Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
Parallel translations
- WEB “Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, 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 ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
- Luke 18:22Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
- Mark 14:4–5And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
- Matt 26:8–9But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
- Mal 1:10–13Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
- Luke 6:41And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
- Exod 5:8And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
- Exod 5:17But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.
- Amos 8:5Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?
- John 6:7Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
- Matt 20:2And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny 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.