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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 21:1-4

This short passage of story we had before in Mark. It is thus recorded twice, to teach us, 1. That charity to the poor is a main matter in religion. Our Lord Jesus took all occasions to commend it and recommend it. He had just mentioned the barbarity of the scribes, who devoured poor widows (Luke 20:1-47); and perhaps this is designed as an aggravation of it, that the poor widows were the best benefactors to the public funds, of which the scribes had the disposal. 2. That Jesus Christ has his... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 21:1-4

21:1-4 Jesus looked up and saw those who were putting their gifts into the treasury--rich people--and he saw a poor widow putting in two lepta. So he said, "I tell you truly that this poor widow has put in more than all, for all these contributed to the gifts out of their abundance, but she, out of her need, has put in everything she had to live on." In the Court of the Women in the Temple there were thirteen collecting boxes known as the Trumpets. They were shaped like trumpets with the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 21:3

And he said ,.... To his disciples, as the Ethiopic version adds; these he called to him, upon this occasion, as appears from Mark 12:43 of a truth I say unto you, that this poor woman hath cast in more than they all : than all the rich men; not in quantity, but in proportion to her ability; See Gill on Mark 12:43 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 21:1-4

The widow ' s mite. We find this little sketch only here and in St. Mark ( Mark 12:41-44 ). The Master was sitting—resting, probably, after the effort of the great denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees—in the covered colonnade of that part of the temple which was open to the Jewish women. Here was the treasury, with its thirteen boxes in the wall, for the reception of the alms of the people. These boxes were called shopheroth, or trumpets, because they were shaped like... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 21:1-4

Worth in the estimate of wisdom. What is the real worth of a human action? Surely, to us who are acting every wakeful hour of life, a very serious question. How shall we decide that an action of ours is worthy or unworthy, and what is the standard by which we shall estimate the comparative excellence of worthy deeds? Our text gives us one principle by which to judge. There are, however, two others which are essentially Christian, that should be placed in the foreground. Acts are worthy— ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 21:1-4

See this explained in the notes at Mark 12:41-44.Luke 21:4Penury - Poverty. See this explained in the notes at Mark 12:41-44. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 21:1-4

Luke 21:1-4. And he looked up From those on whom his eyes were fixed before; and saw the rich men casting their gifts, &c. See on Mark 12:41. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Luke 21:1-4

130. The widow’s offering (Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4)In one of the courts of the temple were large containers into which people dropped their gifts of money. The containers were in an open place, and onlookers could easily see how much people put in. Also, those who gave a lot could easily attract attention to themselves. Jesus noticed that some of the rich gave generously, but a poor widow gave an amount so small that it was almost of no value in the local market place (Mark 12:41-42).Jesus,... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Luke 21:3

3. And he said—"to His disciples," whom He "called to Him" ( :-), to teach from it a great future lesson. more than . . . all—in proportion to her means, which is God's standard ( :-). read more

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