Matthew 26 12

Matthew 26:12 kjv

For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

Matthew 26:12 nkjv

For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial.

Matthew 26:12 niv

When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.

Matthew 26:12 esv

In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial.

Matthew 26:12 nlt

She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial.

Matthew 26 verses

Matthew 26 12 Meaning

Matthew 26:12 reveals Jesus' profound interpretation of a woman's act of pouring expensive ointment on His body. While others, notably some disciples, saw this as wasteful, Jesus declared it a prophetic action of great significance. He understood it as a direct preparation for His impending burial, likening the anointing to a pre-embalming rite. This verse highlights His full awareness of His destiny and the redemptive purpose of His death, affirming that even seemingly simple human actions can be woven into God's sovereign plan for fulfillment.

Matthew 26 12 Context

Matthew 26 sets the stage for the dramatic events of Jesus' passion, leading directly to His crucifixion. The anointing at Bethany (vv. 6-13), which includes verse 12, occurs just two days before the Passover feast, immediately after the chief priests and elders have begun plotting Jesus' death (vv. 3-5). The atmosphere is thick with impending conflict and ultimate sacrifice. Culturally, anointing with oil was common for various purposes: hospitality, healing, or preparing a body for burial. The specific use of expensive spikenard, as clarified in the parallel accounts of Mark and John, underscores the extravagant nature of the woman's devotion. Typically, elaborate embalming and burial preparations took place after death. Jesus' unique declaration transforms a beautiful act of devotion into a pre-enactment of His funeral, given the hasty and partial nature of His actual burial rites following His crucifixion.

Matthew 26 12 Word analysis

• For (γὰρ - gar): This conjunction links the verse as an explanation or reason for Jesus' earlier statement in verse 10, "Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon Me." It signifies that Jesus' subsequent words elaborate on the "good work" she performed.
• in pouring (ἐκχεῖσα - ekcheisa): From ekcheō, meaning "to pour out," often lavishly, fully, or even with intensity. This highlights the complete and unrestrained nature of the woman's offering, contrasting with any measured or economical approach. It suggests an overflowing act of worship.
• this (τοῦτο - touto): Refers directly to "the ointment," emphasizing the specific valuable substance used.
• ointment (τὸ μύρον - to myron): A costly, fragrant liquid, likely spikenard (as named in Mk 14:3 and Jn 12:3). Myron specifically denotes perfume or aromatic oil, emphasizing its value and preciousness beyond mere oil.
• on My body (ἐπὶ τοῦ σώματός μου - epi tou sōmatos mou): "Upon My physical body." This stresses the direct and intimate nature of the anointing, not just His feet, but specifically "His body." It's a personal and unique act toward Him, indicating the reverence for His physical being which would soon suffer and die.
• she did it (ἐποίησεν - epoiēsen): A simple past tense verb meaning "she made" or "she did." It indicates the completion of her deliberate action.
• for (πρὸς - pros): Meaning "towards," "unto," or "with reference to." Here, it denotes purpose or destiny. Jesus explicitly assigns the intention or meaning to her act.
• My burial (τὸν ἐνταφιασμόν μου - ton entaphiasmon mou): From entaphiazō, which means "to prepare for burial," encompassing the act of embalming or anointing for burial. This is the crucial interpretative insight. Jesus declared that her anointing was divinely intended as a pre-burial anointing, foreseeing His imminent death and the need for proper funeral rites. It highlights the solemnity and sacrificial nature of the coming event.

Words-group analysis:

• "in pouring this ointment on My body": This phrase captures the physical, lavish, and sacrificial act. The woman gives her best, completely offering the precious substance onto Jesus Himself. This gesture is both deeply reverential and foreshadows the pouring out of Jesus' own life.
• "she did it for My burial": This is Jesus' authoritative and prophetic interpretation. He connects the act of lavish anointing not just to present honor but to His future, inevitable, and redemptive death. It highlights His complete sovereignty and awareness over His fate, implying that this act, seemingly one of pure devotion, had a specific and essential place in the divine timeline leading to His crucifixion and entombment.

Matthew 26 12 Bonus section

• The woman in this account is explicitly identified as Mary, Lazarus's sister, in John 12:3. Her deep love and devotion to Jesus are evident in her willingness to give such a costly offering.
• This specific act is elevated by Jesus to such importance that He prophesies it will be remembered wherever the Gospel is preached (Mk 14:9). This illustrates how acts of personal, sacrificial devotion to Christ are eternally significant and intricately linked to the Gospel message itself.
• The incident highlights the contrasting perspectives between divine priorities (Jesus' impending death for redemption) and human, often material-driven, concerns (selling the ointment for the poor). Jesus prioritizes the unique, unrepeatable moment of preparation for His redemptive act.

Matthew 26 12 Commentary

Matthew 26:12 offers a pivotal moment where Jesus interprets an act of devotion with prophetic clarity. While some disciples, motivated by a superficial concern for the poor (and in Judas' case, avarice), criticized the woman's "waste" of expensive ointment, Jesus intervened with divine insight. He declared that her extravagant act, far from being a waste, was a "good work" specifically for His burial. This revelation underscores Jesus' constant awareness of His impending death.

The cultural practice was to prepare a body for burial after death. However, Jesus' unique circumstance, including the rushed burial after the crucifixion and the onset of the Sabbath, meant a proper embalming was not fully performed (Mk 16:1). Thus, this pre-anointing served as a symbolic, yet profoundly significant, preliminary preparation. It transformed a lavish display of love into a solemn anointing for the Lamb of God destined for sacrifice. The woman, perhaps unknowingly, was a participant in the prophetic unfolding of God's plan, anointing the Christ for His ultimate mission. This act affirms that true worship is not always pragmatic in worldly terms, and that profound devotion can be perfectly aligned with God's ultimate purposes. It teaches us to discern spiritual significance beyond material cost or human judgment.