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For you always have the poor with you, but you don`t always have me."
Verse Takeaways
1
Prioritizing Divine Opportunities
Commentators explain that Jesus is not devaluing care for the poor, but teaching a principle of spiritual priority. The duty to the poor is constant, but the opportunity to physically anoint Jesus before His death was unique and fleeting. Mary is praised for her 'keen sympathetic insight' in discerning the urgency of this special moment, encouraging believers to recognize and act on time-sensitive opportunities for devotion.
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John
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9
Ye have always (παντοτε εχετε). Jesus does not discredit gifts to the poor at all. But there is relativity in one's duties.
19th Century
Anglican
This verse occurs word for word in both of the first two Gospels. (See Notes there.)
Baptist
Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you: but me ye have not alwa…
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Mary seems to have been the only one who was sensitive to the impending death of Jesus and who was willing to give a material expression of her est…
16th Century
Protestant
For the poor you have always with you. We must observe what I have already pointed out, that a distinction is here drawn expressly between…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
For the poor always you have with you And so would not lack opportunities of showing a regard to them, which Christ …
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Presbyterian
Christ had formerly blamed Martha for being troubled with much serving. But she did not stop serving, as some who, when criticized for going too fa…
13th Century
Catholic
After narrating the traitor’s indignation at the kindness shown by the woman, the Evangelist now shows how our Lord put a stop to it.
