3 Jesus was at Bethany, a guest of Simon the Leper. While he was eating dinner, a woman came up carrying a bottle of very expensive perfume. Opening the bottle, she poured it on his head. 4 Some of the guests became furious among themselves. "That's criminal! A sheer waste! 5 This perfume could have been sold for well over a year's wages and handed out to the poor." They swelled up in anger, nearly bursting with indignation over her. 6 But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why are you giving her a hard time? She has just done something wonderfully significant for me. 7 You will have the poor with you every day for the rest of your lives. Whenever you feel like it, you can do something for them. Not so with me. 8 She did what she could when she could - she pre-anointed my body for burial. 9 And you can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she just did is going to be talked about admiringly."
10 Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the cabal of high priests, determined to betray him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 14:3-10
Commentary on Mark 14:1-11
(Read Mark 14:1-11)
Did Christ pour out his soul unto death for us, and shall we think any thing too precious for him? Do we give him the precious ointment of our best affections? Let us love him with all the heart, though it is common for zeal and affection to be misunderstood and blamed; and remember that charity to the poor will not excuse any from particular acts of piety to the Lord Jesus. Christ commended this woman's pious attention to the notice of believers in all ages. Those who honour Christ he will honour. Covetousness was Judas' master lust, and that betrayed him to the sin of betraying his Master; the devil suited his temptation to that, and so conquered him. And see what wicked contrivances many have in their sinful pursuits; but what appears to forward their plans, will prove curses in the end.