Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 26:9
For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
Verse 9. And given to the poor.] How often does charity serve as a cloak for covetousness! God is sometimes robbed of his right under the pretence of devoting what is withheld to some charitable purpose, to which there was no intention ever to give it.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
For this ointment might have been sold for much,…. Mark says, “for more than three hundred pence”, Mr 14:5: now if this is to be understood of Roman pence, each penny being seven pence half penny of our money, three hundred pence come to nine pounds, seven shillings, and six pence; but if it is to be understood of the penny of the sanctuary, which was one shilling and three pence, they come to just as much more: it might well be called very precious and costly ointment; and this was the reason of the disciples indignation, that so much cost and expense should be thrown away, as they thought, in such a manner, which might have been applied, in their opinion, to a better purpose. For had it been sold for its worth, so much might have been had for it,
and given to the poor; which was a very plausible objection to the action; and which they seem to have taken from Judas, who had made the same, on a like occasion, about four days before this, and he might instigate the disciples now: which shows what mischief an hypocrite may do in a church, and what influence he may have over good men to draw them into his measures, under the specious pretences of carefulness, frugality, and doing good to the poor. It seems our Lord inured his disciples to this good work of relieving the poor: they kept one common purse, and one of them, who was Judas, was appointed the bearer of it; whatever they collected, or was made a present to them, they put into this purse; out of which they were provided with the necessaries of life; and the rest expended on the poor.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(9) This ointment might have been sold for much.St. Mark and St. John agree in giving the Traitors computation. It might have been sold for three hundred denarii, a labourers wages for nearly a whole year (Mat. 20:2), enough to feed a multitude of more than 7,500 men (Joh. 6:7). St. John adds the damning fact that the pretended zeal for the poor was the cloak for the irritation of disappointed greed. He was a thief, and bare the bag. He was, i.e., the treasurer or bursar of the travelling company, received the offerings of the wealthier disciples, and disbursed them either on their necessary expenditure or in alms to the poor (see Notes on Joh. 12:6; Joh. 13:29). This was the one talent given to him according to his ability, and in dealing with it he proved fraudulent and faithless.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. Given to the poor John informs us that the utterer of this benevolent talk was Judas; not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a covetous thief at heart, being carrier of the money-bag. Mary meant it for a token of love to him, the Redeemer of the world. There are thousands who think that the money given for the Gospel had better be bestowed in mere temporal supplies; forgetting that it is much better to bestow upon men those principles which will make them wise, good, and industrious, than to give them supplies which will leave them as wicked and thriftless as ever. Could the faith that Mary showed in the Redeemer inspire all the world, the poor would be easily taken care of.
Sold for much Judas ciphered it up. It would come to just 300 denarii.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Mat 26:9 . ] put more precisely in Mar 14:5 ; Joh 12:5 . On the expensiveness of spikenard, a pound of which is alleged to have cost even upwards of 400 denarii, see Plin. N. H . xii. 26, xiii. 4.
] the subject (the equivalent in money, had it been sold) may be inferred from the context ( ). See Khner, II. 1, p. 30 f.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
Ver. 9. For this ointment might have been sold ] True, and better it had been sold, had it been a superfluous and idle expence; such as is today ordinary in fine clothes, sumptuous feasts, over stately buildings, &c. Back, belly, and building, these three B B B, like the daughters of the horseleech, suck out the blood of men’s substance. But here it is a senseless sentence that Judas uttereth, out of discontent only, that he missed so fat a morsel. Avarice made Judas, as it did Sejanus, think all which he acquired not, to be lost, Quicquid non acquiritur, damnum est, whatever is not gotten is lost.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
9. ] 300 denarii (John), even more than that (Mark). On the singular relation which these three accounts bear to one another, see notes on Mark. , viz. the for which the ointment might have been sold: the subject being supplied out of the preceding sentence. So Herod. ix. 8, , sc. . See other examples in Khner, Gr. Gr. ii. pp. 36, 7.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mat 26:9 . , etc., to be given (the proceeds, subject easily understood) to the poor . How much better a use than to waste it in the expression of a sentiment!
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
9. ] 300 denarii (John),-even more than that (Mark). On the singular relation which these three accounts bear to one another, see notes on Mark. , viz. the for which the ointment might have been sold: the subject being supplied out of the preceding sentence. So Herod. ix. 8, , sc. . See other examples in Khner, Gr. Gr. ii. pp. 36, 7.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mat 26:9. , might) The disciples exhibit in this instance great ignorance of comparative theology.- , to the poor) Which is, generally speaking, a right employment of our means;[1114] see ch. Mat 19:21, and Luk 19:8.
[1114] And that such was the practice of the disciples is evident from this very passage.-V. g.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Jos 7:20, Jos 7:21, 1Sa 15:9, 1Sa 15:21, 2Ki 5:20, Mar 14:5, Joh 12:5, Joh 12:6, 2Pe 2:15
Reciprocal: Mar 14:4 – there
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
26:9
It was true that such a product was costly (about fifty dollars’ worth) to be used in what might have been considered an unprofitable way. But it was not really his thoughts of economy that caused Judas to make his remark. He was a covetous man and it hurt him to see that much value bestowed upon another.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
[And be given to the poor.] That it was Judas especially who cavilled at this, we have reason to believe from what is said of him in another supper, Joh 12:4. Compare this with those words, Joh 13:29. When Jesus said to Judas, “What thou doest, do quickly,” some thought he had meant, “Give something to the poor.” That supper, I presume, was the same with this: and see, how these things agree! When a complaint arose of that prodigal waste of the ointment here, and before in John_12, and that it seemed unfit to some that that should be spent so unadvisedly upon our Lord which might have been bestowed much better, and more fitly, upon the poor, how easily might the others think that Christ had spoken to him about giving somewhat to the poor, that he might show his care of the poor, notwithstanding what he had before said concerning them, and the waste of the ointment.
Fuente: Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
Mat 26:9. The best authorities omit ointment here, but it is necessary to supply it
Sold for much. Pliny says that a pound of this ointment cost more than four hundred denarii (comp. three hundred pence, Mark and John).
Given to the poor. This suggestion, put forward by Judas, was with him a mere pretext (see Joh 12:6); the other disciples may have honestly felt it. Judas may have hoped to get the money in his possession, but not necessarily to make off with it; his intention was scarcely ripe enough for such a scheme. Those who hold trust funds, even for benevolent purposes, are often as unscrupulous in adding to them as in increasing, their private store.