Albert Barnes Commentary John 12:6

"Now this he said, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the bag took away what was put therein." — John 12:6 (ASV)

Had the bag. The word translated bag is compounded of two words, meaning "tongue," and "to keep or preserve." It was used to denote the bag in which musicians used to keep the tongues or reeds of their pipes when traveling. Therefore, it came to mean any bag or purse in which travelers put their money or their most precious articles. The disciples appear to have had such a bag or purse in common, in which they put whatever money they had, and which was designed especially for the poor (Luke 8:3; Matthew 27:55; Acts 2:44).

The keeping of this, it seems, was entrusted to Judas. It is remarkable that the only one among them who appears to have been naturally avaricious should have received this appointment. This shows us that every person is tested according to their natural inclination. This is the object of trial—to reveal a person's true character. Every person will find opportunity to do evil according to their natural disposition, if they are inclined to it.

And bare, etc. The word translated bare means literally "to carry as a burden." Then it means "to carry away," as in John 20:15: If thou hast borne him hence. Therefore, it means to carry away as a thief does, and this is evidently its meaning here. It has this sense often in classical writers. Judas was a thief and stole what was put into the bag. He desired this money to be entrusted to him so that he might secretly enrich himself. It is clear, however, that the disciples did not at this time know that this was his character, or they would have remonstrated against him. They learned it afterward. We may learn from this:

1. That it is not a new thing for members of the church to be covetous. Judas was so before them.

2. That such members will be those who complain of the great waste in spreading the gospel.

3. That this deadly, mean, and groveling passion will bring about all kinds of evil in a church. It brought down the curse of God on the children of Israel in the case of Achan (Joshua 7:1), and it betrayed our Lord to death. It has often since brought blighting on the church, and many a time it has betrayed the cause of Christ and drowned men in destruction and perdition (1 Timothy 6:9).