116.John 12:4-8-Envy Over Expensive Perfume
Envy Over Expensive Perfume
John 12:4–8
Biblical Text
4. Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said,
5. “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”
6. This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
7. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial.
8. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”
Nard and Spikenard Perfume
Nard (Nardostachys jatamansi) was a rare mountain plant growing in the Himalayas, in what is now Northern India and Nepal. It was not a local Palestinian product but an imported luxury.
To obtain the oil:
• the root was dug out in remote mountainous regions;
• dried and processed;
• crushed and refined into thick aromatic oil;
• stored in sealed containers, often made of alabaster.
The trade route was long: from India — through Persia — transported by caravans along ancient trade routes — to the Mediterranean. Each stage increased its price. It was an elite product, accessible only to wealthy families.
Mary’s Sacrifice
Mary brought the most valuable thing she had and poured it out completely. This was a conscious act of recognizing Christ’s worth — not calculation, not display, but devotion.
The amount — about a pound (≈ 327 grams).
The value — 300 denarii, nearly a year’s wages.
For comparison: Judas sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (≈ 120 denarii). The perfume cost more than the price of betrayal.
Judas — A Thief
John directly calls him κλέπτης — a thief, one who secretly takes what is not his.
His objection sounded spiritual, but his motive was selfish gain.
Not every “reasonable” criticism is righteous.
Generosity and Other People’s Money
Judas did not say:
“Let’s feed the poor with my money.”
He said:
“Let’s redistribute Mary’s resources.”
Generosity means spending your own. Envy tries to control what belongs to someone else.
Who Is Worthy of the Expensive Perfume?
In this world, the best is given to the most worthy.
If Jesus is the Messiah, then He is more worthy than any buyer, any king, or any priest.
This nard had already been devoted to Jesus. It was “not for sale.”
“She Has Kept This…”
About six days remained until Golgotha. Concentrated oil could easily retain its fragrance through that time.
Jesus speaks prophetically: Mary did in advance what the disciples would only understand later.
Reflection on Envy
Envy rarely calls itself envy — it hides behind words like efficiency and concern; instead of saying “I wish I had that,” it says “it would have been better…” and assumes the right to manage someone else’s devotion; it evaluates, calculates, and reallocates, yet is unwilling to sacrifice its own.
Conclusion
Do not judge where others choose to give their money. Not every “it would have been better…” is genuine concern — sometimes it is the logic of Judas. God looks not at redistribution, but at the heart.