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[0:00] all right we're done let's get into the scriptures find matthew chapter 26 please in the bible matthew 26 while you're turning we're to look at two different people in this passage and i know this is that what we see in these people i think we we really see quite clearly in people especially this time of year and my hope is that as we read as we draw out some truth here that you'll give some consideration then give some the bible says now when jesus was in bethany for this ointment might have been sold for much and given to the poor when jesus understood it he said unto them why trouble ye the woman for she hath wrought a good work upon me for ye have the poor always with you but me ye have not always for in that she hath poured this ointment on my body she did it for my burial barely i say unto you wheresoever this and they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver and from that time he sought opportunity in this passage is an unnamed woman in verse seven yet the john and code each of us is title the last many sorts of the same as few times there that is no 14 on is Judas Iscariot. And Judas Iscariot, he's there at that same place in the same room, sees this take place and later on in that same night goes and does something else and says this in verse 15, what will ye give me? What will you give me? Judas Iscariot is going to be tagged as they're just glorifying Christ because of love for that man and that Savior. But the other one wants only to know is filled with givers and takers. And I don't mean like, you know, the parents are the givers and the children are the takers. That's kind of a natural role. The heart attitude of being a giver.

[3:48] The reason itself is what exposes. Look briefly at both of the things like that. And the people say in verse 8, when his disciples say, to what purpose is this waste? What's the reason for this? Is there comments? What's the purpose? And I want us to see there is a purpose. There's a purpose for the gift. What they call a waste in verse number 10, Jesus Christ calls a good work. There's two different perspectives on what's happening here.

[4:28] The woman in giving wrought a good work upon the Lord Jesus Christ. The woman in giving wrought a good work upon the Lord Jesus Christ. And I want us to walk in the good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. That's something that should flow from us. Good works, but not just to the community. Good works upon the Lord Jesus Christ. There's a purpose in this gift. The woman is doing a good work upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

[5:34] And oh, that that could be a good work upon him. And oh, that that could be a good work upon him. And oh, that that could be a good work upon him. According to this Bible, you're going to see a good work upon him. According to this Bible, you're going to okay, let's see a good work upon Jesus.

[5:53] upon Jesus.

[6:06] Giver has a purpose for their gift. And first of all, it's to do a good gift. In Mark's gospel, it says something else about this woman.

[6:17] Jesus said this. He said, He said, In regards to Mary pouring this ointment upon Jesus Christ, she hath done what she could.

[6:35] There's a purpose in the gift. And she was being a blessing to the Lord Jesus Christ, maybe in the only way she could. She couldn't stop the crucifixion.

[6:46] She couldn't stop what's going to come ahead. I don't know what. She hath done what she could when she poured this ointment upon Jesus Christ.

[6:59] And she's meeting a need here of the Lord that I think most likely she doesn't even realize. She doesn't fully understand. Look again at verse number 12, what Jesus said about it.

[7:10] For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Jesus Christ, at sitting at meat with a company, and as they sit at meat, this woman comes up and pours this on his head.

[7:32] And Christ doesn't flinch and swat her hand away and say, What are you doing? Don't interrupt me. Don't interrupt me.

[8:07] Don't interrupt me. to somebody else and to meet a need in somebody else's life and not really fully understand or know what really the need is you just feel led of God to do something some years ago I sent some money to a friend of mine that was in Alabama at the time he was younger than me they just had a that we saying brother glory to God it's a blessing to be able to care about what God perhaps you unknowingly about the giver and the purpose of this gift in verse 10 it says Jesus understood he said to them why trouble you the woman for she hath wrought a good work notice upon me upon me Christ is telling his disciples even rebuking them defending the woman this woman wrought a good work upon Jesus Christ the purpose of her gift was for the Lord Jesus Christ she wasn't seeking it she wasn't seeking admiration of others she wasn't hoping for some recognition because of the cost and value of this priceless ointment they all understood the price it comes up in the conversation the value everybody understood what was happening here and she wasn't trying to get blessed she was trying to work a work upon Jesus

