Mark 14:3 (ESV) Jesus Anointed at Bethany
And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head.
Verses 4 & 5 go on to further explain:
There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her.
And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head.
Verses 4 & 5 go on to further explain:
There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her.
Isn't it amazing how some people feel the need to give full verbal expression to every thought that crosses their mind and cannot simply just hold their tongue? Now true, these historic individuals didn't have any of the modern conveniences we're accustomed to and didn't have the benefit of learning "Thumper's rule" from casually watching "Bambi" brought to us by Walt Disney, and it is also true that Ephesians 4:29 wasn't even a thought because at this time the world didn't even have an Apostle Paul, as he currently existed only as a Christian-hating Jew named Saul. However, they did have the benefit of the Old Testament and really were not left with any excuse for their sinful thoughts and actions because of the following verses of Scripture with which they should have been both, very well aware and acquainted:
Psalm 37:30-31, Proverbs 10:31-32, Proverbs 12:13, Proverbs 15:2-4, Proverbs 15:7, Proverbs 16:21, Proverbs 25:11-12, Ecclesiastes 10:12
Isn't it also amazing how easy it is for us to notice these specks of sawdust that are blatantly stuck in the now long dead eyes of the guests of this dinner feast, as we may be blindly unaware of the current logs lodged into our very alive and blinking eyes? (Matthew 7:1-5) After all, it's easy to see that Mary gave Jesus her best, and that the others had sinfully judged her, exposing only their own elevated level of conceit, through their own knowledgeable insights that they were eager to display before other dinner guests through their ungracious words of scolding, spoken in a manner that is inconsistent with the Scriptures that they themselves were to actively embody.
Yet, just as we easily see and judge the hypocrisy of these dinner guests, do we not ourselves prove Paul's remarks in Romans 2:1 by making the same unwitting mistake these dinner guests have made, when we ourselves, unlike Mary, give Our Lord and Savior, Jesus, less than our very best gifts?
J.R Miller, (20 March 1840–2 July 1912) Christian author, Editorial Superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication, and pastor of several churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois, is quoted as saying:
"He gave the best he had for us. He gave his life. His heart was broken, and his precious blood was poured out upon our sin-stained earth. And now from his throne of glory he lavishes the best gifts of his love upon us. He does not give us the crumbs from his table, and the worn-out garments from his wardrobe. He seeks all Heaven through for its richest, best, and most beautiful things to bestow upon us. There is nothing in all his kingdom too good or too costly to give to us."
"And yet, is it not true that we keep our best things for ourselves — and give him the things that we will miss the least from our own stores? When our cup runs over — we give him the drops that fall from the brim. When we have eaten and are full — we sweep up the crumbs for him. We sip the honey and the sweetness out of our flowers — and give him the withered, faded leaves. We keep the bright dollars — and give him the pennies. When times are hard and we find it necessary to economize, we begin our retrenchment at the Lord's end of our income. We keep the weeks for ourselves and give him the minutes. Let us bring him our best. Let us take our dearest things and lay them on his altar. Nothing is too good or too costly — to be bestowed on such a Savior."
Psalm 37:30-31, Proverbs 10:31-32, Proverbs 12:13, Proverbs 15:2-4, Proverbs 15:7, Proverbs 16:21, Proverbs 25:11-12, Ecclesiastes 10:12
Isn't it also amazing how easy it is for us to notice these specks of sawdust that are blatantly stuck in the now long dead eyes of the guests of this dinner feast, as we may be blindly unaware of the current logs lodged into our very alive and blinking eyes? (Matthew 7:1-5) After all, it's easy to see that Mary gave Jesus her best, and that the others had sinfully judged her, exposing only their own elevated level of conceit, through their own knowledgeable insights that they were eager to display before other dinner guests through their ungracious words of scolding, spoken in a manner that is inconsistent with the Scriptures that they themselves were to actively embody.
Yet, just as we easily see and judge the hypocrisy of these dinner guests, do we not ourselves prove Paul's remarks in Romans 2:1 by making the same unwitting mistake these dinner guests have made, when we ourselves, unlike Mary, give Our Lord and Savior, Jesus, less than our very best gifts?
J.R Miller, (20 March 1840–2 July 1912) Christian author, Editorial Superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication, and pastor of several churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois, is quoted as saying:
"He gave the best he had for us. He gave his life. His heart was broken, and his precious blood was poured out upon our sin-stained earth. And now from his throne of glory he lavishes the best gifts of his love upon us. He does not give us the crumbs from his table, and the worn-out garments from his wardrobe. He seeks all Heaven through for its richest, best, and most beautiful things to bestow upon us. There is nothing in all his kingdom too good or too costly to give to us."
"And yet, is it not true that we keep our best things for ourselves — and give him the things that we will miss the least from our own stores? When our cup runs over — we give him the drops that fall from the brim. When we have eaten and are full — we sweep up the crumbs for him. We sip the honey and the sweetness out of our flowers — and give him the withered, faded leaves. We keep the bright dollars — and give him the pennies. When times are hard and we find it necessary to economize, we begin our retrenchment at the Lord's end of our income. We keep the weeks for ourselves and give him the minutes. Let us bring him our best. Let us take our dearest things and lay them on his altar. Nothing is too good or too costly — to be bestowed on such a Savior."
Therefore, let's ensure that we don’t fall into the same pit that they themselves into which have fallen, as we learn from the lessons left for us, forever recorded in the pages of Holy Scripture. Let us always endeavor to be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19-20) as we guard our tongues (Psalm 39:1) while pouring out our lives as a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. (Ephesians 5:2, Philippians 4:18)
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