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1
A Costly, Fragrant Gift
Commentators emphasize the immense value of Mary's gift—a pound of pure nard worth about a year's wages for a laborer. This wasn't a small token but a sacrificial offering of love and gratitude. The powerful fragrance that filled the entire house made her personal act of devotion a public testimony to Jesus's worth, perceived and understood by everyone present.
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John
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Commentaries
10
AT Robertson
On John 12:3
A pound (λιτραν). Latin libra, late Koine (Polybius, Plutarch) word with weight of 12 ounces, in N.T. only here and …
Charles Ellicott
On John 12:3
19th Century
Bishop
Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard.—Here, again, St. John alone gives the name of her whom St. Matthew and S…
Charles Spurgeon
On John 12:2–3
19th Century
Preacher
And Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, an…
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Expositor's Bible Commentary
On John 12:3
The anointing of Jesus’ feet by Mary was not difficult because of the custom of reclining to eat instead of sitting at a table. Guests usually recl…
John Calvin
On John 12:3
16th Century
Theologian
And the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. It was not a simple liquid extracted from spikenard, but a compound of ma…
John Gill
On John 12:3
17th Century
Pastor
Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard very costly ,
&c.] Worth three hundred pence, according to Judas's e…
Matthew Henry
On John 12:1–11
17th Century
Minister
Christ had formerly blamed Martha for being troubled with much serving. But she did not stop serving, as some who, when criticized for going too fa…