https://odb.org/2026/02/11/honoring-jesus
Matthew 26:6–13 (NIV): 6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
A twenty-dollar bill and two leaflets with messages about Jesus. That’s what was inside an envelope labeled “John Daniels Sr, Random Act of Kindness Day.” A woman gave it to me while I was on my walk at the community college campus. A year earlier, John had been fatally struck by a car after helping a homeless man and sharing words about Christ’s love with him. John’s legacy of witnessing through words and deeds lives on through the woman I met that day, along with John’s other family members. (Arthur Jackson, Our Daily Bread 11th February 2026)
The woman with the alabaster jar in Matthew 6 should be seen as distinct from Mary, the sister of Lazarus who was recorded doing a similar act elsewhere in Mark 14, Luke 7 or John 12. You may Google why it is a different woman in terms of the setting and context although there are commentaries who argue that she is the same woman on the basis that it is unlikely such an event would have occurred twice in Jesus’s short 3-year ministry on earth.
The point however remains the same. That notwithstanding the high cost of the perfume which women at that time kept as dowry for their future marriage (costing over 300 denarii or a labourer’s wages for one year), it was an act worthy to bestow upon Jesus. This is because it still pales in comparison to Jesus dying on the cross for the sins of mankind.
How we as individual believers honour Christ in our lives is something for each of us to respond individually. It is not a competition but a personal response and conviction. Certain basics are like our tithes and offerings, our attendance in church, our daily quiet time and our service in ministry. But do you travel 70km to go to church in another city or find a church closer to home? That depends on your calling and conviction. My view is church is an extension of our calling and less a matter of convenience, yet practicality also plays a part. We need to balance the considerations.
The famous story of Saul himself offering a sacrifice to God before going to battle without waiting for Samuel the prophet to do so illustrates the principle that obedience is better than sacrifice. Note that sacrifice here is ceremonial sacrifice and the rule then was only the prophet is authorised to offer that sacrifice to God. To apply the principle in context, honouring God may or may not involve sacrifice but obedience to His voice calling or prompting us is key. We obey His call, rather than do things to show others our dedication or how sacrificial is our service or commitment. Don’t fall into the trap to force a sacrifice to please men or even God. For the latter, always respond to His calling.
Honour Jesus in the things we do. He is worthy of all our honour, exaltation and praise. He is the author and finisher of our faith after all! He is our Lord and Saviour!Amen!
Ronnie's Thoughts 