Jesus' words about the poor, who will always exist, make us think. Today, when the fight against poverty, at least in words, is becoming one of the main priorities, they can certainly be somewhat disconcerting. But Jesus says them for a reason, and...
Jesus' words about the poor, who will always exist, make us think. Today, when the fight against poverty, at least in words, is becoming one of the main priorities, they can certainly be somewhat disconcerting. But Jesus says them for a reason, and in the context of a specific situation, when voices are heard calling for those poor people, who according to His word are "always with us," to be preferred over Him. And here the question of choice arises, the question of the priorities that define our life.
Historically, Christianity has always supported every kind of social ministry: help for the poor, the sick, the rejected, charity both individual and collective - in short, everything that can in any way ease the condition of those for whom life is hard. And here, sooner or later, both individuals carrying out such ministries and entire communities inevitably face the question: who is first for us? Christ or the poor?
It would seem that there is no need to choose here: social ministry, at first glance, cannot possibly hinder spiritual life. But that is only how it looks at first glance, because social ministry is a ministry like any other. The Kingdom came into the world not with the poor, but with Christ, and it exists in the world because the Church is, in the apostle's words, the Body of Christ, not because it is a charitable organization. And social ministry, like any outward activity, takes on a life of its own and seeks to swallow a person whole. If it is allowed to do so, that person can easily forget the Kingdom, devoting himself entirely to the poor. And then he will no longer be able to help those to whom he devotes himself, because, in the Savior's words, man does not live by bread alone.
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26:1 When Jesus had finished all these discourses - When he had spoken all he had to speak. Till then he would not enter upon his passion: then he would delay it no longer. Mar 14:1; Luk 22:1.
26:2 After two days is the passover - The manner wherein this was celebrated gives much light to several circumstances that follow.The master of the family began the feast with a cup of wine, which having solemnly blessed, he divided among the guests, Luk 22:17. Then the supper began with the unleavened breadand bitter herbs; which when they had all tasted, one of the young persons present, according to Exo 12:26, asked the reason of the solemnity. This introduced the showing forth, or declaration of it: in allusion to which we read of showing forth the Lord's death, Co1 11:26. Then the master rose up and took another cup, before the lamb was tasted. After supper, he took a thin loaf or cake, which he broke and divided to all at the table, and likewise the cup, usually called the cup of thanksgiving, of which he drank first, and then all the guests.It was this bread and this cup which our Lord consecrated to be a standing memorial of his death.
26:3 The chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the people - (Heads of families.) These together constituted the sanhedrim,or great council, which had the supreme authority, both in civil and ecclesiastical affairs.
26:5 But they said, Not at the feast - This was the result of human wisdom. But when Judas came they changed their purpose. So the counsel of God took place, and the true paschal Lamb was offered up on the great day of the paschal solemnity.
26:6 Mar 14:3.
26:8 His disciples seeing it, had indignation, saying - It seems several of them were angry, and spoke, though none so warmly as Judas Iscariot.
26:11 Ye have the poor always with you - Such is the wise and gracious providence of God, that we may have always opportunities of relieving their wants, and so laying up for ourselves treasures in heaven.
26:12 She hath done it for my burial - As it were for the embalming of my body. Indeed this was not her design: but our Lord puts this construction upon it, to confirm thereby what he had before said to his disciples, concerning his approaching death.
26:13 This Gospel - That is, this part of the Gospel history.
26:14 Mar 14:10; Luk 22:3.
26:15 They bargained with him for thirty pieces of silver - (About three pounds fifteen shillings sterling; or sixteen dollars sixty - seven cents,) the price of a slave, Exo 21:32.