For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want to, you can do them good; but you will not always have me.
Parallel translations
- KJV For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
- BSB The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have Me.
- NKJV For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.
- NASB For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me.
- NLT You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus says the poor are always present to be helped, but he will not always be with them. There is a unique, passing moment to honor him in person.
Overview
Echoing Deuteronomy 15:11, Jesus affirms ongoing care for the poor while noting the singular occasion of his bodily presence before the cross. He is not dismissing the poor but recognizing a once-for-all moment. His words point to his imminent death and departure, making the woman's timely act of devotion uniquely fitting.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Deut 15:11For the poor will never cease out of the land. Therefore I command you to surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor, in your land.
- Matt 26:11For you always have the poor with you; but you don’t always have me.
- 1 Jn 3:16–19By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
- Jas 2:14–16What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?
- Phlm 1:7For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
- Matt 25:35–45for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in.
- John 13:33Little children, I will be with you a little while longer. You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come,’ so now I tell you.
- John 17:11I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are.
- Acts 3:21whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets.
- John 16:5But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’
- John 12:7–8But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial.
- John 16:28I came from the Father, and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.”
- 2 Cor 9:13–14seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 14:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.