John 12:5

5 "Why was not that perfume sold for 300 shillings and the money given to the poor?"

John 12:5 Meaning and Commentary

John 12:5

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence
Meaning Roman pence, one of which is, of the value of our money, seven pence halfpenny; so that three hundred pence amount to nine pounds seven shillings and six pence:

and given to the poor?
this was his pretence, and with which he covered himself; his uneasiness was, because it was not sold, and the money put into his hands, as appears by what follows.

John 12:5 In-Context

3 Availing herself of the opportunity, Mary took a pound weight of pure spikenard, very costly, and poured it over His feet, and wiped His feet with her hair, so that the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 Then said Judas (the Iscariot, one of the Twelve--the one who afterwards betrayed Jesus),

5 "Why was not that perfume sold for 300 shillings and the money given to the poor?"

6 The reason he said this was not that he cared for the poor, but that he was a thief, and that being in charge of the money-box, he used to steal what was put into it.

7 But Jesus interposed. "Do not blame her," He said, "allow her to have kept it for the time of my preparation for burial.