A BEAUTIFUL ACT

Passage: Matthew 26:1-16

Key verse: 10

NIV

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.

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 26:11 See Deut. 15:11.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Plot to Kill Jesus

26 When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2 (A)“You know that after two days (B)the Passover is coming, and (C)the Son of Man (D)will be delivered up to be crucified.”

3 (E)Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in (F)the palace of the high priest, whose name was (G)Caiaphas, 4 (H)and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 5 But they said, “Not during the feast, (I)lest there be an uproar among the people.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

6 (J)Now when Jesus was at (K)Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,[a] 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and (L)given to the poor.” 10 But (M)Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For (N)you always have the poor with you, but (O)you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it (P)to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever (Q)this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told (R)in memory of her.”

Judas to Betray Jesus

14 (S)Then one of the twelve, whose name was (T)Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they (U)paid him (V)thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity (W)to betray him.

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 26:6 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Jesus knew that the time had come for him to be delivered up and crucified according to God's plan (2). He was not a helpless victim but the Son of God, who willingly participated in God's sovereign work. While the evil men were plotting to kill Jesus (3,4), a woman came and poured costly perfume from her alabaster jar on Jesus (7). Though the disciples called her act a waste, Jesus commended her, saying that she had done a beautiful thing and had prepared him for burial.

Our act of worship is not measured by efficiency or visible fruit but by our hearts' devotion to the Lord. The woman considered Jesus worthy of her most precious possession. However, Judas failed to remain faithful because he did not value Jesus above all else (15).

What is Jesus’ worth in your mind? Would you be willing to give up your most precious possession for Jesus, receiving him as your reward? (Genesis 22:12)

Prayer: Father, I repent for calculating my benefit in all my actions. Please create in me a pure heart to worship and serve you. Help me not to withhold anything from you, as you did not withhold your precious son from me.

One Word: Jesus is precious to me