It appears from St. John ( John 12:7 ) that our Lord here addressed himself pointedly to Judas in the words, Let her alone;… she hath wrought a good work on me, a work worthy of all praise and honor. "What," says Cornelius a Lapide, "what more noble, than to anoint the feet of him who is both God and man? Who would not count himself happy, if it were permitted to him to touch the feet of Jesus and to kiss them?" read more
"She hath wrought a good work on me." Describe the feast in the house of Simon the leper, and distinguish the incident from that which is recorded in Luke 7:1-50 . Indicate Mary's reasons for loving the Lord, with all her heart and soul and strength, and show that this act of exquisite self-abandonment was the natural expression of her love. Learn from the subject the following lessons:— I. THAT AN ACT WHICH IS PLEASING TO OUR LORD MAY BE MISCONSTRUED AND ... read more
Far ye have the poor always with you, and whensoever ye will ye can ( δύνασθε ) do them good: but me ye have not always . The little clause, "whensoever ye will ye can do them good," occurs only in St. Mark. It is as though our Lord said, "The world always abounds with poor; therefore you always have it in your power to help them; but within a week I shall have gone from you, after which you will be unable to perform any service like this for me; yea, no more to see, to hear, to touch... read more
She hath done what she could . She seized the opportunity, which might not occur again, of doing honor to her Lord by anointing him with her very best. Our Lord might have excused this action, and have praised it as a practical evidence of her gratitude, her humility, and her love for him. But instead of dwelling on these things, he said, She hath anointed my body aforehand for the burying . Our Lord here, of course, alludes to the spices and ointments with which the Jews wrapped up the... read more
See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 26:1-16.Mark 14:1And of unleavened bread - So called because at that feast no other bread was used but that which had been made without leaven or yeast.By craft - By subtlety (Matthew); that is, by some secret plan that would secure possession of him without exciting the opposition of the people.Mark 14:3Ointment - This word does not convey quite the proper meaning. This was a perfume. It was used only to give a pleasant odor, and was liquid.Of... read more
Mark 14:1-9. After two days was the feast of the passover For an explanation of these verses, see the notes on Matthew 26:1-13. Of ointment of spike-nard, very precious “Either the word πιστικη ,” says Dr. Whitby, “answers to the Syriac, pisthaca, and then it may be rendered, nardus spicata, ointment made of the spikes of nard; or, if it be of a Greek original, I think Theophylact well renders it πιστικη η αδολος και μετα πιστεως κατασκευασθεισα , that is, nard unadulterated and... read more
138. The plot to capture Jesus (Matthew 26:1-16; Mark 14:1-11; Luke 22:1-6)The Passover was only two days away, and Jesus knew its significance in relation to his coming death. Israelites kept the Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread as an annual week-long festival in commemoration of ancient Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. God ‘passed over’ those houses where a lamb had been sacrificed in the place of those under judgment (Exodus 12:1-13). The people then escaped from bondage. For the next... read more
Jesus . App-98 . wrought . The object had been accomplished. In John 12:7 (on the former occasion) it was to be reserved for the burial. good = happy, excellent, appropriate. Not the same word as in Mark 14:7 . on. Greek. eis. App-104 . Not the same word as in verses: Mark 14:2 , Mark 14:3 , Mark 14:35 , Mark 14:48 . read more
with = in company with. Greek. meta. App-104 . Not the same word as in Mark 14:49 . whensoever ye will . A Divine supplement, here. ye will = ye wish. Greek. thelo . App-102 ., may = can. good . Not the same word as in Mark 14:6 . Me ye have not always . Transubstantiation is incompatible with this. not. Greek. ou. App-105 . Not the same word as in Mark 14:2 . read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 14:3-9
Anointing for martyrdom. I. PURE LOVE RISES ABOVE THE CONSIDERATIONS OF THRIFT . Logic must give place to love. The full heart disdains the question of money expense. Habitual extravagance is one thing, the redundancy grateful affection is another. We are never safe, in conduct or in thought, except when we follow the heart's lead. II. SYMPATHY PRESERVES THE JUDGMENT FROM ERROR , The disciples did not understand the woman's act. Christ lifted it into the... read more