Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 14:5

"For this ointment might have been sold for above three hundred shillings, and given to the poor. And they murmured against her." — Mark 14:5 (ASV)

Matthew writes that it was the disciples who reacted so indignantly (Matthew 26:8), while John says it was Judas Iscariot . Judas probably expressed the most vigorous dissent because he was the treasurer of the Twelve. Their chief concern was mercenary. The perfume had a value of more than the average value of wages for three hundred days. The mention of the poor is natural because it was customary for the Jews to give gifts to the poor on the evening of the Passover. The insensitivity of Jesus’ disciples to this beautiful expression of love and devotion is amazing, especially since they had often enjoyed the generous hospitality of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus while in Bethany.