The Pulpit Commentary - John 12:1-8
1. The feast of love and gratitude . read more
1. The feast of love and gratitude . read more
A good work wrought in season. When Jesus lay, a helpless Infant, in the manger at Bethlehem, there came strangers from the East and poured rich offerings at his feet—gold and frankincense and myrrh; and now that he was about to leave the world, an unexpected act of homage was done to him, not indeed by a stranger, but by a gentle and unobtrusive disciple. The occasion was this. Our Lord, weary with his journey from the country beyond Jordan, his last long earthly journey, was resting the... read more
The supper at Bethany. While the hostility of the Jews grows day by day, the devotion of our Lord's friends visibly increases. I. THE TIME OF THE SUPPER . "Six days before the Passover." 1. The most probable opinion is that it took place on the day after the Jewish sabbath . 2. The edict of the authorities at Jerusalem respecting Jesus had no deterrent effect upon his friends at Bethany . This feast is their answer to it. II. THE PLACE OF THE SUPPER... read more
III. CONSUMMATION OF THE PUBLIC MINISTRY . read more
Mary therefore took a pound of ointment ("liquid perfume," sometimes added to the more ordinary oil), of pure (or possibly; pistie ) nard . Mark uses this unusual word πιστικός , which belongs to later Greek. The derivation of πιστκτικός from πίνω , equivalent to "potable," is not appropriate in meaning, though this "nard" was used for perfuming wine. In Mark 14:3 also the Authorized version translates it "spikenard," as it does here (cf. also Song of Solomon 1:12 and ... read more
The odorous offering. The fact that three of the evangelists have recorded this interesting incident, proves how deep was the impression it made upon the minds of Christ's followers and friends. We recognize in Mary's gift— I. AN EVIDENCE OF GRATEFUL LOVE . Mary had many reasons for regarding Jesus with affectionate thankfulness. To him she was indebted for many precious lessons in spiritual knowledge. Sitting at his feet, she had imbibed his incomparable teaching. To him she... read more
A sister's expression of gratitude. What a remarkable company was here gathered together! 1. Jesus, within about a week of his death, and distinctly apprehending what was before him. 2. His host, Simon the leper, not mentioned here, but mentioned by Matthew and Mark—a man who, in all probability, had his own occasion of gratitude to Jesus. 3. Lazarus, just brought back from the grave, and in company with Jesus, who was going down to it. 4. Martha and Mary. 5. The... read more
The immortal box of ointment. We have here— I. THE OFFERING OF LOVE . "Then took Mary," etc. 1. This offering of love is made to its Object . Jesus was the Object of Mary's supreme love, and him she now anoints. We may look at her act as: 2. This offering of love somewhat corresponds with the love it expresses . Think of this ointment, the offering of Mary's love. 3. This offering of love was made in a very suitable and interesting manner . II. THE ... read more
But Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples £ , who was about to betray him, said. The speaker here is singled out by name. Matthew refers the speech to the disciples generally, in whom the suggestion of Judas had stirred up (without guile or blame on their part) a not unnatural inquiry. Mark says "some" murmured to themselves, "Why this waste?" (loss, destruction). John (without the malice which Renan has attributed to the writer) mentions the source of the suggestion, "Judas Iscariot,... read more
John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 12:5
Verse 5 5.Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred denarii? A pound of ordinary ointment, Pliny tells us, cost not more than ten denarii; but the same Pliny says, that the highest price of the best ointment was three hundred and ten denarii. Now the Evangelists agree, that this was the most costly ointment, and Therefore Judas is correct in valuing a pound of it at three hundred denarii, — a sum which, according to the computation of Budaeus, amounts to fifty livres of French money. And... read more