Why did the disciples consider the perfume's value in Mark 14:5? Setting the Moment • Jesus is in Bethany, reclining at table in Simon the leper’s home (Mark 14:3). • A woman breaks an alabaster jar and pours pure nard on Him. • “Some of those present” become indignant. Mark spotlights their complaint: “It could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.” (Mark 14:5) Literal Worth of the Gift • Three hundred denarii ≈ a full year’s wages for a laborer (cf. Matthew 20:2). • Pure nard was imported from the Himalayas—rare, costly, and usually saved for burial or inheritance. • From a purely economic angle, they see 300 days of pay emptied in moments. Why the Disciples Focused on the Price • Stewardship Mind-set – They had learned to live simply while traveling with Jesus (Luke 9:3). – Liquidating the perfume seemed a practical way to extend ministry resources. • Passover Charity Tradition – At Passover, almsgiving increased (Deuteronomy 15:11; cf. John 13:29). – The timing heightened their sensitivity to the poor. • Limited Earth-Side Perspective – They still expected Jesus to lead a visible, ongoing ministry (Acts 1:6). – Lavish worship aimed at burial (Mark 14:8) felt premature to them. • Influence of Judas – “Judas Iscariot, who was going to betray Him, asked, ‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold...?’” (John 12:4-6). – He “cared nothing for the poor, but was a thief,” yet his objection swayed the others (Mark uses the plural “they”). • Worldly Valuation System – Culture measured devotion by measurable output (money to the poor). – Jesus was teaching that love expressed directly to Him surpasses utilitarian calculations (Mark 14:6-9). Lessons Drawn from Their Reaction • Genuine Love Can Appear Wasteful – Extravagant worship often defies cost-benefit analysis. • Good Motives Need Right Alignment – Caring for the poor is commanded (Proverbs 19:17), yet it must never eclipse adoration of Christ Himself (Luke 10:41-42). • Spiritual Insight Develops Over Time – The disciples’ concern shows their growth curve; later they would declare, “You were redeemed... with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19). Takeaway The disciples’ attention to the perfume’s monetary value exposes a tension between prudent ministry practice and wholehearted worship. Jesus affirms that honoring Him first sets the pattern for every other act of love—even generosity to the poor. |
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