Luk 21:1-4 | JFB | STEP | 1. looked up —He had "sat down over against the treasury" ( ), probably to rest, for He had continued long standing as he taught in the temple court ( ), and "looking up He saw"—as in Zaccheus' case, not quite casually. the rich, &c.—"the people," says "cast money into the treasury, and many rich east in much"; that is, into chests deposited in one of the courts of the temple to receive the offerings of the people towards its maintenance ( ).

Luke 21:1-4

1. looked up—He had "sat down over against the treasury" (Mr 12:41), probably to rest, for He had continued long standing as he taught in the temple court (Mr 11:27), and "looking up He saw"—as in Zaccheus' case, not quite casually.

the rich, &c.—"the people," says Mr 12:41 "cast money into the treasury, and many rich east in much"; that is, into chests deposited in one of the courts of the temple to receive the offerings of the people towards its maintenance (2Ki 12:9; Joh 8:20).

2. two mites—"which make a farthing" (Mr 12:42), the smallest Jewish coin. "She might have kept one" [BENGEL].

3. And he said—"to His disciples," whom He "called to Him" (Mr 12:43), to teach from it a great future lesson.

more than . . . all—in proportion to her means, which is God's standard (2Co 8:12).

4. of their abundance—their superfluity; what they had to spare," or beyond what they needed.

of her penury—or "want" (Mr 12:44) —her deficiency, of what was less than her own wants required, "all the living she had." Mark (Mr 12:44) still more emphatically, "all that she had—her whole subsistence." Note: (1) As temple offerings are needed still for the service of Christ at home and abroad, so "looking down" now, as then "up," Me "sees" who "cast in," and how much. (2) Christ's standard of commendable offering is not our superfluity, but our deficiency—not what will never be missed, but what costs us some real sacrifice, and just in proportion to the relative amount of that sacrifice. (See 2Co 8:1-3.)

Lu 21:5-38. CHRIST'S PROPHECY OF THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM AND WARNINGS TO PREPARE FOR HIS SECOND COMING, SUGGESTED BY IT—HIS DAYS AND NIGHTS DURING HIS LAST WEEK.