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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_12:1-8
1Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. 3Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, 5"Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?" 6Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it. 7Jesus therefore said, "Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. 8For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me."
Joh_12:1 "six days before the Passover" This is a different chronological sequence from Mat_26:2. It must be remembered that the primary focus of the Gospels is not chronology, but representative actions of Jesus that reflect truth about His person and work. The Gospels are not biographies but evangelistic tracts to target groups.
Joh_12:2 "they" This seems to refer to the townspeople of Bethany, who gave the supper for Jesus and His disciples in honor of raising His Lazarus. However, in Mat_26:6, this takes place in the home of Simon the Leper.
Joh_12:3 "pound" This was a Latin term that referred to the Roman pound, which equaled 12 ozs. This expensive spice may have been Mary's wedding dowry. Many unmarried women wore this type of perfume in containers around their necks.
NASB "a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard"
NKJV "a pound of very costly oil of spikenard"
NRSV "a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard"
TEV "a whole pint of a very expensive perfume made of pure nard"
NJB "a pound of very costly ointment, pure nard"
There has been much conjecture over the adjective's meaning: (1) pure; (2) liquid; or (3) a place name. The perfume itself was from an aromatic-Himalayan root which was very expensive. See James M Freeman, Manners and Customs of the Bible, pp. 379-380.
▣ "anointed the feet of Jesus" Other Gospel accounts of this same event (possibly Mary's thankfulness for raising Lazarus, Joh_12:2) speak of the woman anointing His head. Apparently Mary anointed His whole body, beginning with His head and going clear to His feet. The reason Jesus' feet were exposed was that He was reclining on His left elbow at a low table.
This is one of John's double entendres. This spice was used for preparing a body for burial (cf. Joh_19:40). Mary may have understood more of Jesus' message about His imminent death than the disciples did (cf. Joh_12:7). See hyperlinkat Joh_11:2.
▣ "and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume" What a graphic eyewitness (editorial) detail. John clearly remembers the moment!
Joh_12:4 "Judas Iscariot" The term "Iscariot" has two possible etymologies: (1) a city of Judah (Kerioth cf. Jos_15:25) or (2) the term for "assassin's knife." Of all the Gospel writers, John has the harshest statements about Judas (cf. Joh_12:6). See full note at Joh_6:70-71.
▣ "betray" This is another editorial comment. This term normally does not have this connotation. It literally means "to hand over" or "deliver up" in a judicial sense or to entrust something to another. See note at Joh_18:2.
Joh_12:5 "Three hundred denarii" A denarii was a day's wage for a soldier and a laborer, therefore, this was almost a year's wage.
Joh_12:6 This verse is another editorial comment. John, more than any other Gospel, condemns Judas.
NASB, NKJV "the money box"
NRSV "the common purse"
TEV "the money bag"
NJB "the common fund"
This word means "a small box." It was originally used by musicians to carry their mouth pieces.
▣ "he used to pilfer what was put into it" The Greek term is "carry." It is used in two different senses: (1) he carried the box but (2) also he carried off the contents of the box. This statement may have been included to show that Judas' concern for the poor in Joh_12:5 was really an excuse to steal for himself.
Joh_12:7 This is a strange verse. It obviously links this act of generosity and devotion to a similar procedure done at one's burial (cf. Joh_19:40). This is another of John's prophetic statements.
Joh_12:8 "For the poor you always have with you" This is related to Deu_15:4; Deu_15:11. It was not a disparaging remark concerning the poor but an emphasis on the Messiah's presence of Jesus (cf. Joh_12:35; Joh_7:33; Joh_9:4). The OT is unique among the literature of the Ancient Near East on the rights of and mandated care for the poor.