The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me **

 Matthew 26:1-16

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

It is two days before Passover Day, when the lambs were killed in re-enactment of that day, long ago in Egypt, when their blood kept death from the Israelites door. The symbolism is deeply significant for Matthew. The chief priests and elders of the Sanhedrin Council make the death-plot official.

At this crucial moment, Judas, perhaps disillusioned about the kind of Messiah Jesus has turned out to be, or for some other motive, unexplained, changes side.

Why?

This woman is the only one who poured perfume on Jesus for him before he crucifies.

Jesus told them he will be handed over to be crucified. Might be caused Judah disillusioned about the Messiah.

There are many poor in our environment, but it is seldom walking with Jesus. For we are always busy in our business, but less have a close relationship with Jesus.

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1.大祭司等人商量一個計謀要殺耶穌，因為他們是既得利益者。抗拒耶穌，否定神。當人遇見神挑戰我們內心在意的事，很容易拒絕神。

2.玉瓶的香膏，價值一年的薪水。可以做很多善事，抹在主身上，何必枉費此事呢?什麼是有意義的事，什麼是沒有意義的?沒有成果，我們常常認為沒有成果是浪費時間。讀經沒有讀出亮光，這段時間好像浪費。這提醒我們，不是看是否有成果，但是是否討神的喜悅?重要的是親近神，不一定要有成果。以西結去傳神的話，神已經說沒有人會聽，以西結豈是都浪費呢?這女人知道耶穌的心情。耶穌講了三次主要受死的事，門徒卻一直沒有反應，只有這個女人注意到耶穌的心情。我們關心的事，是否是神所關心的事?

3.所謂將香膏賣了，就可以幫助窮人。猶大去和祭司長討價還價的價錢，也是這香膏的價錢。猶大寧可不要主，要30兩銀子，這個女人是被人拒絕的，卻不要銀子而要耶穌。我們好像要去幫助窮人，其實是為了自己，為了自己的名望。我們主日來教會好像一天浪費了，我們是要主還是認為要陪家人比較重要?不管神的心。

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How?

Come close the Jesus for Jesus is our best friend.