Matthew Chapter 26 verse 9 Holy Bible

ASV Matthew 26:9

For this `ointment' might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
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BBE Matthew 26:9

For we might have got much money for this and given it to the poor.
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DARBY Matthew 26:9

for this might have been sold for much and been given to the poor.
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KJV Matthew 26:9

For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
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WBT Matthew 26:9


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WEB Matthew 26:9

For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor."
read chapter 26 in WEB

YLT Matthew 26:9

for this ointment could have been sold for much, and given to the poor.'
read chapter 26 in YLT

Pulpit Commentary

Pulpit CommentaryVerse 9. - Might have been sold for much. According to St. John, Judas had accurately estimated the value of the ointment at 300 denarii, equal to about £9 of our money. When we remember that one denarius represented the daily wages of a labouring man (Matthew 20:2), we see that the cost was very large. Given to the poor. And this "much" given to the poor. But piety is not shown only in giving alms; the honour of God has a superior claim. And Mary was rich, and quite able to afford this offering without neglecting her almsgiving. "How often does charity serve as a cloak for covetousness! We must not neglect what we owe to Jesus Christ under pretence of what we owe his members. Men count as wasted what is expended in the outer worship of God, when they love neither God nor his worship. Jesus Christ authorizes it by accepting it at the very instant in which he was establishing religion by a worship the most spiritual and inward" (Quesnel).

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(9) This ointment might have been sold for much.--St. Mark and St. John agree in giving the Traitor's computation. It might have been sold for three hundred denarii, a labourer's wages for nearly a whole year (Matthew 20:2), enough to feed a multitude of more than 7,500 men (John 6:7). St. John adds the damning fact that the pretended zeal for the poor was the cloak for the irritation of disappointed greed. "He was a thief, and bare the bag." He was, i.e., the treasurer or bursar of the travelling company, received the offerings of the wealthier disciples, and disbursed them either on their necessary expenditure or in alms to the poor (see Notes on John 12:6; John 13:29). This was the "one talent" given to him "according to his ability," and in dealing with it he proved fraudulent and faithless.