[10:28] Christ being her Christ and her Savior it was about him and he was going to be able to work upon Jesus Christ and he was going to be able to work upon Jesus Christ and he was going to be able to work upon Jesus Christ to be able to work upon Jesus Christ and he was going to be able to work upon Jesus Christ a giver giving with a heart of of of um it's not the word I want but a giver giving is an act of worship that's recognized and received by God some years ago when my wife and I were first married and I guess even a little bit before that um it kind of it hit me that inner city and some very poor people and there was a family a mom that would come on the bus with her two teenage and then one younger boy but two teenagers a girl and a boy and a third child and they were dirt poor I mean just dirt poor lived in a shack uh back at the upstairs addition it was just smiles on their faces they were so friendly and just they they weren't very well off and I just at come Christmas time I just remember thinking man what is what is that mom going to put under the tree for those kids what does she say she can't do anything I mean very little if anything and thought I want to do something and worked with the bus captain and was able just to get some presents appropriate for him and to give it to him anonymously and just wanted to just do something for him just felt that in my heart to be a blessing to him and wanted to make sure they knew it came from

[12:43] Santa dropped it off one of them to associate gifts and goodness and somebody that loves and cares with the local church and God's people and wanted to be a blessing to him and and through through the years I just have a few memories that Carla and I kind of picked this up and we got a bunch of takers four little as we were younger and there was a family in our church a good family that were trained and we just felt burdened like let's do and so we did and we we worked it out and had it given to them by the you know in the church office anonymously but just we wanted to be a blessing to them another time there's evangelist family that we knew one year that that we were we we had good fellowship with them when they came through a few times through our church and they had a bunch of kids and they're just living off offerings from churches they're not paid they're not they don't have other income and you know come Christmas time we thought struck us as you know what are they going to be able to do maybe we can do something for them and so we were able to figure something out and and give something that we could help them out at Christmas time and it's a blessing it's a blessing to be to be a giver and to have a heart for others but remember in this passage there's purpose in this gift it's a good work upon Jesus Christ and that's the truth about us we weren't looking just to help people as much as we wanted God to be glorified through us we sought to minister to others and when you have Jesus Christ in you and you care and when when he is able to move in your heart and he has control of your wallet and a control of your heart it's easy to give and there's a joy in giving and again this purpose of this gift was a good work upon Jesus Christ and it was doing what you can being a blessing and and notice also as we did it was upon Christ it's not personal it's not seeking attention in our case it was anonymous because we wanted God to be glorified

[15:13] I don't know if you've read that passage I think it's in 2 Corinthians 8 or 9 where where Paul describes the church giving a gift and helping out another church and at the end of it he says that many thanksgivings redound to God they go they go up to God from those people if you give and you help and so God receives glory secondly about the giver I want us to consider the effect of the gift look at verse number 7 it says there came unto him a woman having an alabaster box a very precious woman poured it on his head as he sat at meat and pouring out this ointment as he opens it and pours it out the fragrance goes out in John's gospel it says in John 12 verse 3 that the house was filled with the odor of the ointment I want you to consider about the effect of this gift that a sweet smell surrounds the giver it surrounds the Lord Jesus Christ it fills the room but it's brought in by the giver and the giver there is an effect of this now keep your place but go to Philippians chapter 4 and let's make a little bit of application here how this can apply and work

[16:26] Philippians chapter 4 a sweet smell surrounds a sweet smell is emitted from the giver because of her giving heart the entire room was affected they all experienced the sweetness of this costly ointment in Philippians chapter 4 we see a church that Paul commends for their giving for how they communicated with him concerning giving and receiving I'll start in verse 15 I'll start in verse 14 he says notwithstanding ye have well done that ye did communicate with my affliction so this church gathered money together and needs or goods whatever and they gave it to the apostle Paul to help him out on his way now ye Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel when I departed from Macedonia no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving but ye only for even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity not because I desire a gift but I desire fruit that may abound to your account but I have all and abound

