John 12:6

Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses Judas’s objection to Mary’s anointing, clarifying that the disciple’s complaint about the poor was not genuine concern but a cover for his theft. This occurs immediately after Judas questions why the costly perfume was not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor.

The words — ὅτι (hoti) translates as “because,” directly linking Judas’s spoken objection to his hidden motive, while πτωχῶν (ptōchōn) means “poor,” the group he falsely claimed to represent.

The thread — The text’s exposure of pious pretense echoes Psalms 50:16’s warning to those who recite God’s statutes while living wickedly, while John 13:29 confirms Judas’s role as money bag keeper and James 2:6 notes how the poor are routinely dishonored by the powerful.

Why it lands — The passage demands that readers evaluate religious claims by examining the speaker’s actual conduct rather than accepting outward expressions of piety at face value.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Psalms 50:16 To the wicked, however, God says, “What right have you to recite My statutes and to bear My covenant on your lips?
John 13:29 Since Judas kept the money bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.
James 2:6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?
James 2:2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
2 Kings 5:20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman, by not accepting what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”
1 Corinthians 6:10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 2:10 They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
2 Kings 12:14 Instead, it was paid to those doing the work, and with it they repaired the house of the LORD.
Ezra 8:24 Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, together with Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers,
Psalms 14:1 For the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good.