Matthew 26:13

“Truly I say to you, Wherever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, what this woman has also done will be spoken of for a memorial of her.”

Jesus then points out that this is so precious a moment that it will never be forgotten, and thereby takes the opportunity of reminding His disciples that the Gospel is to be preached throughout the whole world (compare Matthew 24:14, and see Matthew 28:19). Even though He must die they must recognise that that will not interfere with the future that He has promised. ‘This Gospel.' The Good News of His death and burial as expressed in this anointing, good news because it would deal for ever with the problem of sin (Matthew 20:28; Matthew 26:28), will then lead on to His resurrection. Indeed it was because of the supreme importance of His death that this that she had done was so important, and that was why she would ever be remembered for it. It was a prophetic acting out of what was to come.

This remarkable account, followed as it is by an increasing emphasis on women, is a deliberate indication of the new worth being put on women by the Gospel (compare Matt. 14:38; Matthew 15:21; where they shared the covenant meal, and see Matthew 15:21; Matthew 27:19; Matthew 27:55; Matthew 27:61; Matthew 28:1). Just as Matthew had emphasised the move from ‘the lost sheep of the house of Israel' to an interest in the Gentiles, so now he brings out the growing importance of women (something also very important to Luke).