For the poor you have always with you: but me you have not always.
παντοτε γαρ τους πτωχους τους πτωχους γαρ παντοτε εχετε μεθ εαυτων εμε δε ου παντοτε εχετε
10 Church Fathers comment on this verse
To understand that showing compassion to the needy and honoring Christ Himself are not identical acts, consider the words: "ye have always the poor with you, but ye have not always Me." It is evident that serving Christ is distinct from extending kindness to those in need, even though Christ, in His human nature, identifies with the act of caring for the poor.
Let us revisit the woman previously mentioned, whose purpose remains obscured to the apostles, concealed from the ages within God; for who has comprehended the mind of the Lord? (Is. 40:13; Rom. 11:34). The disciples criticized her for anointing His head with precious oil, questioning, "Why such extravagance? This oil could have been sold for a greater sum and given to the needy" (Matt. 26:8-9, cf. Mk. 14:4-5). It is challenging to pinpoint what in their remarks merits reproach until one deciphers their deeper significance. This attitude is characteristic of those who indulge in excess or, more aptly, of one who lacks true humanity. Moreover, those who are imbued with peace often bear witness to it rather than having it poured upon them. Why do these comments warrant rebuke?
Could this oil not have been sold at a higher price and given to the impoverished? The Lord initially responded: "What you did to one of these little ones, you did to me" (Matthew 25:40), and He Himself surrendered His life for the downtrodden.
This is not merely a metaphor, and thus the Word of God addresses them: "Why do you trouble the woman...? You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me" (Matthew 26:10, 11). The needy are perpetually among you - show them kindness! Since they are always present, do not delay in your acts of compassion; the prophet advises, "Do not say to the beggar... I will give to you tomorrow" (Proverbs 3:28). However, while the prophet spoke solely of mercy, the Lord elevated faith above mercy, emphasizing that mercy is meaningful only when rooted in faith. "In pouring this oil upon My body, she has prepared Me for burial" (Matthew 26:12). Thus, the Lord cherished not the oil, but the woman's love, embraced her faith, and commended her humility.
And you, if you seek mercy, increase your love; anoint the body of Christ with faith in the resurrection, the oil of the Church, the sweet aroma of shared love. Only by excelling in these virtues can you truly assist the needy. Money holds greater value when given not out of excess, but rather shared thoughtfully in the name of Christ, akin to offering it to Him directly. Therefore, do not take literally the application of the oil to His head—recognizing that the letter kills (2 Cor. 3:6)—but instead perceive it in the spirit, for the spirit brings life.
In the Gospel of Mark, it is stated that the poor will always be among us, highlighting the importance of aiding them (Mark 14:7). Jesus, acknowledging His impending sacrifice, said, “But you do not always have me,” emphasizing the urgency of His mission and the approach of His death. He referred to the act of anointing in relation to His burial—signifying how His death was drawing near (Mark 14:8). The anointing of the deceased with fragrant oils was customary, intended to honor and preserve them. The woman acted according to her means, offering what she could. Therefore, when you see those who have constructed churches, monasteries, or significant memorials, encourage them not to dismantle their creations, lest their commitment wane. However, if someone inquires about building, advise them to direct their resources toward aiding the needy.
The Lord informed them that they would have ample opportunity to serve the needy. Furthermore, it was solely through His authority that deliverance could be bestowed upon the Gentiles who were encompassed by His presence in the worldly offering made by this woman. For rebirth is attainable only for those who have united with Him in death through baptism.
You will always have the less fortunate among you and have opportunities to help them, which is praiseworthy; yet everything has its appropriate moment, and I will not be with you for much longer. Although you will not see me, I will remain present in spirit; therefore, the honor my wife has shown me cannot be replicated at that time.
