The Meaning of Mark 14:7 Explained

Mark 14:7

KJV: For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

YLT: for the poor always ye have with you, and whenever ye may will ye are able to do them good, but me ye have not always;

Darby: for ye have the poor always with you, and whenever ye would ye can do them good; but me ye have not always.

ASV: For ye have the poor always with you, and whensoever ye will ye can do them good: but me ye have not always.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  ye have  the poor  with  you  always,  and  whensoever  ye will  ye may  do  them  good:  but  me  ye have  not  always. 

What does Mark 14:7 Mean?

Context Summary

Mark 14:1-16 - An Offering Of Love
This beautiful incident took place on the Tuesday evening of Passion Week, while the chief priests were gathered in the house of Caiaphas to plot the Lord's death, Matthew 26:3-5. Simon had probably been healed by Jesus, and the feast was held in his house, as being larger than Martha's. Jesus was intimate with Lazarus and his sisters, and this unnamed woman was Mary, John 12:2-3. Alabaster resembled white marble, and the perfume was carefully sealed to preserve it. Its cost would amount to about fifty dollars, and would represent the work of three hundred days, Matthew 20:2. Loveless hearts cannot understand the expenditure of love-they count it waste; but how quickly Jesus steps in to vindicate His own! Probably, of all His followers, Mary alone had understood His references to His death, and as she could not be present to perform the last offices of love, she rendered them in advance. Judas, who led the murmuring, seems to have been goaded to this act by the contrast of Mary's spirit with his own, and by Christ's gentle rebuke.
The two sent to prepare the Passover were Peter and John, Luke 22:8. We may often be guided by very trivial incidents-let us look out for them. A straw may indicate the direction of the current. The owner of the room was probably a secret disciple of Jesus, like him who lent the ass. The r.v. says, "my guest-chamber." It is very beautiful when the Master feels free to put His hand on our possessions, and claim their use. Does he not ask for the guest chamber of our inner life? Is it at His disposal? [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 14

1  A conspiracy against Jesus
3  Expensive perfume is poured on his head by a woman
10  Judas sells his Master for money
12  Jesus himself foretells how he will be betrayed by one of his disciples;
22  after the passover prepared, and eaten, institutes his last supper;
26  declares beforehand the flight of all his disciples, and Peter's denial
43  Judas betrays him with a kiss
46  Jesus is apprehended in the garden;
53  falsely accused and impiously condemned of the council;
65  shamefully abused by them;
66  and thrice denied by Peter

Greek Commentary for Mark 14:7

And whensoever ye will, etc []
Note Mark's amplification. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 14:7