[17:30] I am full notice this in verse 18 having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you an odor of a sweet smell a sacrifice acceptable well pleasing to God this church produced a sweet smell something's pleasing to the Lord when they were givers this is called a sacrifice in this passage it's a sweet thing to be a giver and there's a real joy that's realized in giving the Lord Jesus Christ said it is more blessed to give than to receive the giver how many of you oh let me say this secondly the giver there's a sweet smell that surrounds or is admitted from the giver but also there's a sweet story that succeeds the giver it outlasts them this is true in this passage back in Matthew 26 in verse number 13 what Christ said about the woman verily I say unto you wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world there shall also this that this woman hath done be told for a memorial of her isn't that wild her story of giving has survived centuries and centuries it's alive and living and being spoken of in 2022 and it's going to carry on into the future her story of giving has survived it serves as an example of selfless giving it serves as an example of worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ the effect is a sweet story succeeds the giver it goes on beyond them how many of you know the name

[19:07] William S. Hart anybody know that name bunch of hands the only reason I know the name two reasons maybe I saw it I saw it up on a billboard somewhere in Newhall and the only reason I recognized it was because Samuel has played baseball up at the Hart Complex and he's wore jerseys that say H-A-R-T across the chest for the last two years and so that's all I knew William S. Hart oh Hart Fields Hart Complex and there's a sign it says Hart and then I've been hearing little bits and pieces I saw in the news maybe somewhere about a school and I thought I didn't really understand that so I did a little reading William S. Hart turns out he was an actor from before my time before most of your time and he was I think in some westerns and things like that and I know his I recognized his name from locally but the other names associated with him very few did I see or ever know but William S. Hart was a giver and his generosity is still felt today and recognized there's a school district a high school a baseball complex that bears his name and there's many charitable organizations that have all benefited many of them from his generosity and his giving in his last will and testament he bequeathed his new hall home to the county of Los Angeles

[20:29] I believe it was a 10,000 square foot mansion on the top of a hill to be converted into a park and a museum for the public and he said this when I was making pictures the people gave me their nickels dimes and quarters when I'm gone I want them to have my home now the only reason I know him and know of his name is because he was a giver if he hadn't given and donated and things like that he'd be just one of the other names on the list of actors that I had no idea who they were but he was a giver and there's an effect of the giver and one of the effects is just like this woman the story succeeds the giver carries on beyond their life and so be a giver be an example to others and let the story of your giving be used to teach others how to give one more thing I'll point out about her giving is that it serves as a rebuke not intentionally but it serves as a rebuke to those indignant disciples she didn't intend for this she didn't show up trying to rebuke she was just doing what she could and what it did though was rebuked them they would not have been indignant if it was their gift uh-huh they would not have a problem at all if it was their idea to anoint him and if they understood of his burial and that he was interested in this matter of fact they would have been filled with joy that they had given such a gift and that it was their name that was gone down in history and being spoken of in a memorial for centuries and centuries and millennia but no they turned indignant upon her it was her gift and her gift rebukes them to say you should have been given yourself you should have been doing something instead of taking now I'm not trying to accuse the disciples necessarily but it's her giving that exposes their indignant nature now let's move on to the next person to the taker and that was

[22:29] Judas Iscariot later in the chapter of matter of fact we can move on from here and go to John chapter 12 we'll pick up a little more information about this scene in John chapter 12 Judas Iscariot the taker Judas Iscariot look at verse I will read a few verses in verse 4 through 6 then saith one of his disciples Judas Iscariot Simon's son which should betray him why was not this ointment sold for 300 pence and given to the poor this he said not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief and had the bag and bear what was put therein now Judas Iscariot the man that betrays the Lord Jesus Christ he was present this evening he was present in body we might say but I don't think he was quite present in spirit he had another meeting on his mind one that was going to take place a little bit later that evening he was thinking about that he was not interested in being a blessing he was not interested in meeting a need he was not interested in glorifying God and worshipping

[23:47] Jesus Christ but Judas rather is thinking selfishly Judas is thinking about his own lusts and Judas doesn't care about the poor the poor you have with you always if you want to do something for the poor go do it you could have did it for the poor yesterday but you're not really interested in the poor and Christ knew that he didn't say what he said because he cared for the poor the Bible says he was a thief Judas is a thief he's a taker he's the first one to open his mouth and accuse the woman as we see in John 12 he's a thief he thinks like a thief he has a problem in his heart the Bible says for the love of money is the root of all evil which while some have coveted after have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows Judas Iscariot Judas Iscariot has his mind on money he's a taker I want you to think here in verses 4 and 5 as I read how he opened up his mouth he was the first one and even the other disciples perhaps joined in and bombarding the woman notice number one about the taker that a taker isn't pleased when others are receiving gifts when others are receiving it was Judas the taker that accused the woman now let's consider this if Jesus is the Christ he is the Christ and Judas is the disciple it's a master disciple relationship between the two correct and for the last three and a half years it was Jesus teaching he is calling he is teaching he's even empowering them to do certain things with signs casting out devils raising the dead healing the sick these things these men did all at because of the power of Jesus Christ they experienced so much witnessed so much and here's Judas this disciple of the Lord

