Matthew 26:8 Meaning and Explanation
“But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The disciples are indignant, calling the lavish gift a waste.
What Does Matthew 26:8 Mean?
The disciples watch the perfume run down and see only lost money. Their indignation sounds practical, even pious; the word they use for waste means ruin or destruction, as if love so lavish could only be loss.
How easily the arithmetic of the world creeps into the hearts of the faithful. They measure her gift by the market and miss its meaning. Whenever wholehearted devotion looks foolish to onlookers, this scene replays. Jesus will shortly defend her, for love poured out on Him is never lost.
Matthew 26:8 in the Original Language
apoleia (ἀπώλεια), 'waste' -- loss, ruin, destruction.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 26:8
What does Matthew 26:8 mean?
The disciples are indignant, calling the lavish gift a waste.