3 Then G3767 took G2983 Mary G3137 a pound G3046 of ointment G3464 of spikenard, G3487 G4101 very costly, G4186 and anointed G218 the feet G4228 of Jesus, G2424 and G2532 wiped G1591 his G846 feet G4228 with her G846 hair: G2359 and G1161 the house G3614 was filled G4137 with G1537 the odour G3744 of the ointment. G3464
4 Then G3767 saith G3004 one G1520 of G1537 his G846 disciples, G3101 Judas G2455 Iscariot, G2469 Simon's G4613 son, which G3588 should G3195 betray G3860 him, G846
5 Why G1302 was G4097 not G3756 this G5124 ointment G3464 sold G4097 for three hundred G5145 pence, G1220 and G2532 given G1325 to the poor? G4434
6 G1161 This G5124 he said, G2036 not G3756 that G3754 he G846 cared G3199 for G4012 the poor; G4434 but G235 because G3754 he was G2258 a thief, G2812 and G2532 had G2192 the bag, G1101 and G2532 bare G941 what was put therein. G906
7 Then G3767 said G2036 Jesus, G2424 Let G863 her G846 alone: G863 against G1519 the day G2250 of my G3450 burying G1780 hath she kept G5083 this. G846
8 For G1063 the poor G4434 always G3842 ye have G2192 with G3326 you; G1438 but G1161 me G1691 ye have G2192 not G3756 always. G3842
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on John 12
Commentary on John 12 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 12
It was a melancholy account which we had in the close of the foregoing chapter of the dishonour done to our Lord Jesus, when the scribes and Pharisees proclaimed him a traitor to their church, and put upon him all the marks of ignominy they could: but the story of this chapter balances that, by giving us an account of the honour done to the Redeemer, notwithstanding all that reproach thrown upon him. Thus the one was set over against the other. Let us see what honours were heaped on the head of the Lord Jesus, even in the depths of his humiliation.
Jhn 12:1-11
In these verses we have,
Jhn 12:12-19
This story of Christ's riding in triumph to Jerusalem is recorded by all the evangelists, as worthy of special remark; and in it we may observe,
Jhn 12:20-26
Honour is here paid to Christ by certain Greeks that enquired or him with respect. We are not told what day of Christ's last week this was, probably not the same day he rode into Jerusalem (for that day was taken up in public work), but a day or two after.
Thus far Christ's discourse has reference to those Greeks who desired to see him, encouraging them to serve him. What became of those Greeks we are not told, but are willing to hope that those who thus asked the way to heaven with their faces thitherward, found it, and walked in it.
Jhn 12:27-36
Honour is here done to Christ by his Father in a voice from heaven, occasioned by the following part of his discourse, and which gave occasion to a further conference with the people. In these verses we have,
Jhn 12:37-41
We have here the honour done to our Lord Jesus by the Old-Testament prophets, who foretold and lamented the infidelity of the many that believed not on him. It was indeed a dishonour and grief to Christ that his doctrine met with so little acceptance and so much opposition; but this takes off the wonder and reproach, makes the offence of it to cease, and made it no disappointment to Christ, that herein the scriptures were fulfilled. Two things are here said concerning this untractable people, and both were foretold by the evangelical prophet Isaiah, that they did not believe, and that they could not believe.
Jhn 12:42-43
Some honour was done to Christ by these rulers: for they believed on him, were convinced that he was sent of God, and received his doctrine as divine; but they did not do him honour enough, for they had not courage to own their faith in him. Many professed more kindness for Christ than really they had; these had more kindness for him than they were willing to profess. See here what a struggle was in these rulers between their convictions and their corruptions.
Jhn 12:44-50
We have here the honour Christ not assumed, but asserted, to himself, in the account he gave of his mission and his errand into the world. Probably this discourse was not at the same time with that before (for them he departed, v. 36), but some time after, when he made another public appearance; and, as this evangelist records it, it was Christ's farewell sermon to the Jews, and his last public discourse; all that follows was private with his disciples. Now observe how our Lord Jesus delivered this parting word: he cried and said. Doth not wisdom cry (Prov. 8:1), cry without? Prov. 1:20. The raising of his voice and crying intimate,