What did Jesus mean, "The poor...are always with you."?

[OldWiseGuy]

Did he means that poverty for some is an unsolvable problem?

 

[Danielwright2311]

He was more concerned with how the money would be used then Jesus.

 

[section9+1]

I think it can be partly solved individually, in that a person can be taken out of poverty if that's what they want, but it cannot be solved collectively. There will always be some people who are poor. Whether by choice or by circumstance. But I don't think Jesus even expects the world to be fully prosperous. "Blessed are the poor." "Woe to you, o rich."

 

[Anto9us]

The context is the "wasted" costly ointment (wasted in one of the disciples' view) -- and Judas' assertion that the ointment could have been sold and the money given to the poor. But Jesus says, no, this is a good thing the woman did -- anointing me for burial -- for He knew He would not be around much longer, but the poor were always there for the disciples to help.

I think of the saying as a one-time shot, to the disciple who thought it was a waste "you have the poor ANY TIME to help - Me you will not have with you on this earth".

I do not see the saying as a blanket prediction that poverty will be a perpetual condition, although it is likely that there will always be poor until Jesus returns.

 

[Anto9us]

Jhn 12:3
Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Jhn 12:4
Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,

Jhn 12:5
Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

Jhn 12:6
This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

Jhn 12:7
Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

Jhn 12:8
For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I do not see the saying as a blanket prediction that poverty will be a perpetual condition, although it is likely that there will always be poor until Jesus returns.

The term 'always' does seem to suggest a perpetual condition. The definite article 'the' also suggests the poor as a collective segment of society.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

The term 'always' does seem to suggest a perpetual condition. The definite article 'the' also suggests the poor as a collective segment of society.

I agree with this thought. There will always be people who are poor for whatever reason.

 

[SkyWriting]

Did he means that poverty for some is an unsolvable problem?

A great question. I've never looked at it.

 

[Willie T]

We might be better off asking, "What creates — or perpetuates — poverty?".

 

[OldWiseGuy]

We might be better off asking, "What creates — or perpetuates — poverty?".

I think it's part of human nature...the human condition. It's not a solvable problem, but one that we must address in some way.

 

[SkyWriting]

Did he means that poverty for some is an unsolvable problem?

It seems he is saying that "helping the poor" is not a priority over other agendas that the Father has put in place for our salvation. The situation of this world, and working to improve it, should not interfere with our spiritual situation.

I'd say that churches / missions that feed the poor understand that alleviating hunger is not actually the top concern they have.

My church is involved in the Heifer Project and I'd say they do not address the Spirit as they should. Perhaps in the field, they do.

6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,[a] 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

 

[OldWiseGuy]

My church is involved in the Heifer Project and I'd say they do not address the Spirit as they should. Perhaps in the field, they do.

Actually supporting an outreach program thousands of miles away makes some sense. If people acted locally their communities might become 'welfare magnets' and they would soon be overrun by the poor, so their good efforts would yield horrible results.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

We might be better off asking, "What creates — or perpetuates — poverty?".

I think poverty is perpetuated by the community as whole. Many of the poor won't do anything to help themselves, and many citizens don't want the poor imposed on them...NIMBY.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I agree with this thought. There will always be people who are poor for whatever reason.

I think that our rather generous programs for the poor help to cultivate and perpetuate the problem as well. Why work when one can have their needs met without much effort.

That harsh observation being made I believe most of the long-term poor are casualties of drugs, alcohol, mental illness or defect, criminal activity, or physical impairment...problems that little can be done to correct at reasonable cost and effort.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

I think that our rather generous programs for the poor help to cultivate and perpetuate the problem as well. Why work when one can have their needs met without much effort.

That harsh observation being made I believe most of the long-term poor are casualties of drugs, alcohol, mental illness or defect, criminal activity, or physical impairment...problems that little can be done to correct at reasonable cost and effort.

Here in America there are many rags to riches stories. I my head, I am thinking of a particular multi-millionaire who was homeless at one point in his life.Who knows why some are poor? I would not go so far to say they like being poor. That is a cruel assessment imho. I believe God works through social programs to allieviate some of the pain of poverty.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Here in America there are many rags to riches stories. I my head, I am thinking of a particular multi-millionaire who was homeless at one point in his life.Who knows why some are poor? I would not go so far to say they like being poor. That is a cruel assessment imho. I believe God works through social programs to allieviate some of the pain of poverty.

We, and most of the west, have wonderful programs to help the poor. If there is a problem it's not because of a lack of help for them.

 

[Dave-W]

Did he means that poverty for some is an unsolvable problem?

He meant that God will make it unsolvable, and for a reason. He was referring to this scripture:

Deuteronomy 15:11
For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’​

If there are no more poor, there would be no opportunity to give sacrificially to help someone.