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John 12:6

ESV He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
NIV He 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 help himself to what was put into it.
NASB Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he kept the money box, he used to steal from what was put into it.
CSB He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.
NLT Not that he cared for the poor — he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.
KJV 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.
NKJV This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

What does John 12:6 mean?

Judas has criticized Mary's act of sacrificial worship: using up most of her life savings, in the form of an expensive oil, to anoint and honor Jesus (John 12:1–3). His critique is phrased in a very logical way, noting that she used up 300 denarii worth of resources. This was the equivalent of almost a year's wages for the common laborer. It's a fact beyond argument that such a sum could have been used to feed many poor people. As others nod in agreement (Mark 14:3–11), he complains that this was a waste.

This verse explains the real motivation behind Judas' reaction, almost certainly one that John did not realize until after Judas' lies were found out (Matthew 27:3–7). As the group treasurer, Judas was able to skim money whenever he wanted. The "waste" he sees here is money that could have gone into his own pocket being poured onto the feet of Jesus.

Judas' motivations here are especially crude. However, the tendency to snipe at the service of others is common, even if there is an element of fact to be argued. When someone does "too much," according to another's opinion, the assumption is always that it's a "waste." To be fair, maybe some of those acts are wasteful—but that's a judgment to be made by God, through His knowledge (1 Samuel 16:7), and not ours (John 7:24). When others are sincerely led to give or sacrifice or serve, we should focus on honoring their intentions, rather than grousing about what we would have done differently.

Jesus will defend Mary in the next verses, noting these are unusual circumstances (John 12:7–8). His reference to the fact that "the poor you always have with you" is not a dismissal of poverty, but a statement of fact: these are the last moments Jesus will be with friends like Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.
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