John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. It was [that] Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment , etc.] Not the woman in ( Luke 7:37), as some have thought, whose name is not mentioned, and which history is not related by John at all: but Mary in ( John 12:3), who is both mentioned by name, and along with Lazarus her brother, and with whom all the circumstances of the affair suit; and though the fact was not yet done, yet John writing many years after it was done, and when it was well known, proleptically, and in a parenthesis, takes notice of it here: and wiped his feet with her hair ; instead of a napkin, after she had anointed them with oil; (see Gill on Luke 7:37), (see Gill on John 12:3). Whose brother Lazarus was sick ; this is observed, to show how well they were all acquainted with Christ, and affected to him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - It is no new thing for those whom Christ loves, to be sick; bodil distempers correct the corruption, and try the graces of God's people He came not to preserve his people from these afflictions, but to sav them from their sins, and from the wrath to come; however, it behove us to apply to Him in behalf of our friends and relatives when sick an afflicted. Let this reconcile us to the darkest dealings of Providence that they are all for the glory of God: sickness, loss, disappointment are so; and if God be glorified, we ought to be satisfied. Jesus love Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. The families are greatly favoure in which love and peace abound; but those are most happy whom Jesu loves, and by whom he is beloved. Alas, that this should seldom be the case with every person, even in small families. God has graciou intentions, even when he seems to delay. When the work of deliverance temporal or spiritual, public or personal, is delayed, it does but sta for the right time.
Greek Textus Receptus
ην 2258 5713 V-IXI-3S δε 1161 CONJ μαρια 3137 N-NSF η 3588 T-NSF αλειψασα 218 5660 V-AAP-NSF τον 3588 T-ASM κυριον 2962 N-ASM μυρω 3464 N-DSN και 2532 CONJ εκμαξασα 1591 5660 V-AAP-NSF τους 3588 T-APM ποδας 4228 N-APM αυτου 846 P-GSM ταις 3588 T-DPF θριξιν 2359 N-DPF αυτης 846 P-GSF ης 3739 R-GSF ο 3588 T-NSM αδελφος 80 N-NSM λαζαρος 2976 N-NSM ησθενει 770 5707 V-IAI-3S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
2. Anointed (aleiyasa). Three words for anointing are found in the New Testament: ajleifw, criw, and its compounds, and murizw. The last is used but once, Mark xiv. 8, of anointing the Lord's body for burying. Between the two others the distinction is strictly maintained. Criw, which occurs five times, is used in every case but one of the anointing of the Son by the Father With the Holy Spirit (Luke iv. 18; Acts iv. 27; x. 38; Heb. i. 9). In the remaining instance (2 Cor. i. 21) of enduing Christians with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Thus the word is confined to sacred anointing. 36 Aleifw is used of all actual anointings. See Matthew vi. 17; Mark vi. 13; Luke vii. 38; Jas. v. 14. The same distinction is generally maintained in the Septuagint, though with a few exceptions, as Numbers iii. 3.