As He traveled from Jericho to Jerusalem, the Lord happened to pass near Bethany. He paused there, while crowds of worshippers arrived in Jerusalem, announcing that the long-awaited Messiah was close by. It was likely the Sabbath, which meant the people refrained from travel, as Bethany exceeded the Sabbath journey limit of a thousand paces from Jerusalem. This occurred just six days before the Passover. In Bethany, He shared a meal in the home of Simon, who had previously been a leper. Martha was fulfilling her customary role of preparing the meal, while Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead, was also present at the table.
The Evangelist's mention of Lazarus raises a question: Was it to highlight his complete recovery, or to signify the unique honor bestowed upon this guest from beyond the grave?
While one of Lazarus' sisters attended to the meal, the other, Mary, likely felt a sense of urgency to express her gratitude for her brother’s miraculous return to life, having missed the opportunity earlier due to Jesus' swift departure from Bethany. Following the Jewish tradition of washing the feet of guests before a meal and anointing them with fragrant oils, Mary sought to honor her Lord in this way. Without hesitation, she brought forth a jar of pure nard, the finest and most precious ointment, and poured it over Jesus' head and feet, wiping them with her hair in a profound act of humility.
Not everyone shared her perspective. The disciples believed it would have been wiser to sell the nard and use the proceeds to help the poor, inspired by their recent experience with Zacchaeus and their ongoing commitment to assist those in need. However, one disciple had ulterior motives; responsible for the group's funds, he was more interested in pocketing the money for himself rather than truly helping the poor. The concern for the needy was a mere facade in his case.
The Lord, however, came to Mary's defense, countering the reasonable objections from the others. He sought to instill in them the understanding of His impending departure, stating that while the poor would always be present, He would not always be with them. He also declared that Mary's act of anointing Him served as a preparation for His burial, asserting that when it comes to burial preparations, one should not hold back on expenses. "You will not be so calculating with Me," He emphasized.
You show concern for the impoverished, which is admirable; however, the needy will always be present among you, and you can assist them whenever you desire; yet, My presence will not be with you for long.
Christ, with a heavy heart, anticipated Judas' treacherous and greedy intentions, yet chose to address him only indirectly, standing up for Mary, who had already faced disparaging remarks. "Why are you troubling this woman?" He said. "Leave her be; she has performed a commendable act for Me. For the poor you will always have among you, but Me you will not always have." She has preserved this perfume for the day of My burial.
"You will always have the needy among you," which means you can continually do good for them. It is praiseworthy to assist those in need; both the law and Christ emphasized this. However, everything has its proper time; the current act of devotion from the woman towards the Lord surpasses acts of charity toward the poor. "You will not always have me," subtly hinting at the impending nature of His death. The Lord will remain with His loyal followers, yet His physical presence will not endure much longer on this earth. The honor she offered Him can still be expressed for a short time, as He will soon ascend to the Father in His bodily form.
The Lord clearly conveyed to those who complained that they had been hasty in discouraging the efforts of the woman (Blessed Theophylact). While caring for the needy is commendable, in this situation it was neither fitting nor timely: leave her be; why do you trouble her? You have acted rightly towards me, for the poor will always be with you, and whenever you wish, you can assist them, but I will not be with you always. The actions of this woman, expressing profound reverence, faith, and love for the Master, held a unique and mysterious significance; thus, she merited not criticism but universal honor.
According to Blessed Theophylact, she performed this act “by a special grace from God, foreshadowing the death of the Lord and the burial of His body.” She was ahead of the Jewish custom that would follow days later at the tomb of Jesus Christ. The Lord indicated, “If it is possible,” adding that having anointed His body, this would be preparation for His burial. “Truly I say to you, wherever this Gospel is preached throughout the world, what this woman has done will be told in her memory.” The woman faced great shame and unwarranted rebuke from those who witnessed her deed, yet the Lord’s promise to support her zeal was equally notable in silencing their complaints. “Look,” St. John Chrysostom noted, “what Christ foretold has indeed happened; wherever you travel across the globe, you will hear proclamations regarding that woman, who, though not renowned, lacked many witnesses, was not scorned but was in the home of a leper, present with only the disciples of Christ.”
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 12 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS