Category: Why this waste? Matthew 25:8

Today’s Scripture:  Matthew 26:12-13; Luke 9:24-25; Acts 1:15-20 When Jesus defended this woman’s act of devotion, He added, “Wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” And, here we are today still talking about what she did. Jesus said something else—that by pouring out the perfume on His[…]

Today’s Scripture: Matthew 26:11; Mark 14:10; John 12:1-8; Proverbs 16:2; Jeremiah 17:9 Jeremiah the prophet said, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” The disciples who complained about the wasted perfume may have wanted to do the right thing by hoping to feed the poor. But there was at least one who was[…]

Today’s Scripture: Matthew 26:10; Isaiah 19:20 I’m writing this devotional not long after several thousands of women converged on Washington, D.C. in an effort to make various statements—about what, I’m still not sure. Some speeches smacked of “male vs. female” disputes. Others took issue with our newly-elected president, while several carried “pro-choice” banners, celebrating abortion. And I imagine a few[…]

Today’s Scripture: Matthew 26:8-9 Even though the woman did a beautiful thing when she anointed the head of Jesus with the perfume, the disciples didn’t get it. “Why this waste?” they asked. Theirs wasn’t a question of mere curiosity. It was a judgmental statement that made an already uncomfortable situation even more awkward—especially for the woman. The disciples’ reaction was[…]

Today’s Scripture: Matthew 26:7; 2 Samuel 24:24; Hebrews 13:15-16 In Bible days, women kept costly perfume in a container as part of their marriage dowry. On the wedding night, the bride would pour out the contents over her husband to express her love and devotion to him. The fragrance would fill the house and go out into the street. Passers-by[…]

Today’s Scripture: Matthew 26:6-7; Luke 10:38-42 When this woman approached Jesus, she was taking a risk. First, women were not valued in those days. They were generally relegated to the kitchen to oversee and participate in the cooking and other household responsibilities. Remember Mary and Martha? Martha kept her place in the kitchen while Mary merely sat at Jesus’ feet,[…]

Today’s Scripture: Matthew 26:6-13 For twenty years, I worked in the ministry of Teen Challenge (a Christian residential-care facility for people with life-controlling problems.) When one of our long-term staff was preparing to transition to a different job, his neighbor said, “It’s good that you’re moving on. Working at Teen Challenge has been a waste, hasn’t it?” The neighbor went[…]