He had indulged a spirit of avarice until it had overpowered every good trait in his character. This act of Mary was in such marked contrast with his selfishness that he was ashamed of his avarice, and sought to attribute his objection to her gift, to a worthier motive. Turning to the disciples he asked, “Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?” Thus he sought to hide his covetousness under apparent sympathy for the poor, when, in reality, he cared nothing for them. {2SP 376.1}

Han havde ladet sig beherske af en gerrigheds ånd, indtil den havde fordærvet enhver god egenskab i hans sjæl. Marias handling stod i stå stærk modsætning til hans egennytte, at han skammede sig ved sin gerrighed og søgte at anføre en mere værdig bevæggrund for sin indvending imod hendes gave. Han vendte sig til disciplene: "Hvorfor er denne salve ikke blevet solgt for trehundrede denarer og givet til de fattige?" (Joh 12,5) Således søgte han at skjule sin gerrighed under tilsyneladende medlidenhed med de fattige, medens han i virkeligheden slet ikke bekymrede sig om dem.