Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 12:8
For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
8. For the poor, &c.] Comp. Deu 15:11. Every word of this verse occurs in the first two Gospels, though not quite in the same order. Here the emphasis is on ‘the poor,’ there on ‘always.’ The striking originality of the saying, and the large claim which it makes, are evidence of its origin from Him who spake as never man spake. Considering how Christ speaks of the poor elsewhere, these words may be regarded as quite beyond the reach of a writer of fiction.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
8. the poor always . . . withyoureferring to De 15:11.
but me . . . not alwaysagentle hint of His approaching departure. He adds (Mr14:8), “She hath done what she could,” a nobletestimony, embodying a principle of immense importance. “Verily,I say unto you, Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached in thewhole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, betold for a memorial of her” (Mat 26:13;Mar 14:9). “In the act oflove done to Him she had erected to herself an eternal monument, aslasting as the Gospel, the eternal word of God. From generation togeneration this remarkable prophecy of the Lord has been fulfilled;and even we, in explaining this saying of the Redeemer, of necessitycontribute to its accomplishment” [OLSHAUSEN].”Who but Himself had the power to ensure to any work of man,even if resounding in his own time through the whole earth, animperishable remembrance in the stream of history? Behold once morehere, the majesty of His royal judicial supremacy in the governmentof the world, in this, Verily I say unto you” [STIER].Beautiful are the lessons here: (1) Love to Christ transfiguresthe humblest services. All, indeed, who have themselves a heartvalue its least outgoings beyond the most costly mechanicalperformances; but how does it endear the Saviour to us to find Himendorsing the principle as His own standard in judging of characterand deeds!
What though in poor andhumble guise
Thou here didstsojourn, cottage-born,
Yet from Thy glory in theskies
Our earthly gold Thoudidst not scorn.
For Love delights tobring her best,
And where Love is, thatoffering evermore is blest.
Love on the Saviour’sdying head
Her spikenard dropsunblam’d may pour,
May mount His cross, andwrap Him dead
In spices from thegolden shore.
KEBLE.
(2) Works of utility shouldnever be set in opposition to the promptings of self-sacrificinglove, and the sincerity of those who do so is to be suspected.Under the mask of concern for the poor at home, how many excusethemselves from all care of the perishing heathen abroad. (3) Amidstconflicting duties, that which our “hand (presently)findeth to do” is to be preferred, and even a less duty onlyto be done now to a greater that can be done at any time.(4) “If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted accordingto that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not” (2Co8:12). “She hath done what she could” (Mr14:8). (5) As Jesus beheld in spirit the universal diffusion ofHis Gospel, while His lowest depth of humiliation was onlyapproaching, so He regards the facts of His earthly history asconstituting the substance of this Gospel, and the relation ofthem as just the “preaching of this Gospel.” Not thatpreachers are to confine themselves to a bare narration of thesefacts, but that they are to make their whole preaching turn upon themas its grand center, and derive from them its proper vitality; allthat goes before this in the Bible being but the preparationfor them, and all that follows but the sequel.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For the poor always ye have with you,…. And so would not want opportunities of showing a regard to them, which Christ always recommended; nor does he here in the least discourage an industrious and affectionate concern for them: the words seem to be a sort of prophecy, that there would be always poor persons in the churches of Christ, to be taken care of and provided for; [See comments on Mt 26:11]; and yet the Jews suppose cases, in which the collectors of alms may have no poor to distribute to, and direct what they shall do in such cases l:
but me ye have not always; meaning, with respect to his corporeal presence, which would be quickly withdrawn from them, when there would be no more an opportunity of showing him personal respect, in such a way.
l T. Bab. Pesachim, fol. 13. 1. & Bava Metzia, fol. 38. 1. & Bava Bathra, fol. 8. 2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Ye have always ( ). Jesus does not discredit gifts to the poor at all. But there is relativity in one’s duties.
But me ye have not always ( ). This is what Mary perceived with her delicate woman’s intuition and what the apostles failed to understand though repeatedly and plainly told by Jesus. John does not mention the precious promise of praise for Mary preserved in Mark 14:9; Matt 26:13, but he does show her keen sympathetic insight and Christ’s genuine appreciation of her noble deed. It is curiously — surely to put alongside this incident the other incident told long before by Luke (Lu 7:35ff.) of the sinful woman. Let Mary alone in her glorious act of love.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) ”For the poor always ye have with you,” (tous ptochous gar pantote echete meth’ heauton) ‘Because you all have the poor always with you,” or within your midst, before you, and among you, Mat 26:11; Mar 14:7; Deu 26:11-13; Deu 15:11
2) “But me ye have not always.” (eme de ou pantote echete) “Yet you all do not have me always,” as He repeatedly reminded them, Joh 12:35-36; Mat 26:11; Mar 14:7; Luk 5:34-35; Joh 16:28. Jesus was saying again, “my day of death and burial is near,” Joh 8:21; Joh 13:33; Joh 16:5-7.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
8. For the poor you have always with you. We must observe what I have already pointed out, that a distinction is here drawn expressly between the extraordinary action of Mary, and the daily service which is due to Christ. Those persons, therefore, are apes, and not imitators, who are desirous to serve Christ by costly and splendid display; as if Christ approved of what was done once, and did not rather forbid that it should be done afterwards.
