contestant?
Paul: Sure, Alex! I can’t wait! (Hi, Mom!)
Host: OK! Here we go! You’ve received a generous donation of perfume equal to a year’s wages. Do you A) sell it and give the money to the poor, or B) dump it out on someone’s head?
Paul [laughing]: Oh my goodness, Alex, that’s an easy one! Why, we feed the poor, of course!
[LOUD BUZZER!]
Host: I’m sorry, Paul. The right thing to do in this case was to dump the perfume out on someone’s head. But thanks for playing “Situational Ethics”! Johnny, do we have anything for our contestant?
Johnny: Yes, we do, Alex! Paul, just for playing with us today, we’re
giving you a New Testament! And that’s not all! Your whole family will be able
to enjoy our game, because we’re also giving you our play-at-home edition of “Situational
Ethics"!
* * * * *
In today’s Bible passage, Matthew 26:6-13, it may just be that both
Jesus and the disciples were thinking of the same Old Testament verse,
Deuteronomy 15:11. After all, Jesus paraphrased its first sentence, “There will
always be poor people in the land,” and perhaps his followers were thinking
about its conclusion, “Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your
brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.”
Certainly the law leads us in the ways that are good and right, for the law itself is good and right. In fact, all of the 613 Old Testament commands culminate into two: love God, and love others. Yet when we approach the law self-righteously and apply it judgmentally, we deafen ourselves to the Spirit’s voice and blind ourselves to His moving in and around us.
On several occasions, Jesus said that He only did what He saw the Father doing and that He said just what the Father told Him to say. And I think that, in today’s passage, the woman with the expensive perfume was likewise doing what the Spirit was leading her to do. She probably cared for the poor as much as the disciples did, but in the moment, she was worshipping her Lord and, though she didn’t know it at the time, she was also serving Him by preparing Him for burial.
Like her, we do best to follow the Spirit, for He will never lead us against the law, but always in the ways that are good and right—the ways of love for God and love for people. And as He lives in us, we cease to look at the law in the hypothetical, rather we live it in perfect power, love and freedom—regardless of our situation—for the Spirit has written it on our hearts. Ours is to listen, hear and obey.
Father, send your Spirit to lead me in your paths today, that I would say what you would have me say and do what you would have me do—all in love and truth. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Certainly the law leads us in the ways that are good and right, for the law itself is good and right. In fact, all of the 613 Old Testament commands culminate into two: love God, and love others. Yet when we approach the law self-righteously and apply it judgmentally, we deafen ourselves to the Spirit’s voice and blind ourselves to His moving in and around us.
On several occasions, Jesus said that He only did what He saw the Father doing and that He said just what the Father told Him to say. And I think that, in today’s passage, the woman with the expensive perfume was likewise doing what the Spirit was leading her to do. She probably cared for the poor as much as the disciples did, but in the moment, she was worshipping her Lord and, though she didn’t know it at the time, she was also serving Him by preparing Him for burial.
Like her, we do best to follow the Spirit, for He will never lead us against the law, but always in the ways that are good and right—the ways of love for God and love for people. And as He lives in us, we cease to look at the law in the hypothetical, rather we live it in perfect power, love and freedom—regardless of our situation—for the Spirit has written it on our hearts. Ours is to listen, hear and obey.
Father, send your Spirit to lead me in your paths today, that I would say what you would have me say and do what you would have me do—all in love and truth. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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