Matthew 26:8
6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,
7 a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table.
When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, “Why this waste?
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.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, “Why this waste?
- KJV
- But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
- WEB
- But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?
- ASV
- But when the disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
- DARBY
- But the disciples seeing it became indignant, saying, To what end [was] this waste?
- BLB
- And the disciples, having seen, became indignant, saying, “For what [is] this waste?
- ÅB
- Men da disiplene så det, ble de sinte og sa: «Hva er denne sløsingen godt for?
- OTB
- Da disiplene så dette, ble de opprørt og spurte, “Hvorfor denne sløsingen?
- B1930
- Men da disiplene så det, blev de vrede og sa: Hvad skal denne spille være til?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
John 12:4–6
But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked,
Read in contextMark 14:4
Some of those present, however, expressed their indignation to one another: “Why this waste of perfume?
Read in contextExodus 5:17
“You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’
Read in contextEcclesiastes 4:4
I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
Read in contextHaggai 1:2–4
that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.’”
Read in contextAmos 8:5
asking, “When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, that we may market wheat? Let us reduce the ephah and increase the shekel; let us cheat with dishonest scales.
Read in context1 Samuel 17:28–29
Now when David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, his anger burned against David. “Why have you come down here?” he asked. “And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and wickedness of heart—you have come down to see the battle!”
Read in contextMalachi 1:7–10
By presenting defiled food on My altar. But you ask, ‘How have we defiled You ?’ By saying that the table of the LORD is contemptible.
Read in context