THE LORD'S SUPPER, Dr. Samuel Lee
IN MEMORY OF HER
Passage: Matthew 26:1~16  
Key verse: 13
The Plot Against Jesus(A)
26 When Jesus had finished saying all these things,(B) he said to his disciples, 2 “As you know, the Passover(C) is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled(D) in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,(E) 4 and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.(F) 5 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot(G) among the people.”
Jesus Anointed at Bethany(H)(I)
6 While Jesus was in Bethany(J) in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you,[a](K) but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.(L) 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus(M)
14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot(N)—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.(O) 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
Footnotes
- Matthew 26:11 See Deut. 15:11.
Cross references
- Matthew 26:1 : 26:2-5pp — Mk 14:1, 2; Lk 22:1, 2
- Matthew 26:1 : S Mt 7:28
- Matthew 26:2 : S Jn 11:55
- Matthew 26:3 : Ps 2:2
- Matthew 26:3 : ver 57; Lk 3:2; Jn 11:47-53; 18:13, 14, 24, 28; Ac 4:6
- Matthew 26:4 : S Mt 12:14
- Matthew 26:5 : Mt 27:24
- Matthew 26:6 : 26:6-13pp — Mk 14:3-9
- Matthew 26:6 : 26:6-13Ref — Lk 7:37, 38; Jn 12:1-8
- Matthew 26:6 : S Mt 21:17
- Matthew 26:11 : Dt 15:11
- Matthew 26:12 : Jn 19:40
- Matthew 26:14 : 26:14-16pp — Mk 14:10, 11; Lk 22:3-6
- Matthew 26:14 : ver 25, 47; S Mt 10:4
- Matthew 26:15 : Ex 21:32; Zec 11:12
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
In a highly patriarchal society, women were rarely given any chance to be of importance as leaders in the community or even mentioned in history books. But Jesus welcomed women and spoke highly of women. Many women followed Jesus and sacrificially provided for him and his disciples. Women were with Jesus when others abandoned him and were the first witnesses of risen Jesus.
Even though Jesus may not have been the perfume wearing type, he welcomed this woman’s act of love and accepted it as an anointing for his upcoming death and burial. Jesus sees those who are unseen by society, and upholds their lives, their words, and their actions as worthy of his love and of inclusion in the gospel narrative.
Prayer: Lord, help me to rid myself of vain conceit that destroys others or greed that takes advantage of others. May I learn and practice the generous giving that flows out of the love you poured out to me.
One Word: Do beautiful things for others.