“You will always
Have the poor
With you.
But you will not always
Have me.
By pouring this ointment
On my body
She has prepared me
For burial.”
πάντοτε γὰρ τοὺς πτωχοὺς ἔχετε μεθ’ ἑαυτῶν, ἐμὲ δὲ οὐ πάντοτε ἔχετε·
βαλοῦσα γὰρ αὕτη τὸ μύρον τοῦτο ἐπὶ τοῦ σώματός μου πρὸς τὸ ἐνταφιάσαι με ἐποίησεν
This is almost word for word in Mark, chapter 14:7-8, and somewhat similar to John, chapter 12:7-8. Jesus said that they would always have the poor with them (πάντοτε γὰρ τοὺς πτωχοὺς ἔχετε μεθ’ ἑαυτῶν). In other words, there would be no immediate solution to the difficulties of poverty that has persisted for over 2,000 years. However, they would not always have Jesus (ἐμὲ δὲ οὐ πάντοτε ἔχετε). She had anointed his body with oil (βαλοῦσα γὰρ αὕτη τὸ μύρον τοῦτο ἐπὶ τοῦ σώματός μου) as a preparation for his burial (πρὸς τὸ ἐνταφιάσαι με ἐποίησεν). Instead of a royal, prophetic, or priestly anointing, this was a burial anointing according to the Jewish customs at that time.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 