This beautiful incident took place on the Tuesday evening of Passion Week, while the chief priests were gathered in the house of Caiaphas to plot the Lord's death, Matthew 26:3-5. Simon had probably been healed by Jesus, and the feast was held in his house, as being larger than Martha's. Jesus was intimate with Lazarus and his sisters, and this unnamed woman was Mary, John 12:2-3. Alabaster resembled white marble, and the perfume was carefully sealed to preserve it. Its cost would amount to about fifty dollars, and would represent the work of three hundred days, Matthew 20:2. Loveless hearts cannot understand the expenditure of love-they count it waste; but how quickly Jesus steps in to vindicate His own! Probably, of all His followers, Mary alone had understood His references to His death, and as she could not be present to perform the last offices of love, she rendered them in advance. Judas, who led the murmuring, seems to have been goaded to this act by the contrast of Mary's spirit with his own, and by Christ's gentle rebuke.
The two sent to prepare the Passover were Peter and John, Luke 22:8. We may often be guided by very trivial incidents-let us look out for them. A straw may indicate the direction of the current. The owner of the room was probably a secret disciple of Jesus, like him who lent the ass. The r.v. says, "my guest-chamber." It is very beautiful when the Master feels free to put His hand on our possessions, and claim their use. Does he not ask for the guest chamber of our inner life? Is it at His disposal? [source]
Chapter Summary: Mark 14
1A conspiracy against Jesus 3Expensive perfume is poured on his head by a woman 10Judas sells his Master for money 12Jesus himself foretells how he will be betrayed by one of his disciples; 22after the passover prepared, and eaten, institutes his last supper; 26declares beforehand the flight of all his disciples, and Peter's denial 43Judas betrays him with a kiss 46Jesus is apprehended in the garden; 53falsely accused and impiously condemned of the council; 65shamefully abused by them; 66and thrice denied by Peter
Greek Commentary for Mark 14:10
He that was one of the twelve [ο εις των δωδεκα] Note the article here, “the one of the twelve,” Matthew has only εις heis “one.” Some have held that Mark here calls Judas the primate among the twelve. Rather he means to call attention to the idea that he was the one of the twelve who did this deed. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 14:10
John 13:2During supper [δειπνου γινομενου] Correct text, present middle participle of γινομαι ginomai (not γενομενου genomenou second aorist middle participle, “being ended”) genitive absolute. John 13:4 shows plainly that the meal was still going on. The devil having already put Another genitive absolute without a connective (asyndeton), perfect active participle of βαλλω ballō to cast, to put. Luke (Luke 22:3) says that Satan entered Judas when he offered to betray Jesus. Hence John‘s “already” Cf. Acts 5:3. Purpose clause with ινα hina and second aorist active subjunctive of παραδιδωμι paradidōmi (form in -οι oi as in Mark 14:10 rather than the usual -ωι ōi in Luke 22:4). Satan had an open door by now into the heart of Judas. [source]
What do the individual words in Mark 14:10 mean?
AndJudasIscariot-oneof theTwelvewent awaytothechief prieststhatHimhe might betrayto them
Greek Commentary for Mark 14:10
Note the article here, “the one of the twelve,” Matthew has only εις heis “one.” Some have held that Mark here calls Judas the primate among the twelve. Rather he means to call attention to the idea that he was the one of the twelve who did this deed. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 14:10
Correct text, present middle participle of γινομαι ginomai (not γενομενου genomenou second aorist middle participle, “being ended”) genitive absolute. John 13:4 shows plainly that the meal was still going on. The devil having already put Another genitive absolute without a connective (asyndeton), perfect active participle of βαλλω ballō to cast, to put. Luke (Luke 22:3) says that Satan entered Judas when he offered to betray Jesus. Hence John‘s “already” Cf. Acts 5:3. Purpose clause with ινα hina and second aorist active subjunctive of παραδιδωμι paradidōmi (form in -οι oi as in Mark 14:10 rather than the usual -ωι ōi in Luke 22:4). Satan had an open door by now into the heart of Judas. [source]