Matthew 26:11
9 This perfume could have been sold at a high price, and the money given to the poor.”
10 Aware of this, Jesus asked, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.
The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.
12 By pouring this perfume on Me, she has prepared My body for burial.
13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.
- KJV
- For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
- WEB
- For you always have the poor with you, but you don’t always have me.
- ASV
- For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
- DARBY
- For ye have the poor always with you, but me ye have not always.
- BLB
- For the poor you⁺ always have with you, but not always do you⁺ have Me.
- ÅB
- For de fattige har dere alltid hos dere, men meg har dere ikke alltid.
- OTB
- For de fattige har dere alltid hos dere, men meg har dere ikke alltid.
- B1930
- For de fattige har I alltid hos eder, men mig har I ikke alltid.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Deuteronomy 15:11
For there will never cease to be poor in the land; that is why I am commanding you to open wide your hand to your brother and to the poor and needy in your land.
Read in contextMark 14:7
The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have Me.
Read in contextJohn 12:8
The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.”
Read in contextJohn 16:28
I came from the Father and entered the world. In turn, I will leave the world and go to the Father.”
Read in contextJohn 16:5
Now, however, I am going to Him who sent Me; yet none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’
Read in contextJohn 13:33
Little children, I am with you only a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’
Read in contextJohn 14:19
In a little while the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live.
Read in contextMatthew 28:20
and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Read in context