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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
And whence had they this thought? They used to hear their Master saying, "I will have mercy, and not sacrifice," and blaming the Jews, because they omitted the weightier matters, judgment, and mercy, and faith, and discoursing much on the mount concerning almsgiving, and from these things they inferred with themselves, and reasoned, that if He accepts not whole burnt offerings, neither the ancient worship, much more will He not accept the anointing of oil.
Theophylact of Ohrid
Since the disciples had heard much about almsgiving and had given it much consideration, they found fault with the woman, thinking that God desired mercy towards others more than honor for Himself.
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
We may however understand that the other disciples thought or said the same, or that they assented to what Judas said, and thus Matthew and Mark have described their common consent. But Judas said it because he was a thief, the others out of their care for the poor; and John desired to mention it only in the case of him whose thievish propensity he thought ought to be recorded.
Jerome
But when the disciples saw this, they were indignant and said, "Why this waste? This could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor." I know that some criticize this passage, questioning why only one evangelist, Judas, is mentioned as being upset, when it is said that all the apostles were indignant. They do not understand the figure of speech known as synecdoche, by which one person can be used to represent all, or one can be used to represent many. …
Thomas Aquinas
Then follows the reproach of the woman: and the disciples seeing it, had indignation. But here there is an objection, because John 12 says that Judas alone said it, while this text says all of them. There is a twofold response according to Jerome: because what is said here, that the disciples said it, is said by synecdoche: the disciples, i.e., a disciple, and this manner of speaking is customary in Scripture; Hebrews 11:37: they were cut asunder, because one was cut asunder, namely, only Isaiah. …
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