To read the Gospels in the spirit with which they were written, it is not enough to ask what Jesus did or said. We must ask what Jesus meant by his strange words and deeds.

For example, whenever the subject of poverty comes up in some circles, someone is bound to quote Matthew 26:11, ‘The poor will always be with you.’ However, quoting Jesus’ words from Matthew 26:11 to defend complacency towards the poor becomes ridiculous when one looks at Deuteronomy 15, from which Jesus was quoting: ‘There will always be poor people in the land…, therefore, I command you to be open-handed toward…the poor and needy in your land (v.11).

from Everything Must Change