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Matthew 26:9

Poverty and the vulnerableMoney and wealth

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.

8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, “Why this waste?

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.

11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.

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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
This perfume could have been sold at a high price, and the money given to the poor.”
KJV
For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
WEB
For this ointment might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”
ASV
For this [ointment] might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
DARBY
for this might have been sold for much and been given to the poor.
BLB
For this could have been sold for much and given to the poor.”
ÅB
Salven kunne jo ha vært solgt for mange penger og gitt til de fattige.»
OTB
Denne parfymen kunne ha blitt solgt for en høy pris og pengene gitt til de fattige.”
B1930
Dette kunde jo være solgt for mange penger og gitt til de fattige.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • John 12:5–6

    “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?”

    Read in context

  • Mark 14:5

    It could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her.

    Read in context

  • Joshua 7:20–21

    “It is true,” Achan replied, “I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did:

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 15:21

    The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 15:9

    Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to destroy them, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.

    Read in context

  • 2 Kings 5:20

    Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman, while not accepting what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”

    Read in context

  • 2 Peter 2:15

    They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.

    Read in context