CONTEXTUAL CLARITY

I Was Just Thinking About - - - 

A text out of its context is a pretext. An example of this occurred when the President took a Biblical phrase out of its context to champion another of his socialistic programs. He was at Georgetown University and part of a panel discussion on Poverty. The President’s comment was: "I think it’s important when it comes to dealing with issues of poverty for us to guard against cynicism, and not buy the idea that the poor will always be with us and there’s nothing we can do -- because there’s a lot we can do. The question is do we have the political will, the communal will to do something about it.”

The context of that phrase is Matthew 26:1-13. It is amid the efforts of those who wanted to put Jesus to death. As Jesus is speaking with His disciples, a woman appears and pours perfume on Him. When the disciples question the wastefulness of such an act because they felt it could’ve been sold and the monies distributed to the poor, Jesus said: “You always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial” (Matthew 26:11-12). 

The Pulpit Commentary shares the following thoughts: Verse 11 - “You have the poor always with you. St. Mark adds, ‘and whensoever you will you may do them good.’ This was in strict accordance with the old Law: ‘The poor shall never cease out of the land; therefore I command you, saying, You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor, and to your needy in your land' (Deuteronomy 15:11). The existence of the poor gives scope for the exercise of the graces of charity, benevolence, and self-denial; and such opportunities will never be wanting while the world lasts. Me you have not always; i.e. in bodily presence. When He speaks of being with His Church always to the end, He is speaking of his Divine presence. His human body, His body of humiliation, was removed from the sight and touch of men, and He could no longer be received and welcomed and succored as heretofore. In a different and far more effectual mode He would visit His faithful servants by a spiritual presence which should never fail or be withdrawn. To the objectors he would say, "You will no longer have opportunity of honoring Me in My human form; why, then, do you grudge the homage now paid Me for the last time?”

From the original languages (Clarke’s Commentary), the force of what was done and the purpose  of what Jesus is saying  is: “You have the poor always with you - And, consequently, have the opportunity of doing them good at any time; but me you have not always; My bodily presence is about to be removed from you forever. The woman, aware of  My imminent death, is preparing Me for my burial. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. The Amplified intent is: “She has done it to embalm me - ενταφιασαι με. The Septuagint uses ενταφιαϚης for the person whose office it was to embalm, (Genesis 50:2)  and ενταφιαζω for the Hebrew הנט which signifies to prepare with spices, or aromatics, (Genesis 50:3). Our Lord took this opportunity to tell them, once more, that he was shortly to die.”

The primary focus of the text is on the nearing death and burial of Jesus Christ. The secondary application is the ongoing generational care of those who are truly poor (and not entitlement oriented). The follower of Christ should not just throw money or stuff in the direction of the poor. It is an opportunity to display charity and to be graciously benevolent. We should always have in mind, the faithful provisions of God to us and a readiness to share with those who are destitute, without human resources, neglected, poor, helpless and hopeless. Consider these things with me.