Mar 14:1-11, Luk 22:1-6, Joh 12:1-7 | Barnes | STEP | MARK CHAPTER 14 Verses 1-11. See this passage explained in Verse 1. And of unleavened bread . So called because that at that feast no other bread was used but that which had been made without leaven or yeast. By craft . By subtilty, (Matt.;) that is, by some secret plan that would secure possession of him without exciting the opposition of the people.

Mark 14:1-11

MARK CHAPTER 14

Verses 1-11. See this passage explained in Mt 26:1-16

Verse 1. And of unleavened bread. So called because that at that feast no other bread was used but that which had been made without leaven or yeast.

By craft. By subtilty, (Matt.;) that is, by some secret plan that would secure possession of him without exciting the opposition of the people. Verse 3. Ointment. This word does not convey quite the proper meaning. This was a perfume: it was used only to give a pleasant odour, and was liquid.

Of spikenard. The nard, from which this perfume was made, is a plant of the East Indies, with a small slender stalk, and a heavy, thick root. The best perfume is obtained from the root, though the stalk and fruit are used for that purpose.

And she brake the box. This may mean no more than that she broke the seal of the box. so that it could be poured out. Boxes of perfumes are often sealed, or made fast with wax, to prevent the perfume from escaping. It was not likely that she would break the box itself when it was unnecessary; and when the unguent, being liquid, would have been wasted, when it was very precious. Nor from a broken box or phial, could she easily have poured it on his head. Verse 5. Three hundred pence. About 41 dollars 40 cents.

(1) "three hundred pence" Mt 18:28 Verse 7.

(y) "For ye" De 15:11 Verse 8. She hath done what she could. She has showed the highest attachment in her power; and it was, as it is now, a sufficient argument against there being any real waste, that it was done for the honour of Christ. Verse 10.

(z) "Judas Iscariot" Mt 16:14, Lk 22:3 (a) "betray him" Jn 13:2 Verse 11.

(b) "him money" 1Kgs 21:20, Prov 1:10-16

Luke 22:1-6

Verses 1-2. Mt 26:1 Mt 26:2

Verse 1.

(a) "feast of unleavened bread" Mt 26:2, Mk 14:1 Verse 2.

(b) "And the chief priests" Ps 2:2, Acts 4:27 Verse 3. Then entered Satan into Judas. It is not necessary to suppose that Satan entered personally into the body of Judas, but only that he brought him under his influence; he filled his mind with an evil passion, and led him on to betray his Master. The particular passion of which Satan made use was avarice--probably the besetting sin of Judas. To show its exceeding evil and baseness, it is only necessary to say that when it produced its appropriate effect in this case, it led to the betraying and crucifixion of the Son of God. We may learn, also, that when Satan tempts men, he commonly does it by exciting and raising to the highest pitch their native passions. He does not make them act contrary to their nature, but leads them on to act out their proper disposition.

Satan. This word properly means an adversary or an accuser. It is the name which in the Scriptures is commonly given to the prince or leader of evil spirits, and is given to him because he is the accuser or calumniator of the righteous (see Rev 12:10; comp. Job 1:6-9), as well as because he is the adversary of God.

Being of the number of the twelve. One of the twelve apostles. This greatly aggravated his crime. He should have been bound by most tender ties to Jesus. He was one of his family--long with him, and treated by him with every mark of kindness and confidence; and nothing could more enhance his guilt than thus to make use of this confidence for the commission of one of the basest crimes.

Verse 4. Chief priests and captains. Mt 26:14. See the account of the bargain which Judas made with them explained in Mt 26:14 Mt 26:15 Mt 26:16 Barnes "Mr 14:10" Mk 14:11.

Absence of the multitude. The multitude, the people, were then favourable to Jesus. He had preached in the temple, and many of them believed that he was the Messiah. It was a hazardous thing, therefore, to take him by force, and in their presence, as they might rise and rescue him. Hence they sought to take him when he was away from the multitude; and as Judas,knew of a place where he could be found alone, they were glad of the opportunity of so easily securing him. Verse 5.

(d) "and covenanted to" Zech 11:12 Verse 6.

(1) "in the absence of the multitude" or, "without tumult"

John 12:1-7

Verse 1. Then Jesus came to Bethany. This was near to Jerusalem, and it was from this place that he made his triumphant entry into the city. Mt 21:1 and following.

(a) "Lazarus" Jn 11:1,43 Verses 2-8. See this passage explained Mt 26:3, also Mt 26:4-16.

Verse 2. A supper. At the house of Simon the leper, Mt 26:6.

Lazarus was, &c. The names of Martha and Lazarus are mentioned because it was not in their own house, but in that of Simon. Lazarus is particularly mentioned, since it was so remarkable that one who had been once dead should be enjoying again the endearments of friendship. This shows, also, that his resurrection was no illusion--that he was really restored to the blessings of life and friendship. Calmet thinks that this was about two months after his resurrection, and it is the last that we hear of him. How long he lived is unknown, nor is it recorded that he made any communication about the world of spirits. It is remarkable that none who have been restored to life from the dead have made any communications respecting that world. See Lk 16:31, and 2Cor 12:4.

(b) "Martha served" Lk 10:38-42 Verse 4. Which should betray him. Greek, "who was to betray him" that is, who would do it. Verse 5. Three hundred pence. About forty dollars, or �8, 10s.

And given to the poor. The avails or value of it given to the poor. Verse 6. Had the bag. The word translated bag is compounded of two words, meaning "tongue," and "to keep or preserve." It was used to denote the bag in which musicians used to keep the tongues or reeds of their pipes when travelling. Hence it came to mean any bag or purse in which travellers put their money or their most precious articles. The disciples appear to have had such a bag or purse in common, in which they put whatever money they had, and which was designed especially for the poor, Lk 8:3, Mt 27:55, Acts 2:44. The keeping of this, it seems, was intrusted to Judas; and it is remarkable that the only one among them who appears to have been naturally avaricious should have received this appointment. It shows us that every man is tried according to his native propensity. This is the object of trial--to bring out man's native character; and every man will find opportunity to do evil according to his native disposition, if he is inclined to it.

And bare, &c. The word translated bare means literally to carry as a burden. Then it means to carry away, as in Jn 20:15: "If thou hast borne him hence." Hence it means to carry away as a thief does, and this is evidently its meaning here. It has this sense often in classic writers. Judas was a thief, and stole what was put into the bag. The money he desired to be intrusted to him, that he might secretly enrich himself. It is clear, however, that the disciples did not at this time know that this was his character, or they would have remonstrated against him. They learned it afterward. We may learn here,

1st. That it is not a new thing for members of the church to be covetous. Judas was so before them.

2nd. That such members will be those who complain of the great waste in spreading the gospel.

3rd. That this deadly, mean, and grovelling passion will work all evil in a church. It brought down the curse of God on the children of Israel in the case of Achan (Josh 7:1), and it betrayed our Lord to death. It has often since brought blighting on the church; and many a time it has betrayed the cause of Christ, and drowned men in destruction and perdition, 1Timm 6:9.

(d) "he was a thief" 2Kgs 5:20-27, Ps 50:18 (e) "had the bag" Jn 13:29