Matthew 26:75 He went out and wept bitterly [εχελτων εχω εκλαυσεν πικρως]
Luke adds that the Lord turned and looked upon Peter (Luke 22:61). That look brought Peter back to his senses. He could not stay where he now was with the revilers of Jesus. He did not feel worthy or able to go openly into the hall where Jesus was. So outside he went with a broken heart. The constative aorist here does not emphasize as Mark‘s imperfect does (Mark 14:72, εκλαιεν — eklaien) the continued weeping that was now Peter‘s only consolation. The tears were bitter, all the more so by reason of that look of understanding pity that Jesus gave him. One of the tragedies of the Cross is the bleeding heart of Peter. Judas was a total wreck and Peter was a near derelict. Satan had sifted them all as wheat, but Jesus had prayed specially for Peter (Luke 22:31.). Will Satan show Peter to be all chaff as Judas was? [source]
Mark 11:21 Peter calling to remembrance [αναμνηστεις ο Πετρος]
First aorist participle, being reminded. Only in Mark and due to Peter‘s story. For his quick memory see also Mark 14:72. [source]
Mark 14:68 What thou sayest [συ τι λεγεις]
Can be understood as a direct question. Note position of thou Only here in the New Testament. Plato uses it of a prelude on a flute. It occurs also in the plural for preparations the day before the wedding. Here it means the vestibule to the court. Matthew 26:71 has πυλωνα — pulōna a common word for gate or front porch.And the cock crew Omitted by Aleph B L Sinaitic Syriac. It is genuine in Mark 14:72 where “the second time” (εκ δευτερου — ek deuterou) occurs also. It is possible that because of Mark 14:72 it crept into Mark 14:68. Mark alone alludes to the cock crowing twice, originally (Mark 14:30), and twice in Mark 14:72, besides Mark 14:68 which is hardly genuine. [source]
Mark 14:68 thou [συ]
Only here in the New Testament. Plato uses it of a prelude on a flute. It occurs also in the plural for preparations the day before the wedding. Here it means the vestibule to the court. Matthew 26:71 has πυλωνα — pulōna a common word for gate or front porch.And the cock crew Omitted by Aleph B L Sinaitic Syriac. It is genuine in Mark 14:72 where “the second time” (εκ δευτερου — ek deuterou) occurs also. It is possible that because of Mark 14:72 it crept into Mark 14:68. Mark alone alludes to the cock crowing twice, originally (Mark 14:30), and twice in Mark 14:72, besides Mark 14:68 which is hardly genuine. [source]
Mark 14:68 And the cock crew [και αλεκτωρ επωνησεν]
Omitted by Aleph B L Sinaitic Syriac. It is genuine in Mark 14:72 where “the second time” (εκ δευτερου — ek deuterou) occurs also. It is possible that because of Mark 14:72 it crept into Mark 14:68. Mark alone alludes to the cock crowing twice, originally (Mark 14:30), and twice in Mark 14:72, besides Mark 14:68 which is hardly genuine. [source]
Mark 14:69 To them that stood by [τοις παρεστωσιν]
This talk about Peter was overheard by him. “This fellow (ουτος — houtos) is one of them.” So in Mark 14:70 the talk is directly to Peter as in Matthew 26:73, but in Luke 22:59 it is about him. Soon the bystanders (οι παρεστωτες — hoi parestōtes) will join in the accusation to Peter (Mark 14:70; Matthew 26:73), with the specially pungent question in John 18:26 which was the climax. See notes on Matthew 26:69-75 for discussion of similar details. [source]
John 18:26 Did not I see thee in the garden with him? [ουκ εγω σε ειδον εν τωι κηπωι μετ αυτου]
This staggering and sudden thrust expects an affirmative answer by the use of ουκ — ouk not μη — mē as in John 18:17, John 18:25, but Peter‘s previous denials with the knowledge that he was observed by a kinsman of Malchus whom he had tried to kill (John 18:10) drove him to the third flat denial that he knew Jesus, this time with cursing and swearing (Mark 14:71; Matthew 26:73). Peter was in dire peril now of arrest himself for attempt to kill. Straightway As in Matthew 26:74 while Luke has παραχρημα — parachrēma (Luke 22:60). Mark (Mark 14:68, Mark 14:72) speaks of two crowings as often happens when one cock crows. See Matthew 26:34 for αλεκτωρ — alektōr (cock). That was usually the close of the third watch of the night (Mark 13:35), about 3 a.m. Luke 22:61 notes that Jesus turned and looked on Peter probably as he passed from the rooms of Annas to the trial before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin (the ecclesiastical court). See Mrs. Browning‘s beautiful sonnets on “The Look”. [source]
Acts 2:7 Galilaeans []
Not regarded as a sect, for the name was not given to Christians until afterward; but with reference to their nationality. They used a peculiar dialect, which distinguished them from the inhabitants of Judaea. Compare Mark 14:70. They were blamed for neglecting the study of their language, and charged with errors in grammar and ridiculous mispronunciations. [source]
Acts 2:7 Marvelled [εταυμαζον]
