Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 26:7

"there came unto him a woman having an alabaster cruse of exceeding precious ointment, and she poured it upon his head, as he sat at meat." — Matthew 26:7 (ASV)

There came unto him a woman. This woman was Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha (John 12:3).

Having an alabaster box. Alabaster is a type of marble, distinguished by being light and a beautiful white color, almost transparent. It was often used by the ancients for preserving various kinds of ointment.

Of very precious ointment. This means ointment of much value, which was rare and difficult to obtain. Mark (Mark 14:3) and John (John 12:3) say that it was ointment of spikenard. In the original, it is nard. It was procured from an herb growing in the Indies, chiefly obtained from the root—though sometimes also from the bark.

It was liquid, so it flowed easily when the box or vial was opened, and was particularly distinguished for its pleasant smell (see Song of Solomon 1:12). The ancients frequently anointed or perfumed their bodies, and nard was esteemed one of the most precious perfumes.

John says there was a pound of this (John 12:3). The pound in use among them was the Roman pound, of twelve ounces, corresponding to our Troy weight. That there was a large quantity is further evident from the fact that Judas said it might have been sold for three hundred pence (forty dollars, [or £9]), and that the house was filled with the odor of the ointment (John 12:3).

And poured it on his head. They were accustomed chiefly to anoint the head or hair. John says (John 12:3) that she poured it on the feet of Jesus and wiped them with her hair. There is, however, no contradiction.

She probably poured it both on his head and his feet. Matthew and Mark recorded the former; John, who wrote his gospel partly to record events they omitted, relates that the ointment was also poured on the Savior’s feet. Pouring ointment on the head was common. Pouring it on the feet was an act of distinguished humility and attachment to the Savior, and therefore deserved to be particularly recorded.

As he sat at meat. That is, at supper. In the original, it says he reclined at supper. The ancients did not sit at their meals but reclined at length on couches (see the notes on Matthew 23:6).

She came up, therefore, behind him as he reclined at the table; and bending down over the couch, she poured the ointment on his head and his feet, and, probably kneeling at his feet, wiped them with her hair.