“While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” (Mark 14:3-9)

This incident reveals the spirit of tyranny, which typically refers to government cruelty, but its seeds reside in the people who tolerate it. Some synonyms are absolutism, autocracy, totalitarianism, oppression, suppression, repression, subjugation, enslavement; authoritarianism, high-handedness, imperiousness, bullying, harshness, strictness, severity, cruelty, brutality, ruthlessness, and injustice. You might say this is an exaggeration, but it’s the same attitude and mind frame; judging another’s independent, completely legal action, suggesting a more “worthy” course should have been taken and harshly rebuking an innocent person. 

Yeshua’s response to tyranny is necessary, why bother her since it was hers to do as she could; she gave a beautiful loving enduring gift, and false accusers and hypocrites could help the poor with their own resources, but don’t. How does this respond to despotism, repression, brutality or injustice? The thoughts and attitudes of those judging the woman’s action are those of the self-righteous mob, which raises itself above the individual, denying free expression and controlling the assets of individuals for a collective purpose. It is redistribution, manipulative taxation, and mandated social justice. Yeshua said, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” (Matthew 15:19) Masses of people supported mandating Covid shots for all individuals because they thought it was protecting an innocent person. They supported firing workers who refused though the experimental drugs did not prevent transmission or getting Covid and there was no knowledge of inherent risks to recipients. They supported brutality against individuals who choose to protect their own body. This attitude is the spirit and seed of people who welcome Tyranny, beware Yeshua’s rebuke to them.