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Re: Gleanings from the "Gospels" [message #11708 is a reply to message #11686]

Mon, 17 August 2015 12:18

Gary
Messages: 1025
Registered: August 2008
Location: Indiana

Senior Member

Looking further into the woman that Jesus said, she would be given a memorial wherever the gospel is preached I have come to the conclusion that this is the same woman mentioned in Matthew, Mark, and John but there is a chance that the account in Luke may be a different account of another woman. But so many things are similar in the description that it could just be the same woman with some additional information given by Luke.

Let me explain why I think this. In Matthew and Mark the accounts seem almost word for word of what took place. They are in Bethany at the house of Simon the Leper. A woman comes in and anoints the head of Jesus and the disciples become indignant. Jesus says let her alone this will be a memorial to her because she did this for my burial.

Quote:

Matthew 26:6-16New King James Version

6 And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. 8 But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”

10 But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. 11 For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. 12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. 13 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.”

Looking up the word Memorial we find:
noun
1.
something designed to preserve the memory of a person, event, etc., as a monument or a holiday.
2.
a written statement of facts presented to a sovereign, a legislative body, etc., as the ground of, or expressed in the form of, a petition or remonstrance.
adjective
3.
preserving the memory of a person or thing; commemorative:
memorial services.
4.
of or relating to the memory.

Something to be remembered for what she had done.

Matthew and Mark were totally similar in content but then we come to John's account. John tells us that its the sister of Lazarus, Mary who anoints the feet of Jesus with the Oil. It does not say whose house they are in but it tells us Martha served the meal, while Lazarus set at the table with Jesus. Many people were drawn to Jesus because of Lazarus being raised from the dead.

John also tells us that Judas Iscariot was Simon's son? I wondered if this was Simon the leper in whose house they met for this meal. John also tells us that Judas spoke out concerning the use of this oil because it could be sold for money and then they could help the poor. Sounds spiritual we should be helping the poor, but then Jesus speaks up because of this and says, Let her alone.

Quote:

12 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”

denarius
1.
a silver coin and monetary unit of ancient Rome, first issued in the latter part of the 3rd century b.c., that fluctuated in value and sometimes appeared as a bronze coin.
2.
a gold coin of ancient Rome equal to 25 silver denarii; aureus.

Three hundred denarii is a lot of money even by today's standard, but John tells us that Judas was stealing from the money box on a regular basis. The Love of money is the root of all evil. Either way I believe that Judas was offended at what took place and then were told in Matthew and Mark that he immediately went out to talk with the Chief Priests. They were plotting on putting Lazarus to death because many believed in Jesus because of Lazarus being raised from the dead.

Quote:

9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

All three accounts in Matthew, Mark, and John tell us what took place and compliment each other in their description.

Then we come to Luke's account. Could an event take place that has some similarities but be totally different?

The reason I say this is; we are told by Luke that Jesus and His disciples came to the city of Nain. Nain is up near Nazareth in the area of Galilee, while Bethany is south near Jerusalem in the area of Judea.

Quote:

11 Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him,

There are similarities to the account but Lazarus, Martha, a memorial to the woman, or the disciples being indignant are not mentioned. Luke tells us that they were invited to the house of "Simon the Pharisee". It then tells us that a woman in the city who was a sinner came with an alabaster flask of oil and is weeping and crying and wiping the feet of Jesus with her hair.

They are setting at the table thinking if this man was a prophet he would know that this woman is a sinner. This is when Jesus addresses Simon concerning those who sinned more then others.

From the time they entered the city of Nain until this event there is no mention that they returned to Bethany.

Quote:

Luke 7:36-50

36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”

40 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

So he said, “Teacher, say it.”

41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”

And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

It very well could be talking about Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Luke is giving out more information on what took place but leaves out concerning their return to Bethany and all the events that took place there.

Interesting enough is the fact that this memorial was mentioned in all four Gospels and even to this day is being proclaimed wherever the Gospel is being preached.

Gary

[Updated on: Mon, 17 August 2015 12:22]

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