“But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, ‘Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial.’” (Matthew 26:10–12, ESV)

It is interesting how two different people can see the same person do the same thing and yet make two completely different judgments. We realize that our understanding of the world and of the actions and motives of others is colored by our own attitudes. Therefore, no human is completely objective. We all assess situations with our own prejudices and presuppositions. Only God sees things as they really are and knows the true motives of people.

John tells us that the woman who anointed Jesus was Mary, the sister of Martha and brother of Lazarus. Earlier, Jesus had spoken about going to Jerusalem and being delivered to the chief priests and elders. He would be crucified and on the third day would rise again. Apparently the Twelve either weren’t listening or didn’t believe Jesus, otherwise they would have gone to the tomb on Sunday morning to celebrate His resurrection!

But Mary was listening, and she understood. Jesus had done so much for her and for her family. He had raised her brother Lazarus from the dead! This was Mary’s opportunity to do something kind for Jesus and to show her gratitude. She took the most expensive possession she had, pure oil of spikenard worth about a year’s wages, and she poured it on the head and feet of Jesus. Judas and the other disciples didn’t understand and criticized Mary for this extravagant waste. But Jesus saw in this a beautiful act. She was anointing Him for His burial. Of all the disciples, Mary listened and understood. She saw an opportunity to minister to Jesus, and she seized it.

Judas, on the other, hand seized the opportunity to betray Jesus to the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver. Jesus said that Mary’s action would be a memorial to her wherever the gospel was preached. But of Judas, Jesus said that it would have been better if he had never been born.

We must be careful not to judge others hastily. We can misunderstand their actions and misjudge their motives. Our judgments are faulty because we are faulty. But Jesus knows our works and the works of others. He searches every heart and knows why we do what we do. Our actions may not always be right, but Jesus looks at the motive of our heart and rewards us accordingly. Aren’t you glad He is the Judge?