Mark 14 7

Mark 14:7 kjv

For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

Mark 14:7 nkjv

For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.

Mark 14:7 niv

The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.

Mark 14:7 esv

For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me.

Mark 14:7 nlt

You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me.

Mark 14 verses

Mark 14 7 Meaning

This verse addresses the perceived conflict between radical devotion to Christ and perpetual charity to the poor. Jesus states that opportunities to serve the poor will always exist, allowing people to show kindness at any desired time. However, the opportunity to serve Jesus Himself in His physical presence, particularly in a manner connected to His impending death, is a unique and fleeting moment. This highlights a necessary distinction in priorities: the constant call to care for the vulnerable, and the singular, supreme call to honor the Son of God in His decisive moment.

Mark 14 7 Context

This verse occurs during Jesus's final week, just before His crucifixion, specifically two days before the Passover. The scene is in Bethany, at the house of Simon the leper, where Jesus is dining. A woman (traditionally Mary, sister of Lazarus and Martha, but Mark does not name her) anoints Jesus with a costly alabaster jar of pure nard, breaking the jar. This act provokes indignant reactions from some of the onlookers (identified as disciples in Mark and Judas Iscariot in John), who object that the perfume, worth a significant sum (over 300 denarii), could have been sold and the money given to the poor. Jesus responds by defending the woman, affirming her act as "a beautiful thing" and declaring it as an anointing for His burial, contrasting this singular, unique event with the ongoing, perpetual responsibility of caring for the poor. The anointing, though perhaps not fully understood by the woman, is presented as a prophetic and timely act of supreme devotion, preparing Jesus for His death and burial.

Mark 14 7 Word analysis

• For (γάρ - gar): A particle indicating reason or explanation, linking Jesus's defense to the preceding complaint. It justifies His following statement.
• you (ὑμεῖς - humeis): Plural pronoun, referring to the disciples present, and by extension, believers throughout time. It's a direct address to those who questioned the woman's action.
• always (πάντοτε - pantote): Implies perpetuity, a constant and never-ending state. This emphasizes the continuous presence of the poor in human society.
• have (ἔχετε - echete): To possess, hold, or have present with oneself. It signifies their continual availability for interaction and assistance.
• the poor (τοὺς πτωχούς - tous ptōchous): Refers to those in abject poverty, beggars, or the utterly destitute. The Greek "ptōchos" signifies one who crouches and cringes, utterly dependent. This word underscores profound need. It’s a collective reference to the economically and socially vulnerable.
• with you (μεθ’ ἑαυτῶν - meth’ heautōn): Indicates companionship or shared presence. They are inherently part of your community and life experience.
• and (καί - kai): A conjunction, adding a new but related point, leading to the logical extension of the first statement.
• whenever (ὅταν - hotan): A temporal conjunction, meaning "at any time that," indicating the opportunistic nature of acts of charity; there is no specific limited window.
• you want (θέλητε - thelēte): Conveys desire or will. Charity is presented as an act of voluntary goodwill, not bound by a specific deadline or urgency as Jesus's anointing was.
• you can do good (ποιεῖν καλόν - poiein kalon): "Poiein" means to make or do; "kalon" means good, beautiful, noble. This phrase implies acts of benevolence, kindness, or positive service. It encompasses a wide range of compassionate actions.
• to them (αὐτοῖς - autois): Referring back directly to "the poor," the recipients of good deeds.
• But (ἐμέ... οὐ... ἀεί - eme... ou... aei): The contrasting conjunction is implied through the strong word order, signaling a shift to the core point of the statement. The explicit contrast focuses on "Me."
• you will not always have me (οὐ πάντοτε ἔχετε): "Oud-pantote" (not always) implies a finite time. Jesus highlights the temporality of His physical presence among them. This signifies His impending departure through death and ascension, a once-in-history event.

Words-group analysis:

• "For you always have the poor with you": This echoes Deut 15:11 and underscores a timeless biblical reality: poverty is a constant feature of human existence in a fallen world. It is a responsibility that endures through all generations, indicating an ongoing opportunity and duty for believers. This is not a dismissal of the poor, but an acknowledgment of a persistent reality and command.
• "and whenever you want, you can do good to them": This emphasizes the perpetual availability of opportunities to care for the poor. It indicates that charity is a continuous and open-ended ministry, not restricted to specific times or circumstances. This gives people freedom in how and when they engage in such good deeds.
• "But you will not always have me": This statement creates a stark contrast, establishing the uniqueness and temporal limitation of Jesus's physical presence. It underscores that His life, ministry, and particularly His death and burial, are singular, non-repeatable events demanding immediate, ultimate devotion. The "anointing for burial" cannot be postponed or repeated; the unique opportunity to show direct devotion to the Messiah as He approaches His sacrifice is fleeting.

Mark 14 7 Bonus section

The distinction Jesus draws is not between caring for the poor versus ignoring them, but between perpetual acts of kindness that can be done at any time and a unique, time-sensitive act of worship towards His specific person in preparation for His unique death and resurrection. Jesus's words are not an excuse to neglect the poor but a profound theological statement about the incomparable significance of His life and sacrifice. This particular anointing by the woman represented an act of ultimate, spontaneous devotion recognizing Jesus’s identity and imminent suffering, serving as a powerful example of spiritual priority. While Christ is no longer physically present with us, the opportunities to express devotion to Him persist through obedience to His commands and through serving His "least of these" (Matthew 25:40), demonstrating that true love for Christ and true charity are intrinsically linked in the believer's life. The ongoing mission of the church is both to serve the poor and to proclaim the unique, finished work of Christ.

Mark 14 7 Commentary

In Mark 14:7, Jesus responds to the disciples' misplaced concern for the poor by emphasizing the differing natures of the opportunities before them. He does not diminish the importance of caring for the poor, a constant and vital aspect of God's law and Christian discipleship (echoing Deut 15:11). There will always be chances to show compassion and generosity to those in need, allowing believers to exercise charity at any point they desire. However, Jesus underscores the temporal singularity of His physical presence and the momentous event of His impending death and burial. The woman's act of anointing Him, whether she fully grasped its prophetic significance or not, was a supreme act of worship and preparation for His sacrifice. This unique, unrepeatable event required a devotion that momentarily transcended other good deeds. The verse teaches that while mundane needs are continuous, acts of profound spiritual significance tied to God's ultimate plan of salvation, particularly the unique presence of the incarnate Christ, command a different level of immediate priority. It highlights that the ultimate service is to Christ Himself, recognizing His uniqueness and His redemptive mission as distinct from, though ultimately empowering, all acts of human compassion.