SEV Biblia, Chapter 26:7
vino a l una mujer, teniendo un vaso de alabastro de ungento de gran precio, y lo derram sobre la cabeza de l, estando sentado a la mesa.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 26:7
Verse 7. There came unto him a woman] There is much contention among commentators about the transaction mentioned here, and in John xii. 3; some supposing them to be different, others to be the same. Bishop Newcome's view of the subject I have placed at the end of the chapter. Some think that the woman mentioned here was Mary, the sister of Lazarus; others Mary Magdalene; but against the former opinion it is argued that it is not likely, had this been Mary the sister of Lazarus, that Matthew and Mark would have suppressed her name. Besides, say they, we should not confound the repast which is mentioned here, with that mentioned by John, John xii. 3. This one was made only two days before the passover, and that one six days before: the one was made at the house of Simon the leper, the other at the house of Lazarus, John xii. 1, 2. At this, the woman poured the oil on the head of Christ; at the other, Mary anointed Christ's feet with it. See on Mark xiv. 3, and see the notes at the end of this chapter.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 7. There came unto him a woman , etc.] By some thought to be the same that is spoken of in ( Luke 7:37), and by most, to be Mary, the sister of Lazarus, ( John 12:3), which may be true; for it is possible that one and the same woman, might perform a like action at different times; for to neither of the above, at the same time, will the following agree: not to the former, for though that was done in the house of one Simon, yet not Simon the leper, but Simon the Pharisee; who though he had a particular respect for Christ, which few of that sect had, yet appeared to be then of a Pharisaical spirit; that was done in Galilee, this near Jerusalem in Bethany; the woman there anointed the feet of Christ, but this woman poured the ointment on his head; nor did any such conversation as here follow upon it, between Christ and his disciples; but what discourse was had on that occasion, was between Simon and Christ. Not to the latter, for that does not appear to be done in Simons house, but rather in the house of Lazarus; no mention is made of the alabaster box, nor was the ointment poured on his head, but on his feet; besides, that was done six days before the passover, whereas this was but two; moreover, Judas only objected to that, but the disciples in general had indignation at this; and though the objections to it, and Christs defence of it, are much in the same language, in one place as in the other, yet it was no unusual thing with Christ, to make use of the same words on a like incident, or when the same objections were made. The fact here recorded, is the same as in ( Mark 14:3), where it stands in the same order as here, and seems to have been done at the supper, of which mention is made, ( John 13:2), when Satan entered into Judas, and put it into his heart to betray his master, the account of which follows this here: having an alabaster box of very precious ointment ; Mark calls it, ointment of spikenard, ( Mark 14:3), which was very odorous, and of a very fragrant smell; (see Song of Solomon 1:12). Some there render it, pure nard; unadulterated, unmixed, sincere and genuine; others, liquid nard, which was drinkable, and easy to be poured out; and some Pistic nard, so called, either from Pista, the name of a place in India, from whence it was brought, as some think; or as Dr. Lightfoot, from aqtsyp , Pistaca, which is the maste of a tree f1477 , and of which, among other things, Pliny says f1478 , the ointment of nard was made. The Persic version in both places read it, ointment of Gallia; and the just now mentioned writer f1479 , speaks of nardum Gallicum, Gallic nard, which is what may be meant by that interpreter; but be it what ointment it will; it was ointment, very precious: very costly, and of a very great price; for the disciples observe, it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence: and for the better preserving of such ointments incorrupt, they used to be put into vessels made of alabaster f1480 ; though some think not the matter, but the form of these vessels is referred to; and observe, that vessels of gold, silver, and glass, for this use, being made in the form of alabasters, were called by that name; and that this might be made of the latter, since Mark says, that she brake the box; not into pieces, for then she could not be said to pour it out; but either the top, or side of it: though some critics observe, that the word signifies no more, than that she shook it, that the thicker parts of the ointment might liquify, and be the more easily poured out. The Arabic version has omitted that clause, and the Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic, read it, she opened it; that is, as the Persic adds, the top of the vessel: she took off the covering of the box, or took out the stopple, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat : which was usually done at festivals, or at any considerable entertainments, as at weddings, etc. Says Rab, they pour ointment on the heads of the doctors; (the gloss is, the women put ointment on the heads of the scholars;) says R. Papa to Abai, does the doctor speak of the ointment of the bridechamber? He replies, thou orphan, did not thy mother cause for thee, that they poured out ointment on the heads of the doctors, at thy wedding? for lo! one of the Rabbins got a wife for his son, in the house of R. Bar Ula; and they say, that R. Bar Ula got a wife for his son in the house of one of the Rabbins, nbrd ayra ajym gydrdw , and poured ointment on the head of the doctors f1481 : to this custom are the allusions in ( Psalm 23:5 Ecclesiastes 9:8). The pouring of this ointment on the head of Christ was emblematical of his being anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows; of his having the holy Spirit, and his gifts and graces without measure; which, like the ointment poured on Aarons head, that ran down to his beard, and the skirts of his garments, descends to all the members of his mystical body: and was a symbol of the Gospel, which is like ointment poured forth; and of the sweet savour of the knowledge of Christ, which was to be diffused, throughout all the world, by the preaching of it; and was done by this woman in the faith of him, as the true Messiah, the Lords anointed, as the prophet, priest, and king of his church.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-13 - The pouring ointment upon the head of Christ was a token of the highes respect. Where there is true love in the heart to Jesus Christ, nothin will be thought too good to bestow upon him. The more Christ's servant and their services are cavilled at, the more he manifests his acceptance. This act of faith and love was so remarkable, that it woul be reported, as a memorial of Mary's faith and love, to all futur ages, and in all places where the gospel should be preached. Thi prophecy is fulfilled.
Greek Textus Receptus
προσηλθεν 4334 5627 V-2AAI-3S αυτω 846 P-DSM γυνη 1135 N-NSF αλαβαστρον 211 N-ASN μυρου 3464 N-GSN εχουσα 2192 5723 V-PAP-NSF βαρυτιμου 927 A-GSN και 2532 CONJ κατεχεεν 2708 5656 V-AAI-3S επι 1909 PREP την 3588 T-ASF κεφαλην 2776 N-ASF αυτου 846 P-GSM ανακειμενου 345 5740 V-PNP-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
7. An alabaster box (alabastron). Rev., cruse; flask in margin. Lit., an alabaster, just as we call a drinking-vessel made of glass a glass. Luther renders glass. It was a kind of cruet, having a cylindrical form at the top. Pliny compares these vessels to a closed rosebud, and says that ointments are best preserved in them.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
26:7 {An alabaster cruse of exceeding precious ointment} (alabastron murou barutimou). The flask was of alabaster, a carbonate of lime or sulphate of lime, white or yellow stone, named alabaster from the town in Egypt where it was chiefly found. It was used for a phial employed for precious ointments in ancient writers, inscriptions and papyri just as we speak of a glass for the vessel made of glass. It had a cylindrical form at the top, as a rule, like a closed rosebud (Pliny). Matthew does not say what the ointment (murou) was, only saying that it was "exceeding precious" (barutimou), of weighty value, selling at a great price. Here only in the N.T. "An alabaster of nard (murou) was a present for a king" (Bruce). It was one of five presents sent by Cambyses to the King of Ethiopia (Herodotus, iii. 20). {She poured it upon his head} (katecheen epi ts kephals autou). So Mark (#Mr 14:3), while John (#Joh 12:3) says that she "anointed the feet of Jesus." Why not both? The verb katecheen is literally to pour down. It is the first aorist active indicative, unusual form.
