Wednesday Afternoon, – 12-13 NISON
JESUS FORETELLS DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE
Matthew 24-25, Mark 13:1-37, Luke 21:5-36
Jesus left the temple and was going away and as he came out of the temple his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. Some were speaking how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings. One of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!”
But he answered them, “You see all these, great buildings do you not? Truly, I say to you, as for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
As he sat on the Mount of Olives, opposite the temple, the disciples Peter and James and John and Andrew came to him privately, and they asked him, “Teacher, tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age when all these things are about to be accomplished?”
It is now sometimes on Wednesday afternoon. Jesus has finished in the Temple and retired to the Mount of Olives along with his disciples. Isn't it interesting after just witnessing the poor widow give her last two mites as a donation to the Temple, that they could walk away from that sacrifice admiring the walls with the embedded precious jewels bought by such donations?
Four of his oldest and closest Apostles approach him. They had obviously been pondering what Jesus had said as they left the Temple, about how all the buildings would be thrown down. They ask three questions. Keep in mind that these Apostles also believed in the Warrior Messiah. After the occurrences in the Temple and Jesus comments about not one stone of the building would be left standing, they anticipated exciting things were about to happen shortly. They did not yet understand there would be a second coming.
Four of his oldest and closest Apostles approach him. They had obviously been pondering what Jesus had said as they left the Temple, about how all the buildings would be thrown down. They ask three questions. Keep in mind that these Apostles also believed in the Warrior Messiah. After the occurrences in the Temple and Jesus comments about not one stone of the building would be left standing, they anticipated exciting things were about to happen shortly. They did not yet understand there would be a second coming.
What will be the sign of your coming?
What will be the sign of the end of the age?
When will these be accomplished?
DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM (THIS GENERATION)
MATTHEW 4-24, MARK 5-24, LUKE 8-24
And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ, I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’, and they will lead many astray. Do not go after them.
Jesus gives them something a little different than specific answers to the questions they put to him. He had a habit of answering what was the real issue at hand.
As I have said previously, we are treading on Christopher Mantai area of expertise here, not mine. If you want to get deeper into prophesy, then take in Jake McCandless and Christopher’s Endtime Church online or "The Wings of the Eagle". However, I will make some amateurish attempt to explain what Jesus says here, most of which is in Matthew 24 and 25.
Keep in mind prophesy often has duel meaning. A lot of this concerns the fate of Israel, much of which has already occurred, although it hadn’t yet when Jesus predicted it. Some of what is said can applies to the Last Days. There are also things that are historic, which also speak of a future end times event. For instance, the Abomination of Desolation when that is spoken of later.
In Matthew 24:6-8, he tells of things that will happen that obviously would require some time, so there will not be some immediate resolution as many anticipated when the Messiah came. This also incorporates Mark 13:5-8 and Luke 21:9-11.
“And when you will hear of wars and rumors of wars, and tumults see that you are not alarmed, do not be terrified. For this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes and pestilences in various places. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
It would have to take some passage of time for nations to war against each other, and for there to be earthquakes, famines and pestilences in varied place. But what various places should we be looking at, especially in regard to nations and wars.?
For consideration, we have had a lot of sabre rattling between nations lately. North Korea threatened to wipe out Guam, then the United States told Kim Jong Un he’d be met with fire and fury. Russia has bragged about it’s superior military capibilities, daring the United States, Britain and Franch to get aggressive, saying Russia would shoot their misseles out of the sky. After bombing Syria, Trump ridiculed Putin’s claims. Do you think Jesus was referring to these nations against nations?
I do not want to get into “Biblical Geography” other than
Keep your eyes on Israel and the Middle East, especially movements by Turkey and Iran, and what is playing out in Syria in the north, plus the alliance between Egypt and Saudi Arabia in the South. The activities of countries outside that area around Israel is fairly irrelevant. Americans may think we’re the center of the world, but the United States isn’t. Get over it.
Now Jesus kind of answers the questions, without specifically mentioning the fate of the Temple and of Jerusalem. He gave them no specific answer as to when. He talks much more about coming persecutions. Remember, Jesus is telling this directly to Andrew, Peter, James and John, even though what he spoke about will apply to all the disciples in the immediate future and will extend to all believers eventually.
“But be on your guard. But before all this…”
Before all this what?
Before the Temple and Jerusalem are destroyed and before the Antichrist appears on the scene. This is the period after Jesus ascends and the Apostles begin building His church on Earth and spreading the Gospel outside of Israel. This will cover essentially the events from Pentecost through beyond our day, at least I think it does.
