“Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?”
Parallel translations
- KJV Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
- BSB “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?”
- NKJV “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”
- NASB “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the proceeds given to poor people?”
- NLT “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Judas asks why the ointment was not sold and given to the poor. His pious-sounding question conceals greed.
Overview
Judas frames his objection as concern for the poor, citing the ointment's great value. The complaint sounds reasonable but, as John reveals, is insincere. It exposes how religious language can cloak self-interest, setting Judas's hypocrisy against Mary's true worship.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Luke 12:33Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys.
- Luke 18:22When Jesus heard these things, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have, and distribute it to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Come, follow me.”
- Mark 14:4–5But there were some who were indignant among themselves, saying, “Why has this ointment been wasted?
- Matt 26:8–9But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?
- Mal 1:10–13“Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you,” says Yahweh of Armies, “neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
- Luke 6:41Why do you see the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye?
- Exod 5:8The number of the bricks, which they made before, you require from them. You shall not diminish anything of it, for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’
- Exod 5:17But he said, “You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to Yahweh.’
- Amos 8:5Saying, ‘When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may market wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel large, and dealing falsely with balances of deceit;
- John 6:7Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that everyone of them may receive a little.”
- Matt 20:2When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 12:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.