Matthew 26:13 kjv
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.
Matthew 26:13 nkjv
Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her."
Matthew 26:13 niv
Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
Matthew 26:13 esv
Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her."
Matthew 26:13 nlt
I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman's deed will be remembered and discussed."
Matthew 26 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Anointing Accounts | ||
| Mk 14:9 | And truly, I tell you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told... | Parallel account, identical promise |
| Jn 12:3 | Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus... | Parallel account, names Mary of Bethany |
| Jn 12:7 | Jesus said, "Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial." | Jesus' interpretation of the act's purpose |
| Lk 7:37-38 | And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet... | Different anointing story, emphasizing forgiveness |
| Gospel's Universal Reach | ||
| Mt 28:19 | Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit... | Great Commission: universal spread of gospel |
| Acts 1:8 | But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. | Prophecy of global evangelism |
| Rom 1:8 | First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. | Faith of believers known universally |
| Col 1:6 | ...which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you... | Gospel's fruitful spread globally |
| Rev 14:6 | Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. | Future proclamation to all people |
| Importance of Remembrance/Memorial | ||
| Exod 12:14 | "This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord..." | Passover as a lasting memorial |
| Num 10:10 | On your days of rejoicing, and on your appointed feasts, and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the Lord your God.” | Trumpets for memorial sacrifices |
| Isa 62:6 | On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest... | Calling God's people to remember Him |
| Acts 10:4 | And he stared at him, terrified, and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God." | Cornelius's deeds remembered by God |
| Valuing Christ/Sacrificial Devotion | ||
| Lk 21:3-4 | "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." | Widow's sacrificial giving |
| Phil 3:7-8 | But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. | Valuing Christ above all personal gain |
| Lk 10:41-42 | But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” | Mary choosing devotion over service |
| 1 Pet 1:8 | Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy... | Love for unseen Christ |
| Reward for Righteous Deeds | ||
| Heb 6:10 | For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. | God remembers and rewards faithful service |
| Rev 14:13 | And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” | Deeds of faithful follow them into eternity |
| 1 Cor 15:58 | Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. | Labor for the Lord is never in vain |
Matthew 26 verses
Matthew 26 13 Meaning
In Matthew 26:13, Jesus declares that the act of devotion performed by a woman, who anointed Him with expensive oil in Bethany, will be permanently remembered and recounted universally alongside the proclamation of the gospel. He affirms the eternal significance of this sacrificial act, interpreting it as a preparation for His impending burial, thereby weaving it directly into the core message of redemption that is to spread throughout the world.
Matthew 26 13 Context
This verse is situated within Matthew's account of the events immediately preceding Jesus' crucifixion, known as Passion Week. It specifically occurs during an anointing scene at the home of Simon the Leper in Bethany. A woman comes with an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment and pours it on Jesus' head. The disciples, indignant, protest this act, deeming it a "waste" that could have been sold to aid the poor. In response, Jesus defends the woman, stating that her action is a beautiful thing done to Him, effectively anointing Him for burial. Matthew 26:13 is Jesus' further prophetic declaration of the lasting significance of her act. Historically, anointing was common for hospitality, healing, or consecration (of kings, priests, or prophets). However, Jesus' unique interpretation redefines this anointing as a direct, prophetic act preparing His body for His death and burial, an event understood by the disciples only later.
Matthew 26 13 Word analysis
- Truly (Ἀμήν, Amēn): A transliterated Hebrew word signifying emphatic affirmation. It serves to solemnize the statement, indicating that what follows is profoundly significant and authoritative, a divine truth from Jesus Himself.
- I tell you (λέγω ὑμῖν, legō hymin): Reinforces Jesus' authority as a divine teacher and prophet. He is not merely giving an opinion but a definitive pronouncement.
- wherever (ὅπου ἐὰν, hopou ean): Denotes universality and scope without limitation, indicating that this declaration has no geographical bounds.
- this gospel (τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦτο, to euangelion touto): Refers to the "good news" of Jesus Christ – His person, His saving work (His death, resurrection, and the kingdom He brings). It encapsulates the message of redemption, sacrifice, and divine love that is to be preached.
- proclaimed (κηρυχθῇ, kērychthē): From kēryssō, meaning "to preach, to herald, to announce publicly with authority." It emphasizes the public, authoritative dissemination of the good news.
- in the whole world (ὅλῳ τῷ κόσμῳ, holō tō kosmō): Emphasizes the global reach of the gospel message, echoing prophecies of a universal kingdom and foretelling the Great Commission.
- what she has done (ὃ ἐποίησεν αὕτη, ho epoiēsen hautē): Specifically refers to the act of anointing Jesus with costly perfume. This physical, seemingly simple action is elevated to a place of eternal spiritual significance by Jesus.
- will also be told (λαληθήσεται καὶ, lalēthēsetai kai): Signifies that her deed will be "spoken of" or "recounted." It indicates not just passive remembrance but active proclamation alongside the gospel.
- in memory of her (εἰς μνημόσυνον αὐτῆς, eis mnēmosynon autēs): The Greek mnēmosynon (memorial) often relates to things remembered by God or for perpetual remembrance, similar to Old Testament concepts of "memorial offerings." It implies that her deed achieves a lasting, honorable, and divinely sanctioned place in history and salvation. It's not merely human recollection, but an act so interwoven with God's redemptive plan that it will be perpetually honored.
Words-group Analysis:
- "Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world...": This powerful prophetic declaration highlights the inseparable link between the act of devotion and the global spread of the Gospel. It underscores the certainty of the divine promise and the universal reach of Christ's message, into which this specific act is interwoven.
- "...what she has done will also be told in memory of her.": This phrase emphasizes the eternal impact and divinely ordained remembrance of selfless, costly acts of worship and service directed toward Jesus. It positions her deed as a permanent testimony, celebrated and remembered in conjunction with the gospel because it pointed to Jesus' impending sacrifice. The phrase counters the "wasteful" accusation, revealing that an act of extreme love for Christ holds immeasurable, lasting value.
Matthew 26 13 Bonus section
The woman's act of anointing stands in stark contrast to the subsequent betrayal by Judas, demonstrating two very different responses to Jesus as His passion approached. While her act expressed extreme devotion, Judas's response was one of calculation and ultimate betrayal, driven by covetousness. Furthermore, Jesus' strong defense of her and His prophetic promise demonstrate the importance of discerning the spiritual significance of acts of worship, which often supersede mere logical or material considerations. It's a reminder that valuing Jesus above all, even in an economically extravagant manner, is a posture blessed by God and permanently woven into the unfolding story of redemption.
Matthew 26 13 Commentary
Matthew 26:13 stands as a profound testament to the eternal value of genuine devotion to Christ, especially in anticipation of His suffering and death. Amidst the practical objections of the disciples concerning the "waste" of resources, Jesus champions the woman's lavish act as a beautiful, Spirit-prompted preparation for His burial. This verse teaches that deeds of sacrificial love for Christ, no matter how extravagant they appear to others, are not only pleasing to God but are so integral to the fabric of redemption that they will be universally declared wherever the gospel is proclaimed. It highlights that worship, costly and undiluted, possesses a timeless quality, embodying a prophetic witness to Jesus' sacrifice and establishing a permanent memorial that transcends immediate utilitarian concerns. The woman's act serves as an enduring example of faith and selfless adoration, eternally bound to the saving narrative of Christ.