John 12:7

Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

Then {G3767} said {G2036} Jesus {G2424}, Let {G863} her {G846} alone {G863}: against {G1519} the day {G2250} of my {G3450} burying {G1780} hath she kept {G5083} this {G846}.

Yeshua said, “Leave her alone! She kept this for the day of my burial.

“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “She has kept this perfume in preparation for the day of My burial.

Jesus therefore said, Suffer her to keep it against the day of my burying.

In John 12:7, Jesus defends Mary of Bethany against Judas Iscariot's criticism regarding her lavish anointing of His feet with expensive spikenard (as described in John 12:3). This King James Version passage highlights Jesus' awareness of His impending death and His interpretation of Mary's act as a sacred preparation for His burial.

Context

This significant event takes place in Bethany, just six days before the Passover, during a supper at the home of Lazarus, whom Jesus had recently raised from the dead (John 11:43-44). Mary's act of pouring a pound of costly aromatic oil on Jesus' feet and wiping them with her hair was an act of profound devotion. Judas Iscariot protested, suggesting the ointment should have been sold for 300 pence and given to the poor, though his true motive was greed, as he was a thief (John 12:6).

Key Themes

  • Prophetic Anointing: Jesus interprets Mary's seemingly extravagant act as a divinely appointed preparation for His burial. Her devotion, though perhaps not fully understood by her at the time, served a profound prophetic purpose in the grand narrative of salvation, foreshadowing His death and resurrection.
  • Sacrificial Devotion: Mary's act exemplifies selfless and extravagant worship. She gave her most valuable possession, demonstrating a love for Jesus that prioritized Him above all material considerations. This contrasts sharply with Judas's mercenary mindset and false piety.
  • Jesus' Acceptance of His Destiny: Jesus explicitly acknowledges that His "day of burying" is at hand. This statement underscores His full awareness and willing acceptance of His mission to suffer and die for humanity, a theme echoed throughout the Gospels (e.g., Matthew 16:21).
  • Defense of True Worship: Jesus defends Mary, affirming the spiritual value of her act over a pragmatic, but disingenuous, concern for the poor. He teaches that genuine devotion, even if it appears "wasteful" or unconventional to human eyes, is precious in God's sight.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "hath she kept this" from the King James Version translates the Greek verb tereō (τηρέω), which means "to keep," "to preserve," or "to guard." In this context, it implies that Mary's act was not spontaneous in the sense of being unplanned by God, but rather a profound deed that Jesus recognized as specifically reserved or appointed for the occasion of His burial. It suggests a divine foreknowledge and purpose behind her act of devotion, emphasizing its significance in God's plan.

Practical Application

This verse encourages believers to offer their best to Christ without reservation, understanding that true devotion may not always align with worldly logic or expectations. It challenges us to discern and value acts of genuine worship and sacrifice, prioritizing spiritual realities over material concerns. Furthermore, it reminds us that God can use our acts of faith, even those we consider small or insignificant, for His greater, often hidden, purposes, fulfilling His divine plan in ways we may not fully comprehend until later. It also serves as a reminder to defend those who offer sincere worship, rather than criticizing them based on worldly standards.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 26:12

    For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did [it] for my burial.

  • Matthew 26:10

    When Jesus understood [it], he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

  • Mark 14:6

    And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.

  • Zechariah 3:2

    And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: [is] not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

  • Psalms 109:31

    For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save [him] from those that condemn his soul.

  • Matthew 27:57

    ¶ When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:

  • Matthew 27:60

    And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

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