Imperfect active. The wonder grew and grew. Galileans (Γαλιλαιοι — Galilaioi). There were few followers of Jesus as yet from Jerusalem. The Galileans spoke a rude Aramaic (Mark 14:70) and probably crude Greek vernacular also. They were not strong on language and yet these are the very people who now show such remarkable linguistic powers. These people who have come together are all Jews and therefore know Aramaic and the vernacular Koiné, but there were various local tongues “wherein we were born” (εν ηι εγεννητημεν — en hēi egennēthēmen). An example is the Lycaonian (Acts 14:11). These Galilean Christians are now heard speaking these various local tongues. The lists in Acts 2:9-11 are not linguistic, but geographical and merely illustrate how widespread the Dispersion (Διασπορα — Diaspora) of the Jews was as represented on this occasion. Jews were everywhere, these “Jews among the nations” (Acts 21:21). Page notes four main divisions here: (I) The Eastern or Babylonian, like the Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamians. (2) The Syrian like Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia. (3) The Egyptian like Egypt, Libya, Cyrene. (4) The Roman. Jews and proselytes These last from προσερχομαι — proserchomai to come to, to join, Gentile converts to Judaism (circumcision, baptism, sacrifice). This proselyte baptism was immersion as is shown by I. Abrahams (Studies in Pharisaism and the Gospels, p. 38). Many remained uncircumcised and were called proselytes of the gate. [source]
Acts 2:7 Galileans [Γαλιλαιοι]
There were few followers of Jesus as yet from Jerusalem. The Galileans spoke a rude Aramaic (Mark 14:70) and probably crude Greek vernacular also. They were not strong on language and yet these are the very people who now show such remarkable linguistic powers. These people who have come together are all Jews and therefore know Aramaic and the vernacular Koiné, but there were various local tongues “wherein we were born” An example is the Lycaonian (Acts 14:11). These Galilean Christians are now heard speaking these various local tongues. The lists in Acts 2:9-11 are not linguistic, but geographical and merely illustrate how widespread the Dispersion Page notes four main divisions here: (I) The Eastern or Babylonian, like the Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamians. (2) The Syrian like Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia. (3) The Egyptian like Egypt, Libya, Cyrene. (4) The Roman. [source]
Acts 23:12 Bound themselves under a curse [ανετεματισαν εαυτους]
First aorist active indicative of ανατεματιζω — anathematizō a late word, said by Cremer and Thayer to be wholly Biblical or ecclesiastical. But Deissmann (Light from the Ancient East, p. 95) quotes several examples of the verb in an Attic cursing tablet from Megara of the first or second century a.d. This proof shows that the word, as well as ανατεμα — anathema (substantive) from which the verb is derived, was employed by pagans as well as by Jews. Deissmann suggests that Greek Jews like the seven sons of Sceva may have been the first to coin it. It occurs in the lxx as well as Mark 14:71 (which see and Luke 21:5); Acts 23:12, Acts 23:14, Acts 23:21. They placed themselves under an anathema or curse, devoted themselves to God (cf. Leviticus 27:28.; 1 Corinthians 16:22). Drink (πεινπιειν — pein̂piein). Second aorist active infinitive of πινω — pinō For this shortened form see Robertson, Grammar, p. 343. Till they had killed First aorist active subjunctive of αποκτεινω — apokteinō common verb. No reason to translate “had killed,” simply “till they should kill,” the aorist merely punctiliar action, the subjunctive retained instead of the optative for vividness as usual in the Koiné{[28928]}š (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 974-6). Same construction in Acts 23:14. King Saul took an “anathema” that imperilled Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:24). Perhaps the forty felt that the rabbis could find some way to absolve the curse if they failed. See this verse repeated in Acts 23:21. [source]
Revelation 22:3 There shall be no curse any more [παν κατατεμα ουκ εσται ετι]
No other example of κατατεμα — katathema has been found outside of the Didache XVI. 5, though the verb κατατεματιζω — katathematizō occurs in Matthew 26:74, meaning to curse, while we have ανατεματιζω — anathematizō in Mark 14:71 in the same sense. It may be a syncopated form of κατανατεμα — katanathema The usual ανατεμα — anathema (curse) occurs in 1 Corinthians 16:22; Galatians 1:8; Romans 9:3. For παν — pan with ουκουδεν — ouk =λατρευσουσιν αυτωι — ouden see Revelation 21:27. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 14:7 mean?

Always for the poor you have with you and whenever you desire you are able them always good to do Me however not do you have
πάντοτε γὰρ τοὺς πτωχοὺς ἔχετε μεθ’ ἑαυτῶν καὶ ὅταν θέλητε δύνασθε αὐτοῖς (πάντοτε) εὖ ποιῆσαι ἐμὲ δὲ οὐ ἔχετε

πάντοτε  Always 
Parse: Adverb
Root: πάντοτε  
Sense: at all times, always, ever.
πτωχοὺς  poor 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: πτωχός  
Sense: reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms.
ἔχετε  you  have 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.
ὅταν  whenever 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅταν  
Sense: when, whenever, as long as, as soon as.
θέλητε  you  desire 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: θέλω  
Sense: to will, have in mind, intend.
δύνασθε  you  are  able 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: δύναμαι  
Sense: to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom.
(πάντοτε)  always 
Parse: Adverb
Root: πάντοτε  
Sense: at all times, always, ever.
εὖ  good 
Parse: Adverb
Root: εὖ 
Sense: to be well off, fare well, prosper.
ποιῆσαι  to  do 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
ἐμὲ  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ἔχετε  do  you  have 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.