Matthew 26 · Verse 8

Matthew 26:8

But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
Matthew 26:8, King James Version

Matthew 26:8 in other translations

BSBWhen the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, “Why this waste?
WEBBut when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?
ASVBut when the disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
YLTAnd having seen it, his disciples were much displeased, saying, ‘To what purpose is this waste?
DARBYBut the disciples seeing it became indignant, saying, To what end was this waste?
BBEBut when the disciples saw it they were angry, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
WebsterBut when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

What does Matthew 26:8 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 8. They had indignation. John says that Judas expressed indignation. Probably some of the others felt indignation, but Judas only gave vent to his feelings. The reason why Judas was indignant was that he had the bag, (Jn 12:6;) i.e., the purse, or repository of articles given to the disciples and to the Saviour. He was a thief; and was in the habit, it seems, of taking out and putting to his own use what was put in for them in common. The leading trait of Judas' character was avarice; and no opportunity was suffered to pass without attempting by base and wicked means, to make money. In his example, an avaricious man may learn the true nature and the effect of that grovelling and wicked passion. It led him to commit the enormous crime of betraying his Lord to death; and it will always lead its possessor to guilt. No small part of the sins of the men of the world can be traced to avarice; and many and many a time since the days of Judas has the Lord Jesus been betrayed among his professed friends by the same base propensity.

Is this waste. This loss or destruction of property. They could see no use in it, and they therefore supposed it was lost.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 His disciples - One of them, viz. Judas. This mode of speaking was common among the Hebrews. So, Mat 27:44, the thieves also, i.e. one of them. So, Mat 28:17, some doubted, i.e. one, Thomas. See also Gen 8:4; Jdg 12:7; Neh 6:7, etc. By a figure called among rhetoricians enallag, the plural is put for the singular; it is, however, possible that Judas, who made the objection, was followed in the sentiment by the rest of the disciples.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 26:6-13

The pouring ointment upon the head of Christ was a token of the highest respect. Where there is true love in the heart to Jesus Christ, nothing will be thought too good to bestow upon him. The more Christ's servants and their services are cavilled at, the more he manifests his acceptance. This act of faith and love was so remarkable, that it would be reported, as a memorial of Mary's faith and love, to all future…

Read the full comment on Matthew 26:6-13 →

Matthew 26:8 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἰδόντεςidontesHaving seenG1492
δὲdethenG1161
οἱhoitheG3588
μαθηταὶmathētaidisciplesG3101
ἠγανάκτησανēganaktēsanbecame indignantG23
λέγοντες·legontessaying;G3004
εἰςeisFor whatG1519
τίtipurposeG5101
ἡhē[is] theG3588
ἀπώλειαapōleiawasteG684
αὕτη;hautēthis?G3778

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 26:8

  • John 12:4-6

    Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

  • Mark 14:4

    And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?

  • Exodus 5:17

    But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord.

  • Ecclesiastes 4:4

    Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

  • Haggai 1:2-4

    Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built. Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?

  • Amos 8:5

    Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?

  • 1 Samuel 17:28-29

    And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

  • Malachi 1:7-10

    Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the Lord is contemptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts. And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the Lord of hosts. Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

  • Malachi 1:13

    Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they.
1Sa 17:28,29; Ec 4:4; Mr 14:4; Joh 12:4-6
To.
Ex 5:17; Am 8:5; Hag 1:2-4; Mal 1:7-10,13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 26:7

    There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

  • Matthew 26:8

    But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

  • Matthew 26:9

    For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

Read all of Matthew 26

Matthew 26:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Lo cual viendo sus discípulos, se enojaron, diciendo: ¿Por qué se pierde esto?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et les disciples, le voyant, en furent indignés, disant: À quoi bon cette perte?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als aber die Jünger es sahen, wurden sie unwillig und sprachen: Wozu diese Verschwendung?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Videntes autem discipuli, indignati sunt, dicentes: Ut quid perditio hæc?