Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.
Matthew 26 says, “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.’”
I love how this small act, questioned three different times in the gospel (Matthew, Mark, and John), occurs right before the Lord’s Supper, which is very significant following Jesus in his final days. So, what does this teach us? Because of the perfume’s monetary value, it was likely a treasure or heirloom of hers. It was probably the most expensive thing she had in her home, yet she chose to anoint Jesus with its fragrance. She saw more value in giving it to Jesus than selling it or disbursing it among the poor. And Jesus valued it as well. Another thing to admire about her is how bold she was in anointing Jesus. She never asked, "Is this enough?" It’s a beautiful reminder that what we have to offer and who we are is enough for Jesus. Christ doesn’t call on us to be perfect, have the biggest house, or give more money to charity than our neighbor; He calls us to give Him our all. To fully trust in Him and sacrifice our Earthly treasures for the glory of the Kingdom.
Reflections:
- What does “giving your all” mean for you?
- What have you not fully trusted Him with?
- What are you treasuring more than your relationship with God?
Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.
Family Application: Matthew 26
Author: Anna Overstreet
The Bible is the greatest book that was ever written. From Genesis to Revelation, every story is true and teaches endless lessons. There will never be another book as important as the Bible for you to read and learn from. Anyone who loves God and wants to live for Him should learn how to read and study the Bible. This week, we are going to learn some simple ways to help you study the Bible. We will call these “Bible Study Tips.”
Matthew 26 could possibly be described as one of the most action-packed chapters in the New Testament. “Expect the Unexpected” came to my mind for a good subtitle as I read about the events that unfolded in today’s reading. Jesus’s entire ministry in preparation for the cross comes to a head in chapter 26. In fact, there is SO much that occurs in this chapter, there is no way to write a short devotional about it all. Each section is very important and has many historical facts and spiritual lessons that every believer needs to know. This is where our first “Bible Study Tip” comes into play. I want you and your family to pretend like y’all are super sleuth detectives and use the tip below to discover the 9 different major events that occurred in chapter 26.
If you enjoy a good plot twist, then today’s reading is for you!
Bible Study Tip # 1-
- Who? What? When and Where? Write down or discuss:
- Who are the main characters from each section?
- What did they do that is important?
- When did these events take place?
- Where did these events occur?
(HINT- here are the 9 verse sections: 1-5, 6-13, 14-16, 17-30, 31-35, 36-46, 47-56, 57-68, 69-75)
- Prayer: God, thank You for giving us the Bible so that we can learn about the very important stories from long ago. Help us read it every day and thank You for allowing us to study Your Holy Word. Help us to remember the stories and lessons that will lead us to understand and know You better in every way. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.