Matthew 26:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her."

NIV: Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

NASB: Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.'

CSB: Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her."

NLT: I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.'

KJV: Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

NKJV: Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

Jesus rejected the disciples' idea that the woman who anointed Him (John 12:1–11) should have sold the ointment instead, to make better use of the money. Rather, He has called her act a beautiful thing (Matthew 26:1–10). More than that, He has said that her act of devotion was preparing His body for burial (Matthew 26:11–12). This will occur within the week, and there will not be time between Jesus' death and His burial for the normal process of anointing (Luke 23:52–56). In fact, Jesus declares that what this woman has done will be forever tied to the story of the gospel!

It's important to note that Jesus does not merely defend Mary (John 11:1) by saying what she has done is merely permissible. He elevates her act of devotion to Him as a moment which will be remembered throughout history as the "good news" of the kingdom of heaven is proclaimed around the world.

Mary's act was bold, extravagant, and to some even seemed inappropriate. It was worship for the Messiah who would die and be buried and then resurrected, and it was entirely right and good. Given the pungent, perfumed aroma of nard in such quantities, it is likely a moment that literally lingered for all who were near to Jesus in the days leading up to His arrest, conviction, and crucifixion.

Matthew 26:6–16 finds Jesus and the disciples in Bethany at the home of a man identified as "Simon the leper." A woman, likely Mary the sister of Lazarus, opens a bottle of extremely expensive ointment and anoints Jesus' head as He reclines at the table during dinner. The disciples think the ointment should have been sold and the money given to the poor, but Jesus insists she has done a beautiful thing that will prepare Him for burial. Judas then offers to turn Jesus over to the chief priests. They pay him 30 silver pieces, a price ironically associated with the cost of a common slave.

The Jewish religious leaders further their plots to arrest and kill Jesus, finding a willing traitor in Judas Iscariot. A woman anoints Christ with oil during a dinner at Bethany. Next, Jesus and the disciples hold the Passover meal in an upper room where Jesus predicts His arrests and introduces the sacrament of communion. Then Jesus prays in unimaginable agony in the garden of Gethsemane before being betrayed by Judas and captured. The disciples scatter. Before the high priest, Jesus explicitly claims to be divine. They convict Him of blasphemy and sentence Him to death. As this happens, Peter denies knowing Jesus and runs away in shame.

After a long series of teaching (Matthew 24—25), Matthew 26 begins with Jesus saying He will be delivered up for death. Christ is anointed at a dinner in Bethany and Judas agrees to turn Him over to the chief priests. Jesus holds a Passover meal with the disciples, predicts an act of treachery, and introduces the sacrament of communion. He tells the disciples they will run in fear and that Peter will deny Him, which happens just as prophesied. Christ prays in great sorrow in a garden and is then arrested and taken away and unfairly sentenced to death. After this, Jesus will be taken to the Roman governor, where Jewish leadership will press for Him to be executed as an insurgent.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.