Myrrh: A Very Costly Fragrant Oil

MATTHEW 26:7-13

A woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table.
But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?
For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”
But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.
For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial.
Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

This very costly fragrant oil is myrrh, a perfumed oil often mentioned in scripture. It was said to be an oil used as an anointing for burial, as well as an holy oil used to anoint the tabernacle, high priests and kings. For Jesus, it was one of the gifts — along with gold and frankincense — brought by the wise men at His birth.

We see that this event from Matthew’s gospel holds a special place in Jesus’ story for it reveals the beginning and end of His earthly existence and relates this with a holy oil confirming Him as our King of kings and Great High Priest. The anointing oil is the carrier of the Holy Spirit’s touch — the sanctity of that intimate relationship between God and His king and priest. Scripture tells us that all who accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour are kings and priests in His service.

Only recently we have witnessed an example of the continuing significance of this, with the use of Anointing Oil in the coronation ceremony for King Charles III, and although this very costly fragrant oil was an olive oil perfumed with rose, jasmine, cinnamon, amber, sesame, orange blossom and neroli, the event was the most important and intimate part of the ceremony. For this reason it was not shown publically or revealed on television, with the King obscured from view under a canopy.

The significance of the event described by Matthew is that the very costly fragrant oil poured on Jesus’ head is described shortly before the crucifixion story unfolds, and the apostles’ objections to ‘this waste’ of the oil reveals once again their stuckness in natural understanding, unable perhaps to see the spiritual significance. Jesus was being given a great anointing and Holy Spirit strengthening by Father God for His final hours on earth. He was being anointed for burial — For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial He says — and thus is given supernatural life to take Him through the Cross and into everlasting life.

The import of that gift of Myrrh by the Wise Men is now revealed, and unveils to our understanding part of the deeper truth that makes Christmas such a special time of remembrance and celebration.

Moreover the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
“Also take for yourself quality spices—five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much sweet-smelling cinnamon (two hundred and fifty shekels), two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling cane,
five hundred shekels of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil.
And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil.
EXODUS 30:22-25

FRESH OIL — New Wine

Worshippers aren't made when they see the enemy on the run, put to flight. The truth is, worshippers of God are made during dark, stormy nights. And how we respond to our storms determines just what kind of worshippers we are.
DAVID WILKERSON

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COMING NEXT… #535 FRANKINCENSE: AN OFFERING MADE BY FIRE