The Expositor's Bible: The Gospel of St John, Vol. II. Dods Marcus

devil of covetousness that was cast out for a while returned and brought with him seven devils worse than himself. There was everything in his position to win him to unworldliness: the men he lived with cared not one whit for comforts or anything that money could buy; but instead of catching their spirit he took advantage of their carelessness. He was in a public position, liable to detection; but this, instead of making him honest perforce, made him only the more crafty and studiedly hypocritical. The solemn warnings of Christ, so far from intimidating him, only made him more skilful in evading all good influence, and made the road to hell easier. The position he enjoyed, and by which he might have been for ever enrolled among the foremost of mankind, one of the twelve foundations of the eternal city, he so skilfully misused that the greatest sinner feels glad that he has yet not been left to commit the sin of Judas. Had Judas not followed Christ he could never have attained the pinnacle of infamy on which he now for ever stands. In all probability he would have passed his days as a small trader with false weights in the little town of Kerioth, or, at the worst, might have developed into an extortionous publican, and have passed into oblivion with the thousands of unjust men who have died and been at last forced to let go the money that should long ago have belonged to others. Or had Judas followed Christ truly, then there lay before him the noblest of all lives, the most blessed of destinies. But he followed Christ and yet took his sin with him: and thence his ruin.

      1

      It is uncertain whether the “six days” are inclusive or exclusive of the day of arrival and of the first day of the Feast. It is also uncertain on what day of the week the Crucifixion happened.

      2

      In The Classical Review for July 1890 Mr. Bennett suggests that the difficult word πιστικῆς should be written πιστακῆς, and that it refers to the Pistacia terebinthus, which grows in Cyprus and Judæa, and yields a very fragrant and very costly unguent.

      3

      So Stier.

      4

      This is more distinctly brought out in the Synoptic Gospels than in St. John: cp. Mark xi. 1–10.

      5

      According to the reading of the scene by St. John, the people needed no prompting.

      6

      See iii. 14.

      7

      Compare Mark vi. 2, γενομένου σαββάτου; and the Latin “posita mensa.”

      8

      See ver. 2.

1

It is uncertain whether the “six days” are inclusive or exclusive of the day of arrival and of the first day of the Feast. It is also uncertain on what day of the week the Crucifixion happened.

2

In The Classical Review for July 1890 Mr. Bennett suggests that the difficult word πιστικῆς should be written πιστακῆς, and that it refers to the Pistacia terebinthus, which grows in Cyprus and Judæa, and yields a very fragrant and very costly unguent.

3

So Stier.

4

This is more distinctly brought out in the Synoptic Gospels than in St. John: cp. Mark xi. 1–10.

5

According to the reading of the scene by St. John, the people needed no prompting.

6

See iii. 14.

7

Compare Mark vi. 2, γενομένου σαββάτου; and the Latin “posita mensa.”

8

See ver. 2.

9

ὑπολύετε, παῖδες, καὶ ἀπονίζετε.

10

The “tûsht” and “ibrîek” of modern Palestine.

11

For the formal Foot-washing by the Lord High Almoner, the Pope, or other officials, see Augustine’s Letters LV.; Herzog art. Fusswaschung; Smith’s Dict. of Christian Antiq. art. Maundy Thursday.

12

More exactly, £3 10 8, the legal value of a slave.