Rob showed us in Matthew 26:6-16 that Mary’s extravagant anointing helps us see Jesus as the worthy King who deserves our whole lives, while Judas’ betrayal exposes how empty it is to treat Jesus as useful instead of precious.
City Groups Guide
Matthew 26:6-16
Jesus Is Worthy
A simple discussion guide to help City Groups process the sermon together and apply it honestly this week.
Sermon
Sermon In a Sentence
Sermon Recap
What We Heard
In Matthew 26:6-16, we heard Rob walk through the dinner at Simon the leper’s house, where Mary pours out a treasure of immense value on Jesus just days before the cross. We saw that her gift was not wasteful excess but a fitting response to who Jesus is: the anointed King, the one heading toward burial, and the one worthy of total devotion. Rob contrasted Mary with Judas, who valued Jesus for what he could gain from him, and invited us to ask whether our lives show that Jesus is truly our greatest treasure. We were called to turn from lesser loves, bring our grief and longings honestly to Jesus, and respond to him with wholehearted faith even when it looks unreasonable to the world.
Discuss
Questions For Your Group
What desire or possession competes most with Jesus for your deepest devotion right now?
What part of following Jesus feels too costly for you to surrender?
What grief, wound, or longing do you need to bring honestly to Jesus instead of managing alone?
What response would show this week that Jesus is precious to you, not just useful to you?
Scripture
Scripture Passage
Matthew 26:6-16
Read full passageThe Anointing at Bethany
6 While Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon # 26:6–13 Mk 14:3–9; Jn 12:1–8 the leper, # 26:6 Gk lepros; a term for various skin diseases; see Lv 13–14 7 a woman approached him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. She poured it on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8 When the disciples # 26:8 Mt 10:1; 26:56; Mk 3:7; 16:20; Lk 6:13; Jn 12:16 saw it, they were indignant. “Why this waste? ” they asked. 9 “This might have been sold for a great deal and given to the poor.”
10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a noble thing for me. 11 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me. # 26:11 Dt 15:11; Jn 12:8 12 By pouring this perfume on my body, she has prepared me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel # 26:13 Mt 24:14; Mk 1:1; 13:10 is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
14 Then # 26:14–16 Mk 14:10–11; Lk 22:3–6 one of the Twelve, the man called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests # 26:14 Mt 10:4; Jn 6:71; 12:4; 13:30; Ac 1:16 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you? ” So they weighed out thirty pieces of silver for him. # 26:15 Ex 21:32; Zch 11:12–13; Mt 27:3 16 And from that time he started looking for a good opportunity to betray him.
Scripture text from the Christian Standard Bible (CSB), used here for church ministry purposes.
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Archive
Previous Guides
Jesus and the Betrayers
Matthew 26:20-25, 47-56
Jesus and the Exhausted Disciple
Matthew 26:36-46