Be Careful Not to Criticize Someone’s Ministry

“But Jesus, aware of this, replied, ‘Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me?’” Matthew 26:10

In the early years of our marriage, my wife and I answered God’s call to enter full-time children’s evangelistic ministry.

Much to our surprise, not everyone encouraged us. Some people questioned what we were doing, and others openly criticized our decision.

Thankfully, we didn’t allow their criticism to keep us from answering God’s call. The Lord blessed us with eight wonderful years of ministering to children before He eventually called us into pastoral ministry.

Looking back, I wonder what we might have missed if we had listened to those voices instead of listening to God.

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That experience also taught me something else. Before criticizing what someone else does for the Lord, we should make sure we understand what God may have asked that person to do.

Matthew 26 gives us a good example.

Jesus and His disciples arrived in Bethany and gathered at the home of Simon, a man who had previously suffered from leprosy. While Jesus ate, a woman entered carrying an alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume.

“While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.” Matthew 26:7

John’s Gospel identifies this woman as Mary. She poured out something extremely valuable as an act of devotion to Jesus. You might expect the disciples to admire her generosity. Instead, they criticized her.

What a Waste!

“The disciples were indignant when they saw this. ‘What a waste!’ they said. ‘It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.’” Matthew 26:8–9

On the surface, their argument sounded reasonable. Why pour expensive perfume on Jesus when it could have been sold and the proceeds used to help people in need?

John’s account specifically tells us that Judas objected and mentioned the poor. However, John also revealed his true motivation. Judas didn’t really care about the poor. He controlled the disciples’ money and stole from it.

I’ve often wondered what went through Judas’s mind during this period.

Did he still expect Jesus to establish an earthly kingdom and overthrow Roman rule? Did his disappointment with the direction Jesus’ ministry had taken contribute to his decision to betray Him?

Scripture doesn’t answer those questions, so we can’t know for certain. But we do know that shortly after this event, Judas approached the religious leaders and agreed to betray Jesus.

Something else about their criticism catches my attention. The perfume didn’t belong to them.

The ministry treasury hadn’t purchased it. Mary owned it. She chose to give something valuable to Jesus, yet others decided they had the right to tell her how she should have used it. We can fall into that same trap.

Jesus Defended Her

Jesus didn’t join their criticism. He defended Mary.

“Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me?” Matthew 26:10

The disciples saw waste. Jesus saw worship. They calculated the monetary value. Jesus recognized the value of her devotion.

They thought they knew a better way for Mary to use what she possessed. Jesus knew her heart. Then He said something remarkable:

“I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.” Matthew 26:13

And here we are, more than two thousand years later, doing exactly what Jesus said. We’re still talking about what Mary did.

How Quickly Do I Criticize?

This passage causes me to examine myself. How many times have I questioned something another Christian did for the Lord simply because I wouldn’t have done it that way?

Maybe I thought their idea wouldn’t work. Maybe I considered something a waste of money. Or just plain thought I knew a better way.

I’ve learned that sometimes I need to mind my own business when it comes to how someone else gives to God or follows His direction.

Of course, that doesn’t mean Christians should abandon biblical discernment. If something contradicts Scripture, we shouldn’t ignore it.

But that’s different from criticizing another person’s ministry because their calling, methods, or decisions don’t match our preferences. I’ve also learned something else through the years:

Free advice is usually worth what it costs.

And here’s a pill that can still prove difficult for me to swallow: I might not always be the wise person I think I am.

Maybe, just maybe, I’m growing in the Lord. I believe that’s called maturing in Jesus.

Life Application

Before you criticize another person’s ministry or service to God:

Ask whether Scripture actually supports your concern. Don’t confuse personal preference with biblical conviction.
Remember that you may not know what God has spoken to that person. You don’t know every detail behind their decision.
Examine your motive before offering advice. Are you trying to help, or do you simply want them to do things your way?
Encourage people who step out in obedience. Your words can strengthen someone’s calling—or make their journey unnecessarily difficult.
Leave room for God to work differently through someone else. His plan for their ministry doesn’t have to look like His plan for yours.

Mary poured out her perfume. The disciples criticized her. Jesus defended her.

Before we criticize what someone else does for the Lord, we would do well to make sure we aren’t criticizing something that Jesus Himself calls good.

Lord, I’m always open to Your advice. Give me discernment to recognize what comes from You, and keep me from offering my own unsolicited advice when You haven’t asked me to give it.

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