This perfume could have been sold at a high price, and the money given to the poor.”
Parallel translations
- WEB For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.”
- KJV For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
- NKJV For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”
- NASB For this perfume could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”
- NLT “It could have been sold for a high price 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
The disciples argue the ointment could have been sold to help the poor. Their reasoning sounds noble but misjudges the moment.
Overview
The objection appeals to charity, a genuine biblical concern, yet here it masks a failure to honor Christ's unique worth. John notes Judas's hypocrisy in this, since he was a thief. Jesus will affirm that worship of Him does not compete with care for the poor but rightly takes priority in this unrepeatable hour.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- John 12:5–6“Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?”
- Mark 14:5It could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her.
- 1 Sam 15:9Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to destroy them, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.
- 1 Sam 15:21The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”
- 2 Kgs 5:20Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman, while not accepting what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”
- Josh 7:20–21“It is true,” Achan replied, “I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did:
- 2 Pet 2:15They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.
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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 26:9 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.