The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have Me.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.
- KJV For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
- 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 there will never cease to be poor in the land; that is why I am commanding you to open wide your hand to your brother and to the poor and needy in your land.
- Matt 26:11The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.
- 1 Jn 3:16–19By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
- Jas 2:14–16What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
- Phlm 1:7I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
- Matt 25:35–45For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in,
- John 13:33Little children, I am with you only a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’
- John 17:11I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by Your name, the name You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one.
- Acts 3:21Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets.
- John 16:5Now, however, I am going to Him who sent Me; yet none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’
- John 12:7–8“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She has kept this perfume in preparation for the day of My burial.
- John 16:28I came from the Father and entered the world. In turn, I will leave the world and go to the Father.”
- 2 Cor 9:13–14Because of the proof this ministry provides, the saints will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all the others.
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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.