John 12:4-8 Meaning: Why Jesus Defended Mary’s Anointing
4Then Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, one of his disciples, who would betray him, said,
5“Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”
6Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it.
7But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial.
8For you always have the poor with you, but you don’t always have me.”
4Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,
5Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
8For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
4But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, that should betray him, saith,
5Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred shillings, and given to the poor?
6Now 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.
7Jesus therefore said, Suffer her to keep it against the day of my burying.
8For the poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always.
4Therefore saith one of his disciples--Judas Iscariot, of Simon, who is about to deliver him up--
5`Wherefore was not this ointment sold for three hundred denaries, and given to the poor?'
6and he said this, not because he was caring for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and what things were put in he was carrying.
7Jesus, therefore, said, `Suffer her; for the day of my embalming she hath kept it,
8for the poor ye have always with yourselves, and me ye have not always.'
4One of his disciples therefore, Judas [son] of Simon, Iscariote, who was about to deliver him up, says,
5Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?
6But he said this, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and had the bag, and carried what was put into [it].
7Jesus therefore said, Suffer her to have kept this for the day of my preparation for burial;
8for ye have the poor always with you, but me ye have not always.
Meaning in one sentence
John 12:4-8 shows Judas criticizing Mary’s costly anointing of Jesus, revealing his hypocrisy. Jesus affirms her act as preparation for His burial.
Context
This scene takes place six days before Passover, in Bethany. Jesus has just raised Lazarus from the dead, and a supper is held in His honor. Martha serves, Lazarus reclines at the table, and Mary takes a pound of pure nard, very expensive, and anoints Jesus’ feet, wiping them with her hair. The fragrance fills the house. Then Judas Iscariot, one of the disciples, speaks up. He objects to what he calls waste. John tells us his real motive: not care for the poor, but theft. Jesus immediately defends Mary, saying she has kept this ointment for the day of His burial. He adds that the poor will always be with them, but He will not always be there. The moment is charged with irony and love, exposing the difference between a heart set on Jesus and a heart already turned toward betrayal.
Key Words
Two Greek words cut to the heart of this passage. The first is kleptēs, “thief.” John uses it bluntly of Judas, not just as a label but as a window into his character. The same root gives us “kleptomania”; Judas was taking what was not his, disguising greed as piety. The second is bastazō, which here means “was pilfering.” The verb describes carrying off what others had put in. Judas held the money bag, but his hands were not clean. Then there is entaphiasmos, a rare word that means “preparation for burial.” Mary’s act was not just generous; it was prophetic. Jesus reads her heart and sees that she has kept this nard for the very purpose He now declares. The contrast is sharp: one disciple steals, the other gives everything. Both have access to treasure, but only one understands what Jesus is worth.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this passage with different emphases. Many see in Mary’s action a model of costly devotion to Christ, a worship that holds nothing back. Others note that Jesus’ words about the poor quote Deuteronomy 15:11 and are not a dismissal of poverty, but a recognition that the poor will always need care, and that care is a constant duty. Some traditions highlight the tension between extravagant worship and social justice, asking how believers balance both. A third reading focuses on Judas as a warning: it is possible to speak pious words while harboring a corrupt heart. All agree that Jesus receives Mary’s gift as a fitting preparation for His death, and that He alone truly sees what each person gives and why.
A common misunderstanding
Many readers take Jesus’ words “You always have the poor with you” as permission to ignore poverty in favor of religious ceremony. In fact, Jesus is quoting Deuteronomy 15:11, a passage that commands generosity toward the poor precisely because they will always be present. He is not reducing care for the poor; He is saying that this specific moment, His anointing for burial, is unique and must not be missed. The poor can be helped tomorrow; the opportunity to honor Him this way will not come again.
Living This Out
What Mary gave was reckless in the eyes of those counting coins. This week, you may face a choice between doing something beautiful for Jesus and doing something that looks practical to everyone else. It might be spending time in prayer when the to-do list is long, giving money to a need that only God sees, or speaking of your faith when it costs you something. The question is not whether the poor matter (they do), but whether Jesus matters more. Look for the moment He sets before you, the one that will not come again. Then give what is costly, and let others murmur.
Main takeaway: Extravagant love for Jesus, even when misunderstood by others, is never wasted; He sees the heart behind the gift.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
A lady named Mary loved Jesus very much. She poured expensive perfume on His feet. Some people said it was a waste. But Jesus was happy because she loved Him.
For ages 9, 12
Mary used a whole bottle of very expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet. Judas said she should have sold it and given the money to poor people. But John tells us Judas only cared about the money, not the poor. Jesus defended Mary. He said she was preparing Him for His burial, which would happen very soon. This story shows us that sometimes the best thing we can do for Jesus costs a lot and looks wasteful to others. But He knows our love, and that is what matters most.
Questions People Ask
Did Jesus really not care about the poor when He said we always have them with us?
No, Jesus was not ignoring the poor. He was quoting Deuteronomy 15:11, which commands care for the poor precisely because they will always need help. He was saying that helping the poor is a daily duty, but this particular moment of honoring Him was unique and urgent.
Why did John call Judas a thief? Was he stealing from the disciples?
John tells us that Judas was a thief and used to steal from the money bag the disciples shared. Jesus allowed Judas to be the treasurer even though He knew Judas’s heart. This shows that God works with flawed people, and that hidden sins are never hidden from God.
What does ‘she has kept this for the day of my burial’ mean? Did Mary know Jesus was going to die?
Mary may not have fully understood that Jesus would die soon, but Jesus interpreted her act as prophetic. The word for burial preparation (entaphiasmos) suggests that she was unknowingly anointing Him for His death. Jesus saw in her love a deeper meaning than she herself realized.
Is it okay to spend a lot of money on worship when people are in need?
This passage does not forbid caring for the poor. Jesus affirms both: the poor will always need help, and this moment of extravagant worship is fitting. The key is discernment. There are times when giving to God costs everything, and He honors that. But the daily call to help the poor remains.
What can we learn from Mary’s example of anointing Jesus?
Mary shows us wholehearted devotion without calculation. She did not measure the cost or care what others thought. She simply loved Jesus and gave her best. The fragrance of her gift filled the house. Our worship, when given freely, can leave a lasting impact on everyone around us.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study