Mark 14:5 — Community Reflections

MARK 14:5 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.”

It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor. And they rebuked her harshly — the calculation is correct: a year's wages given to the poor is genuinely valuable. The rebuking of the woman is harsh (enebrimōnto autē) — the same word as Jesus' strong warning to the leper (1:43). The disciples who rebuked those bringing children now rebuke the woman pouring perfume. The pattern of discipleship failure continues.

Church Fathers on Mark 14:5

The Lord when about to suffer for the whole world, and to redeem all nations with His Blood, dwells in Bethany, that is, in the house of obedience.
Bede · 8th century

For the fawn amongst the stags ever comes back to his couch, that is, the Son, obedient to the Father even unto death, seeks for obedience from us.
Pseudo-Jerome · 5th century

But although the four Evangelists record the anointing by a woman, there were two women and not one; one described by John, the sister of Lazarus; it was she who six days before the Passover anointed the feet of Jesus; another described by the other three Evangelists. Nay, if you examine, you will find three; for one is described by John, another by Luke, a third by the other two. For that one described by Luke is said to be a sinner and to have come to Jesus during the time…
Theophylact · 11th century

Read all 17 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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