[25:42] Jesus Christ and just that's the relationship so understanding that if Jesus is the Christ and if Jesus Christ is receiving not refusing but receiving worship from Mary and allowing this precious ointment to be poured upon him it didn't happen in a second as she poured it on the head and then it took some time for the feet to be wiping it with her hairs this whole process took some time so he's obviously not kicking her out he's receiving the worship who on earth disciples especially who on earth would open their mouth against that who could possibly see him as master and lord and christ the messiah from god and then have a problem with something that he did or something he allowed to be done unto him now I know these are the same disciples their mind is not with his because when when people were bringing their children in they were forbidding them stay away get these kids out of here and he said suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not so these disciples just there's some things they don't get and now as christ is receiving the worship they're denying it and refusing it and trying to push it away why well with judas he's a taker and he's not pleased when others are receiving gifts there's something wrong with his heart the people that did this to jesus christ tried to keep him from receiving worship were the pharisees the priests that's in his gospels in the stories in the accounts of when he did things and they showed up and they spoke against it and they tried to break it up and they tried to accuse him and now judas is scary it is doing the same thing one of his disciples something wrong with his heart he's a taker he's a taker a taker isn't pleased when others receive gifts you can see this you can see this in the nature you know even a child is known by his doings and it's easy to spot in the youngest of children when they're not pleased or when they are pleased I mean they can't hide it they're not smart enough to fake it and you can tell when when they're just a taker when all they want is for them they see somebody else get something and it makes them mad makes them jealous they're envious that somebody else got something and it's I want it it's so easy to spot with kids and here it is in

[28:07] Judas Iscariot the taker when Christ is receiving this this wonderful gift he's displeased he's never going to be pleased when someone else receives something something else about this man is that a taker will find fault with a gift if it's not for them and it was Judas that began this talk about what should have been done and why was this done to what purpose is this waste a taker will find fault with a gift that's not for them a taker is never impressed with what's given to another unless they just are full of envy for it they find ways to minimize that gift it's not that nice it's it's last year's it's not that important and I could have had one if I wanted one they just kind of brush it off if you're so excited about it a taker at heart they're not going to get excited for you or with you because they're a taker and they're selfish because they truly have no interest unless it has to do with them they're a taker now as a parent I enjoy I've always enjoyed seeing my kids open gifts even this morning my wife did it we were the kids we had their stockings and she had hers and I was like where's yours and she said I just want to watch I just want to watch them and I get it I'm the same I like it it's fun to watch your kids open their gifts I'm interested in knowing what they got I'm interested in when they're opening a present from their cousin or grandparent I want to know what it is not because I'm nosy just I want to know do you like it is it does it make you happy does is it the thing you wanted is it the right color the right size like you know we care as parents about our kids what they get what they like or dislike it's important to us because they're important to us and in that relationship it's just natural to be that way we're not takers we care about them but a taker taker could care less about anybody's gifts unless it's theirs when somebody's only consumed with themselves they're just so self-absorbed if it's not about them they're not interested they're a taker the Bible says in

[30:16] Philippians chapter 2 I have no man like-minded who will naturally care for your state for all seek their own not the things which are Jesus Christ's I believe it's in all of us to some degree to be a taker this morning I'll ask the question are you a giver or are you a taker does it always have to be about you do you only think on yourself a giver will seek to be a blessing to somebody else I wonder if you see yourself at all this morning in either one of these maybe you might say hey I'm a giver that's just me that's just what I am I've always been a giver and being kind and being generous is great but don't miss the point the question is have you wrought a good work upon Jesus Christ that's a giver that's this action of this woman it's not so much about presence it's not so much about family and friends and children being excited and happy that's not the point this morning are you a giver though what have you done for Christ in your life because there in is the gift that has eternal value there in is a gift that will last beyond your years in closing the Bible says to be followers of God as dear children and may I say God is a giver God is a giver the

