To What Purpose is This Waste? - Matthew 26:8

Matthew the apostle wrote, “Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper. There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse eight of his book, Matthew writes how Jesus' disciples asked, “to what purpose is this waste” where we read:

But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, to what purpose is this waste?

The verse reads, “But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, ...” Matthew began with the words, “but when” which means “nevertheless, moreover and at the time and moment” “his disciples saw it” or “Jesus' students, pupils and attendants observed and noticed the woman pouring perfume upon Jesus' head”, “they had indignation” which means “the disciples were greatly afflicted, displeased and grieved”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” . Matthew shared how Jesus' “disciples” observed what the woman did to Jesus, they were “grieved and displeased” and began to say something about it.

The verse continues, “... to what purpose is this waste?” Matthew added the words, “to what purpose” which means “for what reason and why” “is this waste” or “is this pernicious ruin and destruction of money”? Matthew shared how the disciples wanted to know why this woman “ruined and destroyed” a valuable asset.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus' disciples did not understand why this woman poured the perfume upon Jesus' head. They thought it was a “waste” of resources, and John the apostle's account gives us more insight where we read, “Then said one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.” (See John 12:4-6) Judas took the lead as he wondered about this incident, and because he was the “treasurer” and “a thief” among Jesus' followers, he was concerned how this “money” was being spent. God desires to save every person through His Son Jesus, and when someone pours out an offering of worship upon Him, all who observe it should not criticize, but emulate doing the same.

Next time Matthew shares how the disciples say, “this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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