Why trouble ye the woman? - Or, Why do ye put the woman to pain? See this sense of κοπους παρεχειν , established by Kypke in loco. A generous mind is ever pained when it is denied the opportunity of doing good, or when its proffered kindness is refused. read more
Ye have the poor always with you - And, consequently, have the opportunity of doing them good at any time; but me ye have not always; my bodily presence is about to be removed from you for ever. The woman, under a presentiment of my death is preparing me for my burial. read more
She did it for my burial - Or, She hath done it to embalm me - ενταφιασαι με . The Septuagint use ενταφιαϚης for the person whose office it was to embalm, Genesis 50:2 , and ενταφιαζω for the Hebrew הנט which signifies to prepare with spices, or aromatics, Genesis 50:3 . Our Lord took this opportunity to tell them, once more, that he was shortly to die. read more
Verse 8 8.And when the disciples saw it. This also is not unusual with the Evangelists, when a thing has been done by one, to attribute it to many persons, if they give their consent to it. John says that the murmur proceeded from Judeas, who betrayed Christ, (John 12:4.) Matthew and Mark include all the disciples along with him. The reason is, that none of the others would ever have dared tomurmur if the wicked slander of Judas had not served for a torch to kindle them. But when he began,... read more
Verse 10 10.Why do you trouble the woman? It is wonderful that Christ, whose whole life was a rule and pattern of temperance and frugality, now approves of immoderate expense, which appears to have been closely allied to luxury and superfluous indulgence. But we must observe the kind of defense which he employs; for he does not maintain that the woman did right, in such a manner as if he wished that the same thing should be done every day, but maintains that what she had done in a single... read more
Verse 11 11.For you have the poor always with you. Christ does not simply defend the anointing, so that we may imitate it, but assures us that it pleases God on some particular account. This must be carefully weighed, that we may not fall into the error of contriving expensive modes of worshipping God, as the Papists do; for, hearing it said that Christ was pleased with being anointed by Mary, they supposed that he took delight in incense, wax-tapers, splendid decorations, and pompous... read more
Verse 12 12She hath done it to bury me. By these words Christ confirms what we have said, that the precious ointment was not valued by him on account of its odor, but solely in reference to his burial. It was because he wished to testify by this symbol, that his grave would yield a sweet odor, as it breathed life and salvation through the whole world. Accordingly, we are told by John (John 12:7) that Christ praised Mary for having reserved that anointing till the day of his burial. But since... read more
The anointing at Bethany. ( Mark 14:3-9 ; John 12:1-8 .) This parenthetical episode is introduced by the two synoptists out of its chronological order, with the view of indicating the immediate cause of Judas's resolution to betray his Master, the issue of which they proceed to narrate (see on Matthew 26:14 ). This anointing must not be confounded with that related by St. Luke ( Luke 7:37 , etc.), where the scene, the time, and the actor were different, and the significance was of a... read more
"Ointment poured forth." This incident has a unique honour set upon it by our Lord, who promises it worldwide and lasting fame. Thus accentuated, it claims our closest attention. Why does Christ desire honour to be given to the memory of so simple a deed as is here recorded? I. ONE WHO TRULY LOVES CHRIST WILL RECKON NO GIFT TOO COSTLY TO BE OFFERED TO HIM . Mary's adoration was prompted by adequate motives. She had often sat at the feet of Jesus, and she... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 26:9
And given to the poor - How often does charity serve as a cloak for covetousness! God is sometimes robbed of his right under the pretense of devoting what is withheld to some charitable purpose, to which there was no intention ever to give it. read more