Is the Anointing of Jesus in John 12 the Same as in Matthew 26?

Do you think the anointing of Jesus in John 12 by Mary is the same one mentioned in Matthew 26?

“There came unto Him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on His head…” (Matt. 26:7).
“Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus…” (Jn. 12:3).

It is commonly taught that the anointing of Christ in Matthew 26:6-13 and the similar account in John 12:1-8 are the same event. There are similarities between these accounts but also major differences.

The similarities: Both events took place in “Bethany” (Matt. 26:6; Mk. 14:3; Jn. 12:1). The ointment was worth the same amount, “three hundred pence” (Mk. 14:5; Jn. 12:5). Objection was made that the ointment could have been sold and the money given to the poor (Matt. 26:9; Mk. 14:5; Jn. 12:5). The Lord’s response is practically the same in each account (Matt. 26:11-12; Mk. 14:7-8; Jn. 12:7-8).

The differences: John’s account took place at the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary (12:2); the other account is at “the house of Simon the leper” (Matt. 26:6; Mk. 14:3). John’s account took place “six days before the Passover” (12:1); the other took place “two days” before the Passover (Matt. 26:2; Mk. 14:1). In John, it took place before the Triumphal Entry (12:12-15); the other took place after it (Matt. 21:1-11; Mk. 11:1-11). In John, “Mary” is named (12:3); in the other, the “woman” is unnamed (Matt. 26:7,10; Mk. 14:3).

In John, the ointment was poured on Christ’s “feet” (12:3); in the other, the ointment was poured on Christ’s “head” (Matt. 26:7; Mk. 14:3). In John, Mary “wiped His feet with her hair” (12:3); in the other, the woman’s hair is not mentioned. In John’s account, only “one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot” objected (12:4-6); in the other, “some” of the disciples objected (Matt. 26:8; Mk. 14:4).

The details of the two accounts differ significantly, and not because of any contradiction, but because these were two similar but different anointings of Christ that took place four days apart.

Changing Our “Want-To”

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Rom. 6:1, 2).

Some people think, “You can’t tell someone they are under grace, because they’ll live however they want to!” But Paul shows here that grace is to change our “want-to”! Grace makes us “want to” live a life pleasing to the One Who saved us by His grace. God’s grace changes hearts and lives. It transforms how we think, act, and speak. It changes our motivation and desires, from living for only self and temporal pleasures to living for the glory of Christ and for the eternal. The grace of God through the Cross should forever change us.

Pastor Bill White wrote this: “Recently I witnessed an unusual accountability partnership at my church. In an effort to break his habit of using profanity, Paul started meeting with another guy from church, and they set up an aggressive plan for holiness. Each Sunday, Paul would report to William how many times he cussed during the week, and he’d put $5 in the offering plate for each incident. The first week cost Paul $100. Although following weeks improved somewhat, he wasn’t having the success he wanted and was losing a lot of hard-earned cash.

“After the fourth week, William told Paul he had totally changed the deal for the coming week, but he wouldn’t tell Paul how. Paul wanted to know, but all William would say was, ‘Trust me. It will cost you both less and more.’ The following Sunday before worship, Paul was looking a bit down, obviously having failed again. William put a hand on his shoulder and said, ‘Paul, this will cost you both less and more. It’s called grace.’ With that he took out a check made out to the church, dated and signed by William. Only the amount was blank. ‘Your sin still costs, but for you it’s free. Just fill in the numbers. And next week there will be more grace.’ That first week of grace cost William $55, but the second only cost him $20. The third week cost him nothing. It cost Paul too much to fill in those checks, so he quit swearing.” (Friends Grace Motivates Change, www.preachingtoday.com)

God’s Word shows us that grace does not give us license to sin, but instead, as we think of our Savior and His sacrificial payment for our sins at the Cross, that grace should discipline, motivate, and soften our hearts to obey Him and turn from sin. Grace gives liberty to practice grace and power to live a life free from the bondage of sin. It’s the grace of God and the love of Christ that are to motivate us to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4) and live a life pleasing to Him.

Article printed from Berean Bible Society: https://bereanbiblesociety.org URL to article: https://bereanbiblesociety.org/changing-our-want-to/
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