When in Matthew 26:6-13, The Disciples thought they could have given the money for the perfume to the poor....Jesus said, "The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me." So it sounds like the poor are a seperate group from the disciples and Jesus. So what were they middle class or something? I know they were fishermen, tax collectors etc. but they hadn't been at their vocation for some time at this point. Did they have money saved up? What is your opinion?
2007-03-22 16:49:08 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
What I am wondering is that is this saying in so many words that the disciples were not poor?
2007-03-22 16:58:56 · update #1
26:6, 7 This incident provides a welcome relief, coming amid the treachery of the priests, the pettiness of the disciples, and the perfidy of Judas.
When Jesus was at the house of Simon the leper in Bethany, a woman came in and poured out a flask of very expensive perfume on His head. The costliness of her sacrifice expressed the depth of her devotion for the Lord Jesus, saying, in effect, that there was nothing too good for Him.
26:8, 9 His disciples, and Judas in particular (Joh_12:4-5), looked upon the act as an enormous waste. They thought the money might better have been given to the poor.
26:10-12 Jesus corrected their distorted thinking. Her act was not wasteful, but beautiful. Not only so, it was perfectly timed. The poor can be helped at any time. But only once in the world's history could the Savior be anointed for burial. That moment had struck and one lone woman with spiritual discernment had seized it. Believing the Lord's predictions concerning His death, she must have realized it was now or never. As it turned out, she was right. Those women who planned to anoint His body after His burial were thwarted by the resurrection (Mar_16:1-6).
26:13 The Lord Jesus immortalized her simple act of love: “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” Any act of true worship fills the courts of heaven with fragrance and is indelibly recorded in the Lord's memory.
2007-03-22 17:51:16 · answer #1 · answered by Ask Mr. Religion 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This has nothing to do with rich or poor. It had to do with the value of what was being done to Him vs what Judas was conspiring. Judas did not care about getting Jesus ready for His death and burial. He wanted to sell the perfume for a years wages and then pilfer it from the money box. John 12:6 What Mary was doing was a very intimate worship. Judas was suggesting she sell her devotion and not waste it on Jesus. Do you see now?
Jesus and the disciples were very poor. They did not even have the money to pay their taxes. Peter had to pull it out of the mouth of a fish. When Jesus was asked about taxes, He asked for a coin. He did not even have a coin to show them.
Also note that in Mark, there is a little more detail to what Jesus says here...
“For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always."
So Jesus was encouraging the care of the poor. In fact, the Bible is the only ancient book that I know of that give express instructions on providing for the poor by not gleaning the harvest (see Ruth).
2007-03-22 17:02:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The woman in this story takes her best perfume to annoint Jesus because she knew he is Lord and she also knew He was about to die for our sins. It was her way of showing appreciation for what He was about to do.
She could have sold this perfume and gave the funds to the poor, but this earth will always have poor people. Some are poor because of laziness, some have lost jobs, natural disasters, under rule by "crazy dictator guy" etc. She will have plenty of time to give to the poor. However Jesus walking the earth in human form would not be around always.
So it's an act of gratitude.
2007-03-22 17:04:11 · answer #3 · answered by hyrlady 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus wasn't showing lack of concern for the poor, He held the poor closely to His heart.
He knew Judas' heart, Judas was the treasurer and he would steal some of the money.
I think sometimes they didn't have money, because Jesus told Peter to go to the lake, and throw out his line and the first fish he caught he was to open it's mouth and find a coin to pay the temple taxes. (Matthew 17:26)
2007-03-22 17:29:31 · answer #4 · answered by Spoken4 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you might have misinterpreted that. I believe what Jesus Christ meant was that there would alway be perfume or money that can be given to the poor time after time but I (Jesus Christ) will not always be here therefore this perfume or oil poured over me is special at this point before my crucifixion.
2007-03-22 17:01:19 · answer #5 · answered by hardworkur84 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think, but I'm not sure, maybe it means, yes you should give much to the poor, but showing love and affection to loved ones in times of trouble is ok too. They got donations and I think people that joined them would also give up their property to them to use and distribute to their different organizations. Wasn't there a story about a couple that sold all of their belongings and their house and tried to hold back some of the money? Seems like I remember something like this. I don't know.
2007-03-22 16:56:41 · answer #6 · answered by Rosalind S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. They were not poor. They apparantly had means. Mary Magdalene and the other women who accompanied Jesus and his disciples may have supported them. She is mentioned as one of several women who traveled with Jesus and the other apostles and gave them financial support.
Luke 8:1-3 reads:
Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary, called Magdalene from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna and many others who were helping to support them out of their own means.
2007-03-22 16:54:31 · answer #7 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The poor needed money, not Jesus, he created if need be all they needed
They were being selfish, Jesus was saying I will not always be with you, she was ministering to him before his death
Fishermen are not middle class, they were poor
2007-03-22 16:56:35 · answer #8 · answered by Gifted 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
did Jesus and the disciples really need money?what should they buy,life was simple back in those days.I would guess they got fed by friends and followers.The woman gave her very best to Jesus,from her heart,while she was criticise by the disciples,they were looking for a way to do good deeds,looking good like we human like to be known for,but we don't go to heaven on good deeds.
2007-03-22 17:04:20 · answer #9 · answered by christine w 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
who are the poor - the ones who has no share in the hereafter, and whoever have god in their mind will always be closer to god.
the message of Jesus was directed at the Jews of the times the chosen ones, but they believe not in the revaluations bestowed on Jesus, the jews so to speak missed their massiah and they wait in vain for the coming of the massiah.
2007-03-22 16:59:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