John 12:8

Modern

The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.”

Traditional

For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

Literal

For you always have the poor with you, but not always do you have Me.”

Latin

Pauperes enim semper habetis vobiscum: me autem non semper habetis.

Greek

English

The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.”

Jesus would not ignore the poor. He cared deeply for people in need.

However, this moment to honor and serve him was unique. It was a special opportunity that would not happen again.

In this part of John’s Gospel, two stories move forward at the same time.
First, more and more people begin to praise Jesus. Their excitement reaches a high point when crowds welcome him into Jerusalem with shouts of joy (12:12–13).
Second, the religious authorities become more determined to arrest Jesus and put him to death. As public support grows, their opposition grows as well.
John's Gospel describes three events that happened only days before Passover (12:1–11, 12–19, 20–36). Then he explains why most of the people refused to believe and describes the final public message spoken by Jesus (12:37–50).

Theme notes and profiles

Deuteronomy 15:11
For 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.
Mark 14:7
The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them whenever you want. But you will not always have Me.
Matthew 26:11
The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.
John 12:35
Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
John 13:33
Little 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 8:21
Again He said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”
John 16:5–7
Now, however, I am going to Him who sent Me; yet none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’
Acts 1:9–11
After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.
Song of Solomon 5:6
I opened for my beloved, but he had turned and gone. My heart sank at his departure. I sought him but did not find him. I called, but he did not answer.