WEDNESDAY, January 30th, 2008

Matthew 26:1-16

Pastor Lee:
There are two stories in this passage. The first is at the house of Simon, where a woman poured expensive oil upon the head of Christ. His disciples began to rebuke her for "wasting" the oil. But Christ explained, that he would not be with them much longer and she would be honored for this work. The second story is that of Judas; He went and made a deal to betray the Lord. It is clear to see why He did this in his words: "What are you willing to give ME". Judas was focused on himself and not Christ.

What did you get out of this passage? Answer These Two Questions:
1. What is the writer saying in your words?
2. How does this apply to your life?


1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples,
2 “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
3 Then the chief priests, the scribes,[a] and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
4 and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him.
5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
The Anointing at Bethany
6 And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper,
7 a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table.
8 But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?
9 For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.” 10 But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me.
11 For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.
12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial.
13 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.”

14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.
16 So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.