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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 12:1-11

In these verses we have, I. The kind visit our Lord Jesus paid to his friends at Bethany, John 12:1. He came up out of the country, six days before the passover, and took up at Bethany, a town which, according to the computation of our metropolis, lay so near Jerusalem as to be within the bills of mortality. He lodged here with his friend Lazarus, whom he had lately raised from the dead. His coming to Bethany now may be considered, 1. As a preface to the passover he intended to celebrate, to... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 12:1-8

12:1-8 Now six days before the Passover Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus was whom he raised from the dead. So they made him a meal there, and Martha was serving while Lazarus was one of those who reclined at table with him. Now Mary took a pound of very precious genuine spikenard ointment, and anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the perfume of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, the one who was going to betray him,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 12:1-8

(iii) There is the character of Judas. There are three things here about him. (a) We see Jesus' trust in Judas. As far back as John 6:70-71 , John shows us Jesus well aware that there was a traitor within the ranks. It may well be that he tried to touch Judas' heart by making him the treasurer of the apostolic company. It may well be that he tried to appeal to his sense of honour. It may well be that he was saying in effect to him: "Judas, here's something that you can do for me. Here is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 12:5

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence ,.... Meaning Roman pence, one of which is, of the value of our money, seven pence halfpenny; so that three hundred pence amount to nine pounds seven shillings and six pence: and given to the poor ? this was his pretence, and with which he covered himself; his uneasiness was, because it was not sold, and the money put into his hands, as appears by what follows. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 12:5

Three hundred pence - Or denarii: about 9£. 13s. 9d. of our money; reckoning the denarius at 7 3/4d. One of my MSS. of the Vulgate (a MS. of the 14th century) reads, cccc denarii . read more

John Calvin

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

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

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