But me you have not always. When he says, that he will not always be with his disciples, this ought to be referred to that kind of presence to which carnal worship and costly honors are suitable. For as to his presence with us by the grace and power of his Spirit, his dwelling in us, and also feeding us with his flesh and blood, this has nothing to do with bodily observances. Of all the pompous ceremonies which the Papists have contrived for the worship of Christ, in vain do they tell us, that they have bestowed them upon him, for he openly rejects them. When he says, that the poor will always be with us, though, by this saying, he reproves the hypocrisy of the Jews, yet we may learn from it a profitable doctrine; namely, that alms, by which the wants of the poor are relieved, are sacrifices acceptable, and of sweet savor, to God, and that any other kind of expense in the worship of God is improperly bestowed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(8) This verse occurs word for word in both of the first two Gospels. (See Notes there.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
Ver. 8. The poor ye have always with you ] To give to when you please; and in gratifying whom, ye may glorify God and secure your substance; for Manus pauperum gazophylacium Christi, the hand of the poor is the treasury of Christ, saith an ancient.
But me have ye not always ] And yet we have, in his poor members, the family of faith. Hence Salvian sticks not to say, that Christ is maximus mendicorum, the greatest of beggars; and addeth, Non eget miseria sed eget misericordia: non eget deltate pro se, sed eget pietate prd suis. (Salv. ad Eccles. Cathol. iv.)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
8. ] See note on Mar 14:7-8 .
implies the of Mat 26:10 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Joh 12:8 . As for Judas’ suggestion, He disposes of it, . “For the poor ye have always with you,” and every day, therefore, have opportunities of considering and relieving them, “but me ye have not always,” and therefore this apparent extravagance, being occasional only, finds justification. Occasional lavish expenditure on friends is justified by continuous expenditure on the real necessities of the poor.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
with you = among yourselves: i.e. not the outside poor, but the Lord’s poor.
with. Greek. meta. App-104.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
8.] See note on Mar 14:7-8.
implies the of Mat 26:10.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 12:8
Joh 12:8
For the poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always.-Jesus knew that it was not care for the poor that moved Judas, so he told him that he could at all times help the poor, but these acts of kindness could not be always extended to him [for the reason he would shortly return to his Father, and what is done to my fleshly body must be done now.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
the poor: Deu 15:11, Mat 26:11, Mar 14:7
but: Joh 12:35, Joh 8:21, Joh 13:33, Joh 16:5-7, Son 5:6, Act 1:9-11
Reciprocal: Lev 25:35 – thy brother Pro 14:31 – but Mar 2:20 – be taken Luk 5:35 – when Joh 21:17 – Feed Act 9:39 – and showing
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
8
Poor always . . . with you. Jesus did not criticize the idea of giving something to the poor, for he regarded that as a good work. He instructed the rich young man (Mat-they 19:21) to give his possessions to the poor. But this statement was about the idea of using present opportunities that are soon to pass. He was soon to leave the world and that would stop all chances of doing him a bodily favor, while they would never cease having opportunities for helping the poor.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 12:8. For the poor always ye have with you, but me ye have not always. The duty of giving to the poor is fully recognised: it must never be forgotten. But there are moments when what may seem lavish waste upon objects visible only to the eye of faith are to be commended for the faith that is present in them. How often has the history of the world borne testimony to the truth thus declared by Jesus! The very charity that cares for the poor whom we see has been kept alive by faith in, and devotion to, the crucified Redeemer whom we cannot see.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 8
It seems, from Matthew 26:14, that it was immediately after this supper that Judas went to the priests, and made the arrangement for betraying Christ to them. It might have been under the influence of the irritation produced by this incident.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
Unless Jesus was the Son of God who was due the same honor as His Father (Joh 5:23) this statement would have manifested supreme arrogance. Jesus was not encouraging the disciples to regard poverty as inevitable and, therefore, to avoid doing anything to help those in need. He was comparing the unique opportunity that His impending death presented with the continual need that the poverty of some will always present (cf. Mar 14:7).
John’s Gospel has been contrasting the growing belief of some people and the growing unbelief of others. This incident contrasts the great love of one disciple with the great apathy of another disciple.
"Mary of Bethany is in fact another of the timeless, representative figures so wonderfully portrayed in this Gospel. She is a type of the true Christian worshipper, even as the sinful woman in the very different anointing story in Luke vii. 36-50 is a type of the true Christian penitent." [Note: Tasker, p. 144.]