Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

Why were the disciples indignant? (Matthew 26:8-9)

But Jesus, happening to be in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 there came unto him a woman holding an alabaster jar of costly perfume, and she poured it down upon his head as he was reclining. 8 And the disciples, seeing it, were greatly displeased, saying, "To what end this loss? 9 For this could have been sold for much and given to the destitute." Rotherham Bible

The disciples were indignant because a woman poured a bottle of costly perfume on Jesus' head, an act they considered a "waste" of valuable resources. 

They believed the perfume, which was worth a substantial amount (about a year's wages for a labourer), should have been sold and the money given to people experiencing poverty. 

While Matthew indicates that the indignation was shared by the disciples generally, the Gospel of John specifies that Judas Iscariot was the primary objector, not because he genuinely cared for the poor, but because he was a thief who had been embezzling from the everyday purse they kept. The other disciples may have initially agreed with Judas' practical suggestion out of a genuine, but misguided, concern for stewardship.

The Bible does not discuss in detail the motives for his corrupt course, but an incident that occurred on Nisan 9, 33 C.E., five days before Jesus' death, sheds light on the matter. At Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, Mary, Lazarus' sister, anointed Jesus with perfumed oil worth 300 denarii, about a year's wages for a labourer. (Mt 20:2) Judas strongly objected that the oil could have been sold and the money "given to the poor people.” 

Evidently, other apostles merely assented to what seemed to be a valid point, but Jesus rebuked them. Judas' real reason for objecting was that he cared for the money box, and he "was a thief... and used to carry off the monies" put in the box. So Judas was a greedy, practising thief.​—Joh 12:2-7; Mt 26:6-12; Mr 14:3-8.

We find this event related in the Gospels by Matthew, Mark, and John. It seems that Judas took the lead in complaining, with at least some other apostles then agreeing with him. This incident illustrates why we can be thankful for having four Gospel accounts. What each writer penned was accurate, but not all provide the exact details. By comparing parallel accounts, we gain a fuller, more detailed view of many events.

It seems logical that the thief Judas initiated the complaining because he would have more to steal if the costly oil were sold and the funds put in the money box that he carried. 

And, once Judas raised this complaint, some other apostles may have murmured assent at what seemed a valid point. Judas, however, was the main instigator of the complaint.

The disciples misunderstood the spiritual significance: At this point, they did not grasp the deeper, spiritual meaning of the woman's action, which was to honour Jesus and prepare him for his burial. The disciples, especially Judas, were focused on earthly concerns rather than the spiritual significance of the act.

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