The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 511

time a me.tter of prudence or delioe.cy not nowadays one he11rs compl:\ints of money tu dre.w e.ttention to them by DR.me, Dut being expended in the ril'lh decoration of there is no disorepe.ncy. One nllrrative churches, etc., when there are ste.rving eupplements the other, &nd it is best to be multitudes whom it woultl he.ve relieved. thsnkful for whst we have, e.nd not to be But God himself h11e SRUotioncd the nee of over-curious ooncerning points not ex- precious materialsnnd ofexquisite workm11n- plained. An a.labe.ster box (a.71.&./l111T-rpo~)- ship in temples built in hie honour, e.nd in A ~ruee or flask made of ale.be.ster, which is the accessories of hie publio worship; the a white oaloareous spgr resembling marble, interests of the poor are not overlooked in but sufter and more ee.sily worked. These such expenditure; they who give of their cruses were generally round-sh1<pcd, with & so bstanoo for such purposes al'e just those long narrow neck, the orifice of which was who feel all their responsibilities, and know l!ealed. It mny be the brealring of this that they serve Christ in ministering to hia 1we.l to which St. Mark refers in his account neeny members. (xiv. 3), when he SAYS that "she brake Ver. 9.-Might have been sold for muoh. the box." Very preaioua ointment (µ.opov). According to St.John,Jndaehad e.oourately St. Mark oalls it .. pistio ne.rd," rendered estimated the ve.lue of the ointment at in our vc:rsion "spiken&Td." The word in SOO denarii, equnl to about .£9of our money. our text seems to be used for any salve or When we remember the.t one denarins ointment which oonte.ined myrrh e.s one of represented the daily we.gee of e. labouring its ingredients. Nard is fonnd in Syria, me.n ( oh. xx. 2), we see that the cost was the .l:limalayns, Md other p:i.rt.s of India.. very large. Given to the poor. And this From its root e. strong-scented unguent "much" given to the poor. But piety is was made, which, being imported from a not shown only in giving alms; the honour long d istanoc, was very costly. Poured it of (iod he.s a superior claim. And Mary was on his head. It, is to be noted the.t in the rioh, and quite able to afford this offering original there is no " it" o.fter " poured; " without neglecting her almsgiving, "How eo there is nothing to imply that the whole often does charity serve as a oloa.k for we.s poured upon his head. This helps to covetonsness I We mnst not neglect what reconcile this aooonnt with th&t of the we owe to Jesus Christ under pretence of fourth evangelist (Morison). St. John tells what we owe his members. Men count as that she anointed his feet, which was we.sted what is expended in the onteJ' UDnsue.l; she first anointed his head, and worship of God, when they love neither God then his feet, wiping the latter with her nor his worship. Jesus Christ authorizes it long flowing hair. Anointing the head was by e.ocepting it at the very instant iu which not an uncommon way of honouring dis- he we.e establishing religion by a worship tinguished gneste ; bnt Mary had another the most spiritual and inward" (Quesnel). thought in her mind which the Lord dis- Ver. I 0.- trnderstood it. Either their cerned (ver. 12). Al! he sat at meat; as he murmurs reached Christ's ears, or he 'f'eclined at tabl,e. The Jews had adopted divined their thoughts, and proceeded to the Roman mode of enting ( comp. eh. :r::xii. defend Mary's action and to give e. new 10, where the word rendered" guests" is lesson. Why trouble ye the wome.n 1 The •• the recumbent"). St. Matthew does not disciples, observed Bengel, were ree.lly mention that a special supper we.a arranged acting offensively to Jesus in thus censuring for him (John riL I), as if to do him honour. Mary; but he passes over this, and blames Ver. 8.-When hill disciples &e.W it. St. them only in respect of their conduot. John states that the objection came origin- towards her. Doubtless, their reme.rks- ally from Juda.a. DonbtleBB, when it we.a Lad reached Mary's ears, and annoyed and once made, many ooneurred in it, not, indeed, embarrassed her. For ehe he.th wrought a from Judas's selfish motive (John xii 6), good work upon ( ds )me. A work that proved but because they did not clearly apprehend her zeal, reverence, and faith. Me.ry had the Divinity of Christ, nor the unspeakable always been devout, contemple.tive, loving. sacredness of that body which was about She he.d learned much at the g1:ave of to be the instrument of me.n's redemption. Laze.ms ; she was full of gratitude at the To what purpose is this waste (o.,rd.71.<uz)? wonderful reetore.tion of her brother's life; Wordsworth notes that Judas is co.lied vll>s she had often heard Christ speak of his b.1ro,/\<111r (John xvii. 12). A fitting question decee.se, e.nd knew that it was olose e.t hand, truly for him to osk I The objectors saw realizing that which the chosen apostles no pro.otical nsefulness in the expenditure were still slow t.o believe; so·she we.a minded of this costly substance. If it was thought to make this costly offering. And Ohrist proper to show respect to their Master, a saw her motive, and graciously accepted it. much inferior oil would he.ve equally effected Ver. 11.-Ye have the poor alwaye with tl,is purpose, or a few drops of the more yon.. St. Mark adds," and when,ocver yo prc::ium1 unguent would have sufficed. So will ye may do them good," ThiM was m, 41II, xxv1, 1-75.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. r,17