Before the Temple and Jerusalem are destroyed and before the Antichrist appears on the scene. This is the period after Jesus ascends and the Apostles begin building His church on Earth and spreading the Gospel outside of Israel. This will cover essentially the events from Pentecost through beyond our day, at least I think it does.
Matthew 24:9, Mark 13:9-11, Luke 21:12-16
“Before all this, they will lay their hands on you and
“And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.
You can see how after the crucifixion of Christ this is exactly what happened to the Apostles and early Christians. Starting with Stephen, who was stoned, they would be beaten, imprisoned and martyred. And we also find them standing before officials where they boldly testified of Christ. The persecution of Christians would grow. It is still growing in our time and the same exhortation to speak boldly while depending on the Holy Spirit still applies.
Then on April 14, 70 AD, which happened to be during Passover, the Roman army under General Titus began a siege of Jerusalem. Titus was the son of the Roman Emperor, Vespasian. the Temple was destroyed and Jerusalem sacked by the Romans. Under orders from Titus, the Temple was set afire and the sanctuary destroyed.
And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends. And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and some of you they will put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name's sake.
But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Those believers of Christ who endure all this suffering will not perish but gain life. Keep in mind not perishing does not mean not being martyred on Earth. Physical death may just be one more suffering to be endured. If you endure to the end, and put your faith in Christ, you will be saved.
In none of this has Jesus really answered the three questions his Apostles asked. Their questions had been triggered by his comment about the destruction of the Temple, because they expected everything was about to happen soon. Without saying it directly he has indicated it will not be soon, but over a long period of time. There will be wars and rumors of wars. There will be various earthquakes, famines and other terrors, and all these things are just the beginning of birth pangs.
He then explains what will happen to them, how they will be persecuted. But in this they will spread the Gospel. He never specifically tells how the Temple will be destroyed after the Romans sack Jerusalem, he just hints at the lawlessness and betrayals that will grow in the days afterward up until the Abomination of Desolation, which will occur 3 ½ years into the final seven years.
The Abomination of Desolation
Now we come to The Abomination of Desolation. This phrase originates from words in Daniel 9:27:
And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”
There are also reference to the “abomination” in Daniel
Now, I believe, we can see a once and future prophesy here.
This event is expected to happen halfway through what we call the Tribulation, the final seven weeks of Daniel. The Jews have seen their Religious practice removed from them, no Temple anywhere to do sacrifices. They have been dispersed out of their home country and Israel has disappeared off the map. They have suffered almost extermination at the hands of Hitler and others, and then miraculously, Israel is restored back to the Jews. They once again become a strong country, but every year since 1948 has been a struggle against enemies who wish to annihilate them as a people.
By the way, Israel began celebrating their 70th anniversary on Thursday April 19, 2018.
A strong ruler will arise among the enemy countries that surround Israel and he makes a treaty with the Jews promising them safety and security. They are allowed to rebuild the Temple and once again practice their religion. Just as the Jews feel peace has come, the Abomination of Desolation happens.
There was a historical event in 168 BC that critics tend to point to as fulfilling Daniel’s prophesy. Antiochus IV Epiphanes (pictured left), a Greek king, after being defeated in a war with Egypt, attacked Jerusalem. He executed many Jews, determined to exterminate them. He defiled the Temple by erecting an alter to Jupiter in the Holy of Holies and slaughtering a pig upon it. He went on to ban Temple worship, outlawed circumcision and ordered death to any who practiced it. He had all copies of the scripture destroyed that could be found and sold thousands of Jewish families into slavery. His actions led to the Maccabean Revolt.
Antiochus may have prefigured the Antichrist, but it is silly to try to think of him as the Abomination of Desecration spoken about by Daniel or by Christ. Jesus is speaking of a future event, not something that occurred in the distant past. Christ also makes it clear that the future event he speaks of is the one spoken of by Daniel.
Matthew 24:15–24, Mark13:14-24, Luke 21:20-23
“ But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
“And let those who are inside the city depart. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down nor enter his house to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance to fulfill all that is written. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For in those days there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world, from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, no, and never will be. For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect whom he chose, those days will be cut short.
Those believers of Christ who endure all this suffering will not perish but gain life. Keep in mind not perishing does not mean not being martyred on Earth. Physical death may just be one more suffering to be endured. If you endure to the end, you will be saved.
