When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, “Why this waste?
Parallel translations
- WEB But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?
- KJV But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
- NKJV But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?
- NASB But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, “Why this waste?
- NLT The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said.
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
The disciples object that the ointment is wasted. Their reaction reveals a failure to grasp the worthiness of Christ.
Overview
Seeing the expensive perfume poured out, the disciples judge it wasteful, with Judas leading the complaint according to John. Their indignation, though clothed in apparent concern, misses that nothing given to Christ is ever wasted. The episode warns against valuing earthly utility above devotion to the Lord.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- John 12:4–6But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked,
- Mark 14:4Some of those present, however, expressed their indignation to one another: “Why this waste of perfume?
- Exod 5:17“You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’
- 1 Sam 17:28–29Now when David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, his anger burned against David. “Why have you come down here?” he asked. “And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and wickedness of heart—you have come down to see the battle!”
- Amos 8:5asking, “When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, that we may market wheat? Let us reduce the ephah and increase the shekel; let us cheat with dishonest scales.
- Hag 1:2–4that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.’”
- Eccl 4:4I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
- Mal 1:7–10By presenting defiled food on My altar. But you ask, ‘How have we defiled You?’ By saying that the table of the LORD is contemptible.
- Mal 1:13You also say: ‘Oh, what a nuisance!’ And you turn up your nose at it,” says the LORD of Hosts. “You bring offerings that are stolen, lame, or sick! Should I accept these from your hands?” asks the LORD.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 26:8 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
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