Mark 14:7

For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) Whensoever ye will ye may do them good.—Peculiar to St. Mark; the other words being given by him in common with St. Matthew and St. John.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Three hundred pence - About forty dollars (or 9 British pounds). See the notes at Matthew 26:7.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

7. For ye have the poor with you always—referring to De 15:11.

and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always—a gentle hint of His approaching departure, by One who knew the worth of His own presence.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Mark 14:4"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For ye have the poor with you always,.... See Gill on Matthew 26:11;

and whensoever ye will ye may do them good; by feeding them when hungry, clothing them when naked, and supplying them with the necessaries of life:

but me ye have not always; meaning, with respect to his bodily presence, which, in a short time, would be removed from them, and they would have no opportunity of showing him any such outward respect personally; See Gill on Matthew 26:11.

Geneva Study Bible

{3} For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

(3) Christ allowed himself to be anointed once or twice for certain considerations: but his will is to be daily anointed in the poor.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Mark 14:7. καὶ ὅταν θέλητε, etc., and when ye wish ye can do them a kindness; a thought implied in the previous clause (the poor ye have always), and probably an expansion by Mk. (cf. Mt.), yet not superfluous: suggesting the thought that expenditure in one direction does not disqualify for beneficent acts in another. The willing-minded will always have enough for all purposes.

Bengel's Gnomen

Mark 14:7. Τοὺς πτωχοὺς, the poor) Whom ye speak of.—ὅταν, if [whensoever]) ye will, as ye here show [by your very remark as to the poor].—δύνασθε, ye can) Never is there any one so needy, as to be able to give nothing.—ἔχετε ye have) thus present with you as now. It is not always that such an honour can be conferred on me.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 7. - Far ye have the poor always with you, and whensoever ye will ye can (δύνασθε) do them good: but me ye have not always. The little clause, "whensoever ye will ye can do them good," occurs only in St. Mark. It is as though our Lord said, "The world always abounds with poor; therefore you always have it in your power to help them; but within a week I shall have gone from you, after which you will be unable to perform any service like this for me; yea, no more to see, to hear, to touch me. Suffer, then, this woman to perform this ministry now for me, which after six days she will have no other opportunity of doing." Mark 14:7

Vincent's Word Studies

And whensoever ye will, etc

Note Mark's amplification.