Mark 14:3-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Mark 14:1-11

We have here instances, I. Of the kindness of Christ's friends, and the provision made of respect and honour for him. Some friends he had, even in and about Jerusalem, that loved him, and never thought they could do enough for him, among whom, though Israel be not gathered, he is, and will be, glorious. 1. Here was one friend, that was so kind as to invite him to sup with him; and he was so kind as to accept the invitation, Mark 14:3. Though he had a prospect of his death approaching, yet he... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Mark 14:3-9

14:3-9 While Jesus was in Bethany, while he was reclining at a table in the house of Simon the leper, there came a woman who had a phial of ointment of pure nard. She broke the phial and poured it over his head. Some of them said indignantly to each other, "To what purpose is the waste of this ointment? This ointment could have been sold for more than ten pounds, and the money could have been given to the poor." And they were angry at her. Jesus said, "Let her be! Why do you trouble her? It... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 14:3

And being in Bethany ,.... A place about two miles from Jerusalem, whither he retired after he had took his leave of the temple, and had predicted its destruction; a place he often went to, and from, the last week of his life; having some dear friends, and familiar acquaintance there, as Lazarus, and his two sisters, Martha and Mary, and the person next mentioned: in the house of Simon the leper ; so called because he had been one, and to distinguish him from Simon the Pharisee, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 14:4

And there were some that had indignation within themselves ,.... The Syriac version reads, "some of the disciples": agreeably to Matthew 26:8 , particularly Judas, and others might be incensed by his means: and said, why was this waste of the ointment made ? See Gill on Matthew 26:8 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 14:5

For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence ,.... Which, was to the value of our money nine pounds, seven shillings, and sixpence: and given to the poor ; which was thought to be a better way of expending it, than by pouring it on the head of Christ: and they murmured against her : that she should lavish so much money away in such an imprudent manner; they reproved her for it, expressed much resentment at it, and were very angry with, her upon the account of it; See... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 14:6

And Jesus said, let her alone ,.... Jesus knowing the secret indignation of some of his disciples, and their private murmurings at the woman, and their continual teasings of her, because of the expense of the ointment, said to them, as the Arabic and Ethiopic versions read; or "to the disciples", as the Persic, let the woman alone, cease to chide and reprove her for what she has done; why trouble ye her ? why do you grieve her, by charging her with imprudence and extravagance, as if she... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 14:7

For ye have the poor with you always ,.... See Gill on Matthew 26:11 ; and whensoever ye will ye may do them good ; by feeding them when hungry, clothing them when naked, and supplying them with the necessaries of life: but me ye have not always ; meaning, with respect to his bodily presence, which, in a short time, would be removed from them, and they would have no opportunity of showing him any such outward respect personally; See Gill on Matthew 26:11 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 14:8

She hath done what she could ,.... What she had in her heart, and in the power of her hands to do; she hath done according to her ability, and her good will; and if she had not done it now, she could not have done it at all. She is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying ; or, "as if it was to bury me", as the Syriac version renders it. Christ signifies by this, that he should shortly die, and that this woman came before hand to anoint him, and, as it were, to perform the funeral... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 14:9

Verily I say unto you ,.... And you may assure yourselves of the truth of it: wheresoever this Gospel , of the death and resurrection of Christ, shall be preached throughout the whole world , as it shall be, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her ; in remembrance of her, and her work, and in commendation of her faith, love, and duty; See Gill on Matthew 26:13 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 14:3

Alabaster box - Among critics and learned men there are various conjectures concerning the alabaster mentioned by the evangelists: some think it means a glass phial; others, that it signifies a small vessel without a handle, from α negative and λαβη , a handle; and others imagine that it merely signifies a perfume or essence bottle. There are several species of the soft calcareous stone called alabaster, which are enumerated and described in different chemical works. Spikenard - Or... read more

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