Us and Our Resources

Gospel According to Mathew 26

• 6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
• 7
There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and po
ured it on his head, as he sat
at meat.
• 8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
• 9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
• 10 When Jesus understood it
, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon
me.
• 11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
• 12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.
• 13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world,
there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
The Gospel According to Luke 7
• 36

And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went
into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.
• 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that
Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
• 38 And stood at his feet behind him
weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them
with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them
with the ointment.
• 39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake
within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who
and what manner of woman
this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
Gospel According to John 12
• 1
Then Jesus six days before the passover
came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
• 2

There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at t
he table with him.
• 3

Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus
, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the
odour of the ointment.
• 4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
• 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
• 6
This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and
bare what was put therein.
• 7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
8
• Luke Identifies the woman as a sinner
• John identifies the woman as Mary
• John also mentions that the ointment was very costly.
• Judas Iscariot estimated the value to be 300 pence (in today's terms,
approximately $40,000-$50,000)
Who is this Mary
• She is the sister of Martha and Lazarus. John 12:1-4
• 1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to
Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2
So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was
one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a
pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the
feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled
with the fragrance of the perfume.
Is She the Woman of Seven Demons
• 1 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming
and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve
were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil
spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven
demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s
household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for
them out of their means. Luke 8:1-3
• Seven times she had heard His rebuke of the demons that controlled
her heart and mind. DA 568.1
Is She the Mary Caught in Adultery
• 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in
adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman
has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded
us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that
they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote
with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up
and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a
stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But
when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones,
and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up
and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She
said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from
now on sin no more.”] John 8:3-11
• The Desire of Ages tells us what is implicit in the text: “Simon had led
into sin the woman he now despised. She had been deeply wronged
by him.” Elsewhere, Ellen White says Simon was Lazarus’ uncle, which
made him her uncle too! DA 566.5,
Why Did This Woman Do What She Did?
• 40
And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
• 41
There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
• 42

And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most
?
• 43
Simon answered and said, I suppose that he
, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
• 44
And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest
me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
• 45
Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
• 46
My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
• 47

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven,
the same loveth little.
• 48
And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
• 49
And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
• 50
And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
• Luke 7:40-50
Lessons from the Alabaster Box Woman
1. Those forgiven much will love more and hence give more. Luke 7:47
• When you understand what Christ has done for you, loving Him will
not be a problem.
• Our giving is proportionate to our love.
• When we love more we shall give more
• When we love less we shall give less.
• Genuine love always makes sacrifices.
2. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12:
34. Jesus is saying that our hearts lie where our desire rests or our
treasure lies. In other words, our interests in life soon capture our
hearts. This verse also suggests, that where we care deeply we give
joyously. We give spontaneously. It does not have to be prompted.
• Where is our treasure? We give most where we care most
• People invest where they see value. The woman knew who Jesus was
to her.
• Maybe the proper question is who is Jesus to you.
3. We cannot come to Christ alone without our resources.
• Jesus wants to own you and your pace
• If He is Savior of your life, why can’t He be Lord over your possessions.
Luke 8:3