Mark 14:5, commentary and pictures

At Bethany Judas began the complaint against Mary for anointing Jesus, whispering to those near him until the disciples shared his indignation and murmured at her loving act as waste that might have been sold for more than three hundred pence. His plea to sell the ointment and give to the poor was only an excuse concealing greed, for he cared nothing for the poor and had been stealing money entrusted to him, coveting the gift for himself. No gift bestowed on Jesus is waste, even had the most valuable treasures been given to Him. Christ is to be honored with the best of our substance and His cause put first without neglecting the poor, for those who receive pardoning love do not stop to count the cost but regret their gift is not greater, in contrast to covetous calculation. The reproof Jesus gave Judas turned his spirit to gall until indulged greed and love of money made him Satan's agent to betray his Master, while Mary's broken alabaster box has prompted countless deeds of loving service through the centuries.

Setting of the Complaint

The complaint belongs to Jesus being at Bethany before Passover, where many people had gathered because they wanted to see and hear Him and Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. The woman criticized is Mary, once controlled by demons and regarded as hopeless, who was restored through Christ's grace and whose devotion continued through His death and resurrection. She gave at great personal sacrifice from gratitude and love to honor Jesus, intending the ointment for His burial after hearing Him speak of His approaching death while also hoping He would soon receive kingly honor. She had bought it to anoint His body at His death but believed, hearing talk of His becoming king in Jerusalem, that He would no longer be rejected or forced to flee, and her gift was given in gratitude for His forgiveness and for raising her brother.

She broke the box and anointed Christ's head and feet and wiped His feet with her hair, trying not to draw attention, and the odor filled the house and made her act known to all present. Judas Iscariot started the complaint, and instead of waiting to hear what Christ would say, whispered his complaints to those near him and reproached Christ for allowing such waste. This awakened disaffection so the disciples also had indignation within themselves and murmured against her, leading them to view her loving act as wasteful and leaving her ashamed and afraid Jesus would condemn her. It was Judas's first open murmur against Christ and manifested his covetous disposition.

The complaint measures her gift by its possible sale price, claiming it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence.

Judas's Covetous Pretense

The plea that the ointment might have been sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor concealed greed and served as an excuse for covetousness rather than genuine concern. The principle of showing mercy to the poor was not itself at fault.

He wanted the money for his own use and coveted the ointment itself, caring nothing for the poor and unwilling to help them. He counted the gift to Jesus as wasteful because he was covetous and selfish. Indulged avarice so perverts the judgment that a person condemns generous devotion as needless waste.

His profession of care was hollow because he had been stealing from the disciples' funds and had sometimes taken for himself money entrusted to him for the poor. His complaint laid bare his failure to prize Jesus, whom he afterward sold for a few pieces of silver.

Warning and Lasting Influence

Nothing poured out for Jesus is ever wasted, even had the richest treasures that science or art could produce been laid at His feet. His cause is to be put first and honored with the best of what is possessed, and those who steward faithfully for that cause can sustain it without neglecting the poor. Against covetous calculation that weighs a gift by its sale price stands the gratitude of pardoned love, for those who truly receive salvation do not pause to count the cost of what they give but only regret that the gift is not greater.

The rebuke given for the murmur turned the murmurer's spirit to gall, and wounded pride with desire for revenge broke down restraint until long-indulged greed held him in control. The generous gift had rebuked his selfishness and prepared his heart to yield to temptation. In this is seen the warning that all who keep tampering with sin will find the depravity never resisted and overcome answering Satan's temptation until the soul is led captive at his will.

The objection sprang from love of money, which had perverted the nobler nature and fitted its holder to become Satan's agent in betrayal. Stung by the implied rebuke upon covetousness, he yielded to the tempter and gave Satan ready access to his mind, then resolved to sell his Master to the murderous priests and rulers. He had no thought that Jesus would allow Himself to be taken, but imagined the priests would be cheated of their bribe while he would keep the money to use for some purpose of his own and Jesus would gain a fresh occasion to display divine power in delivering Himself from His enemies.

The broken alabaster box has prompted countless deeds of love through the centuries and inspired loving service in many, with its influence continuing across generations. She who gave it will rejoice when she sees the good her act has brought about.