Mark 12:41

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Mark 12:41-44

This passage of story was not in Matthew, but is here and in Luke; it is Christ's commendation of the poor widow, that cast two mites into the treasury, which our Saviour, busy as he was in preaching, found leisure to take notice of. Observe, I. There was a public fund for charity, into which contributions were brought, and out of which distributions were made; a poor?s-box, and this in the temple; for works of charity and works of piety very fitly go together; where God is honoured by our... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Mark 12:41-44

12:41-44 When Jesus had sat down opposite the treasury, he was watching how the crowd threw their money into the treasury, and many rich people threw in large sums. A poor widow woman came and threw in two mites which make up half a farthing. He called his disciples and said to them, "This is the truth I tell you--this poor widow woman has thrown in more than an the people who threw money into the treasury, for all of them threw their contributions in out of their abundance, but she out of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 12:41

And Jesus sat over against the treasury ,.... the Arabic version reads, "at the door of the treasury"; the place where the chests stood, into which money was put for various uses: there were thirteen chests in the temple F4 Misn. Shekalhim, c. 6. sect. 5. & Maimon. & Bartenora in ib. & Moses Kotsensis, Mitzvot Tora, pr. affirm. 44. & Maimon. Hilch. Shekalim, c. 2. sect. 2,3. ; six of them were, לנדבה , for voluntary oblations, or freewill offerings; for what remained... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 12:41

Cast money into the treasury - It is worthy of observation, that the money put into the treasury, even by the rich, is termed by the evangelist χαλκον , brass money, probably that species of small brass coin which was called פרוטה prutah among the Jews, two of which make a farthing, and twenty-four an Italian assarius, which assarius is the twenty-fourth part of a silver penny. We call this, mite, from the French, miete , which signifies a crumb, or very small morsel. The prutah was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 12:41

He sat down over against the treasury ( γαζοφυλάκιον , from γάζα , a Persian word meaning "treasure," and φυλάττειν , to guard). This was the receptacle into which the offerings of the people were east, for the uses of the temple and for the benefit of the priests and of the poor. Hence that part of the temple in which these gifts were kept was called the treasury. He beheld ( ἐθεώρει )—literally, he was beholding ; he was observing— how the multitude πῶς ὁ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 12:41

Jesus lingering in the temple. This is one of the best-known incidents in the life of our Lord. It is strange that it should be so. If we consider the greatness of his work, we should hardly expect that room would be found in a brief record of it for so trivial an event. It was an every-day occurrence for the worshippers who entered the temple to cast their offerings into the treasury, and not a few widows would be found among them. Yet an evangelist, who was inspired of God to select or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 12:41-44

The widow's mite. The presence of this poor widow, among unspiritual and ostentatious worshippers and offerers, is as a sunbeam amidst the gloom, a rose in the wilderness. It is a touching picture, this of the lonely woman, who had lost her husband, and whose heart was sad, whose means were scanty, and whose life was obscure and cheerless. But she had found strength and consolation in waiting upon God. And the temple, the appointed place for worship, with its services, so helpful to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 12:41-44

The widow's two mites. The treasury, "in front of the sanctuary," consisted of thirteen brazen chests, called "trumpets" from their peculiar, shape, "swelling out beneath, and tapering upward into a narrow mouth or opening, into which the contributions were put." The contributions given were towards the sacrifice fund, and they were voluntary. This incident has a deep, permanent interest for all Christians. I. CHRIST 'S OBSERVATION OF RELIGIOUS GIVING . He "sat over against... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 12:41-44

The widow's gift. How many lessons cluster around this unique incident! The watchful eye which is ever over the treasury of the Lord's temple; the discernment between the gifts that come of "superfluity" large turbans in themselves but small in comparison with the abundance left untouched; and the gifts that betoken the penury of the giver, but at the same time declare the entireness with which all his living is devoted to the service of God; and the great Master's principle of judgment.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 12:41-44

The gift of poverty. I. THE MOTIVE MAKES THE ACTION SPIRITUAL. It is mechanical, conventional, without relation to the spiritual sphere, otherwise. II. LOVE MAGNIFIES THE VALUE OF THE SMALLEST GIFT . The flower to the sick person, the penny in the plate, may be worth much. The condition of the world would be indictable without the multitude of such little deeds. III. THE TRUE STANDARD OF WORTH IN LIFE SHOULD BE CLEARLY KEP T IN MIND . We... read more

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