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Mark 14:3-9 – Perfume And Priorities
Mark 14:3-9 NASB (6) While He [i.e., Jesus] was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head. (4) But some were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? (5) “For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her. (6) But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me. (7) “For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. (8) “She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. (9) “Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”
The day is Saturday (Jn.12:1) – the Saturday before the betrayal, arrest, trial, murder, burial and resurrection of Jesus. The above story is filled with emotion, or better yet, filled with emotions. There is indignation and tenderness; there are good intentions and better choices. If you skipped the above reading, stop now and read the text. If you have, read it again. Remember this, is real, and see the humanity. I need you to see that yourself because it is not this article’s purpose to solely comment on the above scene, but rather to apply the situation to us today. If we were to recast the principles into today, what lessons could we learn?
Seeing The Negative Vs. Seeing The Positive
When the apostles saw the devoted action of this woman, all they saw was the downside. They didn’t see tenderness, love, devotion, or sacrifice. They didn’t see worship, they only saw waste. Before we complain, let’s contemplate!
Also, how often do we have good intentions about what other people can do with their money? How often are we very giving with the gifts of others? As we will see, the apostle’s negativity clouded their view of Jesus’ priorities.
Misplaced Righteousness
In only seeing the negative, we could somewhat excuse the apostles due to their righteous intentions, although misplaced. They suggested, and rightly so, that the perfume could have been sold for a very high price, 300 denarii – almost a year’s salary – and the money given to the poor. They had good intentions, right? RIGHT! They had a good idea, correct? CORRECT! And their idea would have greatly benefited the poor, true? TRUE!
So Jesus congratulated them on their idea…right? WRONG!
May I humbly suggest that many Churches – regardless of the name on the sign – today have misplaced righteousness? I applaud their intentions. The programs and policies that many congregations have to help the poor do have a sense of goodness to them that cannot be denied – as was also true of Jesus’ apostles. What they suggested would have resulted in many people being helped. But that didn’t make their suggestion pleasing to Jesus. Keep reading, we’ll see why and make application later.
Hypocritical Righteousness
While I have no doubt that Peter, James, John, Bartholomew, Andrew, Thaddeus, and the rest of the apostles had good intentions, there is one apostle who did not. His objection did not come from sympathy, but rather greed.
John 12:4-6 – [4] But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, [5] “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii, and given to poor people?” [6] Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.
Judas’ suggestion is actually the same as the rest of the apostles, isn’t it? In fact, I wonder if he made his suggestion first and the others innocently and ignorantly followed. Don’t know, but I would not be surprised. Often hypocrites lead good and honest people by suggesting good ideas but without revealing their true intentions, which are impure intentions. The priority is personal.
Proper Priorities
What was wrong with the idea of selling the perfume and giving the money to the poor? Before answering that question, let’s make sure we all understand that it was not a sinful idea. The apostles, save for Judas, were not selfish in wanting the money for themselves, or to buy something that would benefit themselves. Also, giving to the poor is a scriptural idea. So what was wrong? Jesus often commanded and exemplified sacrificial love.
So what was wrong? Priorities – Jesus said that they could give to the poor later. Their priority was Him at this time. He wouldn’t be with them much longer. He was about to die, and the perfume anointed His body for this burial coming next week.
How can we make application? Many churches have many good works. Supporting the needy, feeding the less fortunate, providing for good clean fun for teenagers, etc., are all good ideas. None of these programs are evil, selfish, or hypocritical. But neither was selling the perfume and giving the money to the poor. So what is wrong with churches being involved in all these activities? Priorities.
Notice 1 Timothy 5:16 – If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them, and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed.
Paul, and in reality the Holy Spirit, places priorities on how the church is to spend its money in helping the needy. Some believers have priority in receiving help over other believers. Not even mentioned in this text is the less fortunate who are not believers. The church has priorities. Helping unbelievers financially is something we as individuals do outside of the church collection which is for the saints (1 Cor.16:1-2). There is a time and place for everything, whether anointing Jesus, helping the poor, or helping the saints.
Showing priority, the inspired writer does not even allow all believers to be put on the list (1 Tim.5:9) for receiving this special kind of help. Why? Priorities – helping widows indeed (1 Tim.5:16). But why? The church must not be burdened (1 Tim.5:16). Giving the church too much is a burden. The church must keep its priorities so that it can work properly.
So why are many “good” activities that many churches are involved in today not “good?” It is not because the activity itself is not good – just like selling the perfume and helping the needy was itself good – but rather priorities.
The church has not been given the priority of helping all who are needy. Helping unbelievers is the responsibility of us individually (Gal.6:10; Jms.1:27). The church has not been given the priority of providing recreation. That is again the responsibility of us individually. The church has not even been given the priority of helping permanently all who are needy believers. Again, we are to help our own families individually.
What priorities does the church have?
- The church has been given the priority of providing temporary relief to needy believers (1 Cor.16:1-2) – Reaching DOWN.
- The church has been given the priority of providing permanent relief to widows indeed (1 Tim.5:3-16) – Reaching DOWN.
- The church has been given the priority of spreading the gospel (1 Cor.9) – Reaching OUT.
- The church has been given the priority of encouraging believers to grow spiritually (1 Tim.5:17; Heb.10:24-25) – Reaching IN.
- The church has been given the priority of worshipping God (1 Cor.14) – Reaching UP.
Let us not get the church involved in other activities than those given it by God. Let us also get ourselves personally involved in activities which God has given us individually. Things outside those listed above are not bad ideas; its just they are not ideas God prescribed for the local congregation. Let’s keep our priorities straight, for the church must not be burdened (1 Tim.6:16).
Questions:
- Why do you think so many churches have lost their priorities?
- What are some ways you have personally lost some of your priorities?
Prayer: Ask God to help you see what is important to Him.
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