“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’, do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
END OF THE WORLD
MATTHEW 24: 25-35, MARK13: 24-33, LUKE 21: 24-33
“But be on guard. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
There is disagreement on this last sentence. For one thing, what is translated here as vultures could also be translated as eagles. That could give a different meaning to the statement. However, the word translated corpse can only be translated as that or dead body or carcass. It can also be taken as the fallen. Jesus is probably speaking of the lost here.
Matthew 24:29-31, Mark 13:24-27, Luke 21:25-31
The Coming of the Son of Man
But in those days, immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven. And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves; people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. And the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
And he told them a parable: “From the fig tree and all the trees learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves you see for yourselves and you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things taking place, you know that he is near, that the kingdom of God is near at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
BE ALERT FOR THAT DAY
MATTHEW 34-36, MARK 34-37, LUKE 25-34
MATTHEW 34-36, MARK 34-37, LUKE 25-34
No One Knows That Day and Hour
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
MATTHEW 25:1-13
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Notice that the Virgins were together when the Bridegroom came. This takes my mind to the Parable of the weeds in Matthew 13:24-30.
He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”
The wheat was not removed from the field, but grew alongside the weeds, enjoying the sunny days and enduring the storms together. This was the case until harvest time and then and only then did Christ have the two separated.
Matthew 25:14-46
The Parable of the Talents
“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.
Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
The Final Judgment
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
LEADERS IN JERUSALEM PLOT HIS DEATH
MATTHEW 26:1-5, MARK 14:1-2. LUKE 22:1-2
When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover. Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, . But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
JESUS HONORED AT BETHANY
MATTHEW 26:6-13, MARK 14:3-9, JOHN 12:2-8
And Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, so they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, of pure nard very costly, and she broke the flask and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why this waste like that? And they scolded her.
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, She has done what she could; she has anointed my body before hand to prepare me for burial. And Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
I had done a study on Mary and Martha of Bethany earlier this year. It became kind of a joke about how Martha was always serving meals, while Mary put her attention on Jesus. Here again, Martha is doing works while Mary gives worship.
Mary and Martha’s brother was Lazarus, who Jesus had raised from the dead, and he was also in attendance.
Mary comes in and breaks open an expensive flask of pure nard, also called spikenard. It is an aromatic amber-colored essential oil from a plant that grows in the Himalayas of China, Nepal and India.
Alabaster is a hard stone resembling white marble. Alabaster was made into containers to hold ointments to keep them pure. Once the vessel was broken that was it. You only got to use the perfume once.
Mary comes in and breaks open an expensive flask of pure nard, also called spikenard. It is an aromatic amber-colored essential oil from a plant that grows in the Himalayas of China, Nepal and India.
Alabaster is a hard stone resembling white marble. Alabaster was made into containers to hold ointments to keep them pure. Once the vessel was broken that was it. You only got to use the perfume once.
Also this anointing is not an anointing of Jesus’ priesthood, but, as he points out, an anointing of his body for burial.
Her pouring this on Jesus causes a bit of a fuss because of the value of the nard. When it says Jesus is aware of this, it is the bickering about her act and he tells them to leave her alone.
Notice how Judas knows the actual value of this nard. This shows his interest in money. The raising of Lazarus was the reason for this party being given and this party was the reason Judas used for betraying Jesus. It was not any concern for the poor, but how much he would have been able to skim off the top if it was sold.
JUDAS BETRAYS JESUS TO THE JEWISH LEADERS
MATTHEW 26:14-16, MARK 14:10-11, LUKE 22:3-6
Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” They were glad and promised to give him money. And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And he sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.
Recall, the Religious leaders had posted that a reward would be paid to anyone who could show them where Jesus was when away from the crowds. This was done before Jesus even traveled up to Jerusalem for the Passover. Remember how the people wondered if he would even show up because there was a price on his head. Judas didn’t go blindly to the Priests hoping they might reward him; he already knew the offer stood. He just did know how much they might give.
Where did this thirty pieces of silver come from?
It is found in Exodus 22: 32 and sets the value of a slave gored by an ox.
If the ox gores a slave, male or female, the owner shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.
Thirty pieces of silver at that time was worth about $325. To the rich of that day, like the Sadducees and the Pharisees this was not very much. To a poor person it would be a good bit, perhaps half a year’s wages.
We find reference to thirty pieces of silver in Zechariah 11:12-13:
12 Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver.13 Then the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the lordly price at which I was priced by them. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord, to the potter.
Any of that sound familiar?
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