From Matthew 26:6-13 / A Beautiful Thing

There are few who argue that this passage is not interesting, wonderful and not easy to apply.

It is interesting in the details.

They are gathered in the house of a leper, Simon by name. The company appears to be Mary, Martha, Lazarus, the Disciples and Simon – with perhaps Simon’s family.

To have gathered there, one of two things had to be true: Either this man had been notably cleansed of his leprosy by Jesus; or, the entire group were tossing off convention in favor of being with him. The latter seems unlikely, especially given the way the Disciples respond to the Woman’s breaking of convention. It is most likely that this was a man who had known the mercy and grace of Christ in a most extraordinary way.

It is interesting to see Mary so powerfully moved at this moment, so as to lavish something valued at around a year’s wages on Jesus. How deeply she must have felt at this moment.

It is interesting to hear the Disciple’s objection. As Craig Blomberg notes: “Many people with social consciences find the disciples’ objection the same as their own. Those preoccupied with the oppressed and needy of the world often quarrel with any lavish expenditure of monies for church architecture, pageantry, worship, or celebration, however well-intentioned and honoring to Christ they may be. There are in fact times and places for all of this extravagance. So also with M’Neile, “To the few who today spend themselves mainly on worship and meditation (whom Mary again exemplifies in Lk. 10:39–42) active ‘workers’ are warned not to say ‘To what purpose is this waste?’ ” Or with Beare, “The beauty of uncalculating generosity is not to be measured by the yardstick of utility.”¹¹ Blomberg, Craig. 1992. Matthew. Vol. 22. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

As a pastor I’ve confronted this same mindset several times, especially over discussions surrounding buildings. A strange form of Evangelical asceticism suddenly arises and eclipses any notion of wanting to see things done in Christ’s name done with excellence, in favor of appearing humble. But can we ever really be too extravagant when extolling the wonder of Christ’s sacrifice for sinners? J. C. Ryle writes here: “We can never attach too much importance to the atoning death of Christ. It is the leading fact in the word of God, on which the eyes of our soul ought to be ever fixed. Without the shedding of his blood, there is no remission of sin. It is the cardinal truth on which the whole system of Christianity hinges. Without it the Gospel is an arch without a key-stone, a fair building without a foundation, a solar system without a sun. Let us make much of our Lord’s incarnation and example, His miracles and his parables, His works and His words, but above all let us make much of His death. Let us delight in the hope of his second personal coming and millennial reign, but let us not think more even of these blessed truths, than of the atonement on the cross. This, after all, is the master-truth of Scripture, that “Christ died for our sins.” To this let us daily return. On this let us daily feed our souls. Some, like the Greeks of old, may sneer at the doctrine, and call it “foolishness” But let us never be ashamed to say with Paul, “God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Gal. 6:14.)¹¹ Ryle, J. C. 1860. Expository Thoughts on Matthew. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.

The text is clear, Jesus perceived this as a testimony to His death. And how can we celebrate that death too extravagantly? What can we rightly withhold in worship making His life, death and resurrection known?

It is wonderful in Jesus’ explication of what Mary had done. She had done what she had to “prepare me for burial.”

No, the question is – was she really cognizant of that reality? Or did Jesus put it so? We cannot be sure, but it is reasonable to assume she was acting in some real way aware.

It is quite possible she had heard Jesus announce His impending death as did the other Disciples. If in fact she had been made privy to His announcement that His death was just 2 days hence as recorded in vs. 2 – then what makes her so remarkable here – and what elicits Jesus’ declaration regarding her in vs. 13 is simply this – she really and truly took Him at His word. She believed Him. In a way the Disciples did not.

What is to be declared everywhere the Gospel is preached? That men believe it! That they believe it so as to order their lives around its reality. That they respond in faith. Just as Mary. The Gospel is not just to be heard, it must be believed. And when it is believed, people act on that belief as life-encompassing truth. Those who hear, and say they believe but act as though nothing is different because of glory of Jesus substitutionary death, burial and resurrection – then they have nothing but Jame’s faith without works – which is dead.

Not Mary. Her faith is living, vital, real. And it moves her. She believes her Savior. She learned to do so at the tomb of her brother. And she would never doubt Him again, even if she couldn’t parse out the details. Wherever and wherever this Gospel is proclaimed, what she did, how she received His Word, believed it and acted upon – is to be told as a supreme example of true, saving faith.

Reader – how about you?