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For you always have the poor with you; but you don`t always have me.
Verse Takeaways
1
Not an Excuse to Ignore the Poor
Commentators strongly caution against using this verse to justify neglecting the poor. Jesus is not dismissing this core duty. Instead, as John Calvin explains, He is distinguishing a unique, one-time act of devotion to His physical body from the ongoing, primary way we are to worship Him now: through spiritual service, especially by bestowing our charity on the poor.
See 3 Verse Takeaways
Book Overview
Matthew
Author
Audience
Composition
Teaching Highlights
Outline
+ 5 more
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9
18th Century
Presbyterian
For you have the poor, etc. Mark adds, Whenever you will you may do them good. It was right that they should regard the poor. It …
19th Century
Anglican
You have the poor always with you—Our Lord dealt with the objection of the murmurers on their own ground, as if it were genuine, and does …
Baptist
Our Lord always cared for the poor. He was Himself poor. He was the poor people’s Preacher. He fed the hungry poor and healed the sick poor. He wou…
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It is possible that Jesus’ knowledge of the complaints is here supernatural; but perhaps they were whispered and came to Jesus’ attention because t…
16th Century
Protestant
For you have the poor always with you. Christ does not simply defend the anointing, so that we may imitate it, but assures us that it plea…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
For you have the poor always with you This is said in answer to the objection of the disciples, that the ointment mi…
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The pouring of ointment on Christ's head was a token of the highest respect. When there is true love in the heart for Jesus Christ, nothing will be…
13th Century
Catholic
The Evangelist, having related the preparatory events for the Passion, here begins to discuss Christ’s Passion, which is divided into two parts. Fi…
