Both Matthew and Mark relate this story with some different circumstances: see the notes upon those two places, where all the differing circumstances are considered and explained, and the parts of this history are more largely explained. read more
EXPLANATORY AND CRITICAL NOTESJohn 12:1. See Homiletic Note, p. 341.John 12:2. The Synoptists inform us that it was in the house of Simon the leper (Matthew 26:6; Mark 14:3). It has been suggested that Simon was a relative of the family of Lazarus, or that Martha was the wife of Simon. There is no ground for such conjectures. It seems more in accordance with verisimilitude that Simon and Lazarus, being both subjects of Jesus’ healing power, resolved to honour their Benefactor, and that the... read more
Chapter 12Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he had raised from the dead. They made him a supper; and Martha served [typical of Martha]: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very expensive, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the aroma of the ointment ( John 12:1-3 ).Typical of Mary, worshipping;... read more
John 12:1 . Six days before the passover. The Hebrew sabbath was kept from sunset to sunset. The worship of the day being closed, the jews indulged in a good supper after the light food of the day. This, the last week or consummation of the Saviour’s labours, was full of glory. Every day we find him in the temple, and sleeping every night in Bethany, except the night of the passover. As soon as the sabbath was over, the people having heard of his arrival at Bethany, and glowing with ardour... read more
John 12:1-16Then Jesus six days before the Passover.--The following calendar of the Passover week is taken from Lightfoot (2.586):NISAN IX; The Sabbath. Six days before the Passover, Jesus sups with Lazarus at the going out of the Sabbath, when according to the custom of that country their suppers were more liberal.NISAN X; Sunday. Five days before the Passover, Jesus goes to Jerusalem on an ass, and in the evening returns to Bethany (Mark 11:11). On this day the lamb was taken, and kept till... read more
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? Ver. 5. Sold for three hundred pence ] He, the thief, had quickly computed and cast it up. Pliny tells us that a pound of ordinary ointment might be had for ten pence; but the best was worth three hundred and ten pence. So that Judas was much about the good, as they say. And Mary spared for no cost; as neither did Justinian in his rich communion table, offered up by him in the temple of Sophia in Constantinople,... read more
was: Exodus 5:8, Exodus 5:17, Amos 8:5, Malachi 1:10-1 Chronicles :, Matthew 26:8, Mark 14:4, Luke 6:41 three hundred: John 6:7, Matthew 20:2, *marg. Mark 14:5 and given: Matthew 26:9, Luke 12:33, Luke 18:22 Reciprocal: Exodus 25:37 - give Joshua 7:11 - dissembled 2 Kings 5:20 - my master Ezra 4:14 - and it was Psalms 94:18 - My foot John 1:28 - Bethabara John 13:29 - that 1 Timothy 3:3 - not covetous read more
§ 120. SUPPER AND ANOINTING AT BETHANY, John 12:2-11 . See notes on Matthew 26:6-16; Mark 14:3-9. read more
5. Given to the poor Covetousness and irreverence are here covered under the cloak of benevolence. The poor are, indeed, as the Scriptures abundantly teach, a prominent object of Christian duty. Yet poverty is no merit, but is very often the due penalty of idleness and unthrift. The due expenditures of art and taste are right, as tending to civilize and elevate mankind; the wealth laid out in awakening the sentiment of worship is still more right, as contributing to spiritualize the heart... read more
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Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - John 12:1-8
John 12. The Final Scenes in the Public Manifestation. John 12:1-Ruth : . The Anointing.— The scene is the same as that recorded by Mt. and Mk. Luke 7:36-Philippians : represents a different incident, or at least a widely divergent tradition, from which, however, some details in Jn. may be borrowed. The date, six days before the Passover, may by different methods of calculation be identified with Nisan 8, 9, or 10. The last is the most probable. Apparently the author deliberately corrects... read more