Matt 26:11 is Not about The Poor. Please !!

 The truth about this verse is, it’s not about poverty. It’s not about caring or not caring for the poor. Jesus understands the economics of society and he knows as many scholars, politicians then and now knows. 

The verse has nothing to do once and for all about being poor or poverty it’s not in a way not about Jesus as a person. Sure, he will soon be arrested and put to death. The disciples will no longer hear and learn from him Spiritual Truths which he has still much to tell them. 

The woman with the alabaster jar adores Jesus. It could well be maybe she is infatuated with Jesus. She adores him as a Master and hold him in high esteem. Or she has been following His Teachings of the Way of Truth To Life. She has tremendously benefited from it. Her life has changed. Maybe her business has prospered. Whatever. She values the Spiritual Teachings of Jesus and values those words more precious than “gold”. 

Whereas the disciples were still thinking in Earthly material terms. As we have seen in another post, God doesn’t care if you are rich or poor as long as you don’t violate his Principles Of living. The disciples were still living and operating in the earthly realm not realising that life originated from the Soul outwards. 

So Jesus was saying you should be learning, understanding and appreciating my Spiritual Wisdom more if you really want to change the world for the better. Instead you are know price of everything but know the value of nothing. 

It’s not that the poor should not be helped. They should. Everyone in need should be given assistance. However this verse is about appreciating the Spiritual Wisdom of Jesus. Is it better to pass your own exam or fail yours but help others first ? Is it better to put the mask on on your children first while neglecting yourself ?

Again this verse is nothing to do with the virtues of poverty or the economics of it. Or that Jesus is indifferent to the needs of the poor. However when viewed from a higher vantage point, is it better to help a few poor by selling some things for a immediate satisfaction or learning and appreciating Spiritual Wisdom that can change an entire society for a more longer lasting benefits.

Here Jesus is making a point : the Disciples don’t get what he has been trying to teach them or do ! His mission is to divulge Spiritual Wisdom not come as a social worker !! The lesson here is for the Disciples who are ordinary people, fisherman, tax collectors etc. To them money is valuable maybe even more than spiritual wisdom that they lack and definitely more practical. And here comes a woman just pour thousands of dollars worth of perfume on their Master Teacher. 

Amd I don’t think he really need or want the attention and adoration of the perfume on him as a present for his burial !!? As gentle and sensitive as he is , He can’t deny and reject the sincerity of the woman and at the same time teach the disciple a lesson. 

Jesus might also be poorer than the poor at that time. He own no possession. At least  the poor might still have some possession. Possibly even a house. A small house but still a house. But Jesus depends pretty much on charity. So here is a man, poorer than the poor and about to be send to death, why can’t he accept abit of lavishness given to him ? 

Another analogy a patriach of the family empire is dying and he has done beautiful things for his children and family and society. He is about to die and the sons come to him to say sorry dad can’t buy you a nice coffin and a nice cemetery because we have to pay the staff first. 

However more pertinently And this is also another Tao 5 interpretation. “ 聖人不仁，以百姓為芻狗” . Rich or poor in this context is immaterial to the Divine Spirit as long as you follow the Tao.