Judas had a high opinion of his own executive ability. As a financier he thought himself greatly superior to his fellow disciples, and he had led them to regard him in the same light. He had gained their confidence, and had a strong influence over them. His professed sympathy for the poor deceived them, and his artful insinuation caused them to look 560 distrustfully upon Mary's devotion. The murmur passed round the table, "To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor."

Judas havde høje tanker om sin egen overlegne dygtighed. Han mente, at han havde langt bedre forstand på pengesager end de andre disciple, og han havde fået dem til at mene det samme. Han havde vundet deres tillid og havde megen indflydelse over dem. Hans foregivne medfølelse med de fattige narrede dem, og hans snedige indledning fik dem til at betragte Marias fromme handling med mistillid. Nu lød det rundt om hele bordet: "Hvad skal den ødselhed til? Denne salve kunne jo være solgt for mange penge og givet til de fattige."