[31:49] Bible describes in so many ways how God is he gives breath he gives food he gives rain he gives life he gives light he gives grace to the humble he gives mercy God gives peace that passeth all understanding and maybe most of all he's given us his son for God so loved the world that he gave God's a giver the Bible says Paul says this that Christ loved me and gave himself for me he said that Christ loved the church and gave himself for it the Bible says that Christ gave his life a ransom for all God is a giver and we know the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord are you going to be a follower of God and be a giver are you going to give unto Jesus Christ or is it just that selfish nature in your flesh that wants to take wants to receive only happy if it's about you there's a selfish man inside of every one of us in your flesh and he needs to be put down he needs to go away for good because all that you take and all that you receive from others is just vanity it's just gonna poof it's not gonna last but what you do what you give where you expend yourself and what you give to Jesus Christ most importantly is what's gonna last have you ever wrought a good work upon him does that even resonate with you when you stand before the judgment seat of Christ and the accuser says yeah but will he say ha ha ha they wrought a good work on me that was all about me he'll know he knows and you do too in your heart are you a giver or are you a taker let me let lastly just say this and talking about that gift that God has given and giving his son there's one thing you ought to be a taker on you ought to receive that gift if you haven't because that's what God wants don't deny him what he's offered what he's given could you imagine could you imagine your parents working hard doing such a like putting so much energy and effort into just getting you something that is gonna thrill you for a long long time and could you imagine just saying no

[34:16] I can't receive it no I'm not worthy of it of course you're not no you don't deserve it but what God has done what God is interested in what he wants to do is grant and give eternal life and give you righteousness into your account into your life that he can look on you and see purity he can see a clean new man he wants to do that he doesn't want a sinner he wants a righteous person and he gave his son to make a payment an awful payment for your sins so that you could have eternal life would you receive that this morning if you're not saved and you don't know what this is all about don't leave here lost and don't leave here on your way to hell that's that's so unnecessary like that's an understatement isn't it that it's unnecessary you could have eternal life today if you want it you can you can have it God will give it to you he offers it he's asking you to receive it and I just want to tell you about it if you want to receive it I want to talk to you after the service and I want to break down this Bible and show you what you have to do and how you can believe on

[35:32] Jesus Christ and know it and not have to guess not have to fear not have to wonder but know it and not have to work and please God but know that you obtained it and it's forever that's not some fantasy that's what the Bible teaches and I've received it and I want you to receive it too that's one thing you ought to take you could take you could take salvation from him and he'll actually in one way he's a taker he'll take your sins he'll take your your unclean life and he'll give you a new one he'll make you a new child in Christ and he'll give you eternal life God's a giver what about you are you a giver or you would take her do you see yourself in that passage at all in that scene let's bow our heads together and as we bow our heads and nobody looking around I wonder this morning is there anybody in here that has the courage to say I don't know where I'm going to go when I die and I need to get that fixed I need to get that settled but anybody with nobody looking around this is private would you slip your hand up just very very quickly and say I don't know that I'm on my way to heaven and I want to know is anybody in here like that it can be scary but boy it's the best decision you'll ever make is to trust

[36:47]  Christ to get those sins forgiven forever and to be ready to face him when you die is anybody like that in here if not I wonder are you a giver like we've seen in this passage and most importantly have you brought a good work on Jesus Christ doing what you can and being a blessing it could be just ministering to others and being a help to them as God lays it on your heart you do it as unto the Lord and not unto men did you see a selfish spirit in yourself this morning did you notice that did some of that kind of prick you in your heart and say yeah you're a taker it's all about you always all about you you want recognition you want people to know who you are and what you've done and you want to receive you want to receive glory that belongs to God are you a taker examine yourself this morning and may God impress on us and put in us a heart a clean a new heart that'll be a giver that'll be like the Lord Jesus Christ our father we pray that you'll minister to hearts that you'll move in our midst that your will will be made known presently that will yield ourselves and submit to your spirit we pray these things in Jesus name let's stand together 팔 you you you you you you you you