Chrysostora remarks, that Jesus knew from the beginning that Judas was a traitor, and often rebuked him with such words as, " One of you is a devil." (John vi. 64.) Augustine also remarks that we must not suppose Judas never fell till he received money from the Jews. He was false from the begin- ning. He also says that he was present at the institution of the Lord's Supper, and was a communicant.
5.— [Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence... poor?] This carping question is a specimen of the way in which wicked men often try to depreciate a good action, and specially in the matter of giving money. When the deed is done they do not say downright that it ought not to have been done, but suggest that something better might have been done ! Those who do good must be prepared to find their actions carped at and their motives depreciated, and themselves charged with neglecting one class of duties in over-zeal for doing others. If we do nothing until everybody commends and praises us, we shall nev- er do any good in the world.
"We may learn from this verse the costly nature of Mary's oint- ment. If workmen's wages were "a penny a day," (Matt. xx. 2,) about 7^cl. of our money, this holy woman must have poured on our Lord's feet what was worth between £9 and £10 of our money, according to the estimate of Judas. But allowances must perhaps be made for an exaggerated statement being made by an envious and wicked man.
We may note here that giving to the poor was evidently as- sumed to be a part of every Christian's duty. Compare this with Gal. ii. 10. In a country like England, where there is a poor law, Christians are sadly apt to forget this. The duty of " giving to the poor," and not merely paying rates in obedience to law, is just as obligatory now as it was 1800 years ago.
Ecolampadius remarks that the more wicked and graceless people are, the more ready they are to find fault with and blame others, and to see no beauty in what they do.
Quesnel remarks, that Judas made a great ado about 300 pence, — viz., £10, and a little ointment, when he was about to sell the Son of God for 30 pieces of silver, — viz., £3 15s.
Henry observe, " Coldness of love to Christ, and a secret contempt of serious piety, when they appear in professors of religion, are sad presages of final apostasy."
Stier remarks : " We have in the words of Judas an example of those judgments which have their foundation in the favourite principles of utilitarianism, and which may too often be applied falsely, to the wounding of pious hearts." — " This lays bare the root of that suspicion with which missionary offerings for the extension of Christ's kingdom are looked at, because of the poor whom we have at home." — " We have here, furthermore, an ex- ample of all cold judgments passed on the virtuous emotions of