meat, and poured a box of precious ointraent on His head. She did it, no doubt, out of reverence and affec- tion. She had received soul-benefit from Him, and she thought no mark of honour too costly to be bestowed on Him in return. But this deed of hers called forth dis- approbation from some who saw it. They called it " waste." They said it might have been better to sell the ointment, and give the money to the poor. At once our Lord rebuked these cold-hearted fault-finders. He tells them that the woman has '^ wrought a good work," and one that he accepts and approves. And he goes on to make a striking prediction, " Wheresoever this Gospel is preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her."
We see, in this little incident, how perfectly our Lord knew things to come, and how easy it is for him to con- fer honor. This prophecy of His about this woman is receiving a fulfilment every day before our eyes. Wher- ever the Gospel of St. Matthew is read, the deed that she did is known. The deeds and titles of many a king, and emperor, and general, are as completely forgotten, as if written in the sand. But the grateful act of one humble Christian woman is recorded in one hundred and fifty difierent languages, and is known all over the globe. The praise of man is but for a few days. The praise of Christ endure til for ever. The pathway to lasting honor, is to honor Christ.
Last, but not least, we see in this incident a blessed foretaste of things that will yet take place in the day of judgment. In that great day no honor done to Christ on earth shall be found to have been foro-otten. The
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speeches of parliamentary orators^ the exploits of warri- ors, the works of poets and painters, shall not be mentioned in that day. But the least work that the weakest Christian woman has done for Christ, or His members, shall be found written in a book of everlasting remembrance. Not a single kind word or deed, not a cup of cold water, or a box of ointment, shall be omitted from the record. Silver and gold she may have had none, — rank, power, and influence she may not have possessed, — but if she loved Christ, and confessed Christ, and worked for Christ, her memorial shall be found on high. She shall be commended before assembled worlds. Do we know what it is to work for Christ ? If we do, let us take courage, and work on. What greater en- couragement can we desire than we see here .? We may be laughed at and ridiculed by the world. Our motives may be misunderstood. Our conduct may be misrepre- sented. Our sacrifices for Christ's sake may be called '^ waste," — waste of time, waste of money, waste of strength. Let none of these things move us. The eye of Him who sat in Simon's house in Bethany is upon us. He notes all we do, and is well-pleased. Let us be " steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as we know that our labor is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Cor. xv. 58.)