John 12:6

This 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.

{G1161} This {G5124} he said {G2036}, not {G3756} that {G3754} he {G846} cared {G3199} for {G4012} the poor {G4434}; but {G235} because {G3754} he was {G2258} a thief {G2812}, and {G2532} had {G2192} the bag {G1101}, and {G2532} bare {G941} what was put therein {G906}.

Now he said this not out of concern for the poor, but because he was a thief — he was in charge of the common purse and used to steal from it.

Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.

Now 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.

Commentary

John 12:6 (KJV) provides a stark and insightful commentary on the true character of Judas Iscariot, immediately following his objection to Mary of Bethany anointing Jesus with expensive spikenard.

Context

This verse directly follows Judas’s question in John 12:5, where he asks why the costly ointment wasn’t sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor. On the surface, Judas appears concerned for the needy. However, the Apostle John, writing with divine insight, immediately exposes Judas’s true motive. The anointing of Jesus by Mary of Bethany was an act of profound devotion and preparation for Jesus’s burial, as Jesus himself later explains (John 12:7).

Key Themes

  • Hypocrisy and Deception: Judas’s feigned concern for the poor masked a deep-seated personal greed. This verse reveals the danger of outward piety that conceals inward corruption.
  • The Destructive Power of Greed: John explicitly states that Judas was a thief. His desire for money, even small amounts stolen from the common fund, foreshadows his ultimate betrayal of Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15). This highlights how unchecked covetousness can lead to spiritual ruin and compromise.
  • Divine Revelation of Character: The narrator, John, provides a crucial insight into Judas’s heart that would not have been obvious to the other disciples at the time. This serves as a reminder that God sees beyond outward appearances to the true intentions of the heart.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "had the bag" translates the Greek word glossokomon (γλωσσόκομον), which originally referred to a small box for mouthpieces of wind instruments, but later came to mean a money box or purse. This confirms Judas’s role as the treasurer for the disciples, a detail also mentioned in John 13:29.

The second part, "and bare what was put therein," uses the Greek verb ebastazen (ἐβάσταζεν). While it can simply mean "carried" or "bore," in this context, especially given the preceding declaration that he "was a thief," it strongly implies he was pilfering or embezzling funds from the common purse. This indicates a consistent pattern of dishonesty rather than an isolated incident.

Practical Application

John 12:6 serves as a powerful warning against hypocrisy and the corrosive nature of greed. It reminds us to examine our own motives, particularly in acts of service or charity. True compassion comes from a pure heart, not from a desire for personal gain or to mask hidden sin. Integrity, even in the smallest matters, is crucial for spiritual health and genuine discipleship, demonstrating that character ultimately defines one's true allegiance.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 50:16 (5 votes)

    ¶ But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or [that] thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?

  • Psalms 50:20 (5 votes)

    Thou sittest [and] speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.

  • John 13:29 (5 votes)

    For some [of them] thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy [those things] that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.

  • James 2:6 (4 votes)

    But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

  • 2 Kings 5:20 (3 votes)

    ¶ But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, [as] the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.

  • 2 Kings 5:27 (3 votes)

    The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper [as white] as snow.

  • James 2:2 (3 votes)

    For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;