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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 12:6

Verse 6 6.Because he was a thief. The rest of the Apostles, not from any bad disposition, but thoughtlessly, condemn Mary. But Judas resorts to a plausible pretext for his wickedness, when he brings forward the poor, though he cared nothing about them. We are taught by this instance what a frightful beast the desire of possessing is; the loss which Judas thinks that he has sustained, by the loss of an opportunity for stealing, excites him to such rage that he does not hesitate to betray Christ.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 12:7

Verse 7 7.Let her alone. When Christ bids them let Mary alone, he shows that they act improperly and unjustly who disturb their neighbors without a good reason, and raise a disturbance about nothing. Christ’s reply, as given by the other Evangelists, is longer; but the meaning is the same. The anointing, which Judas finds fault with, is defended on this ground, that it will serve for his burial. Christ, therefore, does not approve of! it as an ordinary service, or one which ought to be commonly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 12:1

Jesus therefore, six days before the Passover. Every preliminary of that solemn feast is memorable to our evangelist. The coincidence of the Passover feast and the killing of the Paschal lamb, with the sacrifice of "Christ our Passover," cannot be concealed. [For the grammatical construction with πρὸ , cf. note, John 11:18 , where a similar use of ἀπό occurs; not, however, a Latinism, as some have supposed, as similar phrases are found in good Greek.] The date from which the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 12:1-8

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 12:1-11

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 12:2

There, therefore, they made him a supper, and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him . John does not tell us in whose house "they made the dinner" or supper, and unless Simon the leper is a member of the family, we cannot suppose that it was in the quiet home of Bethany that this feast in honor of Jesus was held, but that it took place, as the synoptists positively declare, "in the house of Simon the leper." Simon may easily have been one of the many lepers... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 12:3

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 12:3

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

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