Jesus stepped in to protect the woman. Gill says He knew their indignation "partly by their looks, and partly by their words." His question exposes what they were doing to her. Barnes explains "trouble ye the woman" as to "disturb her mind by insinuations, as if she had done wrong," and Gill as "by blaming her, and censuring the action she had done." The question asks them to stop and consider why they were troubling someone who had done nothing wrong, and the reason that follows answers it: "she hath wrought a good work upon me."

Jesus answers His own question. Her act was "a good work upon me" (Matthew 26:10). The poor would always be with them, "but me ye have not always" (Matthew 26:11). She had poured the ointment "for my burial" (Matthew 26:12). And wherever the gospel is preached, "this, that this woman hath done," would be told "for a memorial of her" (Matthew 26:13). No reply from the disciples is recorded. The next verse tells of Judas going to the chief priests (Matthew 26:14).

"Trouble ye" translates kopous parechete, literally "cause labors" or "cause troubles." Thayer defines the phrase as "to cause one trouble, make work for him," and cites this verse and Mark 14:6. "Good work" is ergon kalon. Kalos can mean good, fine, or beautiful, which is why the ESV says "a beautiful thing."

Jesus links her act to His burial. Gill explains that the Jews not only washed the bodies of the dead but anointed them with oil, so her ointment did what would be fitting for His body. Two days earlier Jesus had told His disciples that He would be "betrayed to be crucified" (Matthew 26:2).

This question shows Jesus as the defender of someone others criticized. A woman with no recorded words is criticized by His closest followers, and He takes her side. Barnes says she did it "with a mind grateful, and full of love" to Him. Matthew Henry writes, "The more Christ's servants and their services are cavilled at, the more he manifests his acceptance."

Jesus also sees more in her act than the disciples did. He reads it as preparation for His death, which He had foretold two days before (Matthew 26:2). His promise that she would be remembered wherever the gospel is preached is being kept every time this passage is read. Henry notes simply, "This prophecy is fulfilled."