John 12:4 WEB

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - John 12:4-8

The objection of Judas: v. 4. Then saith one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray Him, v. 5. Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? v. 6. This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. v. 7. Then said Jesus, Let her alone; against the day of My burying hath she kept this. v. 8. For the poor always ye have with you; but Me ye have not always.... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - John 12:1-8

IIIAntithesis Between Faithfulness And Apostasy In The Circle Of Disciples Itself. The Life Feast Over Lazarus An Anticipatory Celebration Of The Death Of Jesus. The Anointing (Of The Messiah, At The Beginning Of The Six Days’ Work Of His Passion, The New Six Days’ Work For The Redemption And Glorification Of The World)John 12:1-8(Matthew 26:6-16; Mark 14:3-11; Luke 22:3-6.)1Then Jesus [therefore], six days before the passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which [who] had been dead,1 whom... read more

Alexander MacLaren

Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture - John 12:1-11

John LOVE’S PRODIGALITY CENSURED AND VINDICATED Joh_12:1 - Joh_12:11 . Jesus came from Jericho, where He had left Zacchaeus rejoicing in the salvation that had come to his house, and whence Bartimaeus, rejoicing in His new power of vision, seems to have followed Him. A few hours brought Him to Bethany, and we know from other Evangelists what a tension of purpose marked Him, and awed the disciples, as He pressed on before them up the rocky way. His mind was full of the struggle and death... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - John 12:1-11

Love’s Fragrant Gift John 12:1-11 Martha’s service reminds us of Luke 10:41 . The earlier Gospels (Matthew 26:1-75 ; Mark 14:1-72 ) do not mention Mary’s name, probably because the whole family might have suffered for their intimate identification with Jesus; see John 12:10 . But when this Gospel was written the beloved trio had been gathered home to God. There was no value in the spikenard except to refresh and comfort, but this was sufficient to warrant Mary’s act. We must not always be... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - John 12:1-50

The shadows of the Passion were now falling across the path of the Christ. In what happened at the supper we have a vivid contrast. Mary and Judas arrest our attention. She, discovering the sorrows of His heart, pressed closely to Him, and sacramentally expressed her love. Judas, blinded in self-interest, criticized her action, and so revealed himself as utterly opposed to the very spirit of the Lord Himself. From Bethany Jesus passed to Jerusalem, where a stupendous outburst of welcome... read more

Robert Neighbour

Wells of Living Water Commentary - John 12:1-11

Mary Anointing Her Lord John 12:1-11 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We are now coming to the close of the life of our Master presenting the third of three Bible scenes centering around Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. It is the story of Mary breaking the alabaster box upon the feet of her Lord. The first verse says, "Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom He raised from the dead." We wish, by way of introduction, to briefly state the events of the... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - John 12:1-8

Jesus Is Anointed (John 12:1-8 ). This incident is significant in that it is unintentionally prophetic. By her action in anointing Jesus, Mary is intending to proclaim her gratitude and love, but what she does not know, although the readers are intended to recognise it, is that she is anointing Him both as Messiah and for His burial. read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - John 12:4-6

‘But Jesus Iscariot, one of his disciples, the one who would betray him, said, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for 300 denarii, and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he held the communal purse he used to take money from it’. It is natural for a Christian to deplore waste, but here we have a reminder that some things which at first appear wasteful, are rather of great value. Mary’s expression of love would have lost its meaning... read more

Arthur Peake

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

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - John 12:3-8

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