Matthew 26:7
There came vnto him a woman, hauing an alabaster boxe of very precious ointment, and powred it on his head, as he sate at meat. Matthew 26:7 (KJV)
In this chapter Jesus is sharing a meal in the house of Simon the leper. A woman approaches Him carrying an alabaster box filled with very precious ointment, an expensive perfume. The event occurs only a few days before His crucifixion, during the final week of His earthly ministry.
Although Matthew does not name her, later tradition and the other Gospels identify the woman as Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. She is noted for her deep love and devotion to Jesus. The costly ointment she brings underscores the value of her offering.
The woman pours the ointment on Jesus’ head. In Jewish tradition anointing with oil was a way of honoring and consecrating a person. By anointing Him, she expresses profound reverence, love, and acknowledgment of His divinity and Messianic role.
Some of the disciples present, especially Judas, object, saying the perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor. Jesus rebukes them, defending the woman’s act as beautiful and purposeful. He tells them that she has anointed Him for His burial and that her deed will be remembered wherever the gospel is proclaimed.
The woman’s sacrificial worship challenges each believer to examine how we express love and devotion to Christ. Her example highlights the worthiness of Jesus to receive our highest praise and adoration, calling us to recognize His divine nature and saving work.
Jesus’ response also contrasts the woman’s self‑less love with the selfishness and greed displayed by some disciples. It reminds us of the importance of genuine, self‑sacrificial service toward others.
Finally, the anointing points forward to Christ’s impending sacrifice. By preparing Him for burial, the act underscores His awareness of the coming crucifixion and the purpose of His mission—to die for humanity’s sins and offer salvation. This scene thus reinforces the central message of the Gospel and the significance of Christ’s redemptive work.
