Norwegian 2018 (Bibelen - Guds Ord Hverdagsbibelen (Hermon Forlag))
Da disiplene så hva hun gjorde, ble de sinte: «Hva skal denne sløsingen være godt for? Denne duftende parfymen kunne vært solgt for mange penger og gitt til de fattige.» Men da Jesus hørte hva de sa, forsvarte Han henne: «Hvorfor kritiserer dere henne? Hun har gjort en god gjerning mot Meg. Det vil alltid være fattige mennesker iblant dere, men Meg har dere ikke alltid.
What Does This Mean?
In Matthew 26:8, the disciples of Jesus are upset because they see someone wasting what they consider to be a valuable item. They question why this waste is happening instead of using it for something more practical.
Explained for Children
Imagine if you saw your friend spending all their allowance on one very expensive toy when there were other things they needed, like food or clothes. You might feel upset and wonder why they would do that. That's how the disciples felt here!
Historical Background
This verse is part of Matthew’s Gospel, written around AD 80-90 for a primarily Jewish-Christian audience in the Roman Empire. The cultural setting was one where resources were precious, making any perceived waste particularly disturbing.
Living It Out Today
Today, you might feel like this if you see someone spending money on something frivolous instead of important needs or causes. It’s important to consider what our actions and spending say about our values and priorities.
The disciples viewed the act of pouring expensive perfume on Jesus as wasteful because they thought it could have been used for something more practical, like helping the poor.
How does this relate to our spending habits today?
It reminds us to consider the intent behind our spending and whether it aligns with our values, especially if it involves making sacrifices for spiritual or moral reasons.
What can we learn about judgment from Matthew 26:8?
We should be cautious of judging others’ actions without understanding their motives. What seems wasteful might actually be a meaningful act of devotion or sacrifice.