Mat 26:6-16 | PNT | STEP | Now when Jesus was in Bethany . On the Saturday before. Matthew goes back to an event that occurred at Bethany before the Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, because he is about to relate the treachery of Judas, and it was brought to a crisis by that event. In the house of Simon the leper . Supposed to have been healed by Christ, and a relative of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Compare the parallel accounts, . It is not known certainly who he was.

Matthew 26:6-16

Now when Jesus was in Bethany. On the Saturday before. Matthew goes back to an event that occurred at Bethany before the Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, because he is about to relate the treachery of Judas, and it was brought to a crisis by that event.

In the house of Simon the leper. Supposed to have been healed by Christ, and a relative of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Compare the parallel accounts, Mr 14:3 Joh 12:1-2. It is not known certainly who he was. A woman. Mary, the sister of Lazarus. See Joh 12:3.

An alabaster box. A vase.

Of very precious ointment. Of spikenard, very costly and precious. It was worth 300 pence, or denarii, equivalent, when we consider the change in money values, to $300 now.

Poured it on his head. She broke the vase and emptied it. See Mr 14:3-9. They had indignation. John shows that it was Judas who voiced the indignation (Joh 12:4).

This waste. Judas thought that 300 pence had been squandered. Sordid men still often think what is spent for the Savior is wasted. This ointment might have been sold for much. Mark and John say, "three hundred denarii" (Mr 14:5 Joh 12:5). Pliny says a pound, the amount in the vase, was worth 400 denarii.

Given to the poor. A pretense. Judas wanted to get the money into his bag. Why trouble ye the woman? By your murmurs, as if she had done a sinful thing.

She hath wrought a good work. What is done for Christ from love of Christ is always a good work. Ye have the poor always. Always opportunities to do good to them, but what was done for Christ in the flesh must be done at once. For my burial. It was customary to anoint the dead and lay the body in spices. See Joh 19:40 Lu 23:56 2Ch 16:14. Mary was probably impelled only her love of the Lord and desire to do him honor; but Jesus, about to die and be buried, declares the anointing a fit preparation. This gospel. The gospel of a crucified Savior.

In the whole world. A prophecy that its preaching will be world-wide.

A memorial of her. Mary's loving deed has never been forgotten, but is today told in every quarter of the earth. Judas Iscariot went unto the chief priests. A comparison of all the accounts will show that when his avarice was thus disappointed, he went, at the first opportunity, to the priests. His Master was about to be crucified, he had not been permitted to enrich himself, there was now no probability that he would become the treasurer of Christ as an earthly king. What will ye give me? He had deliberately decided. He probably knew of their wish to seize Jesus secretly, and that they would pay for a guide that would lead them where he rested at night.

Thirty pieces of silver. The price was agreed upon and paid. The pieces were silver shekels, temple money. The whole would contain about the amount of silver in twenty dollars, perhaps equal in value to $120 now. It was a fulfillment of Zec 11:12. Joseph was sold for twenty pieces of silver (Ge 37:28). From that time. The time of the bargain with the priests. No one can tell certainly what day the bargain was completed.