1AndG1161 he looked upG308, and sawG1492 the rich menG4145 castingG906 theirG846 giftsG1435 intoG1519 the treasuryG1049. 2AndG1161 he sawG1492 alsoG2532 a certainG5100 poorG3998 widowG5503 castingG906 in thitherG1563 twoG1417 mitesG3016. 3AndG2532 he saidG2036, Of a truthG230 I sayG3004 unto youG5213, thatG3754 thisG3778 poorG4434 widowG5503 hath castG906 in more thanG4119 they allG3956: 4ForG1063 allG537 theseG3778 have ofG1537 theirG846 abundanceG4052 castG906 in untoG1519 the offeringsG1435 of GodG2316: butG1161 sheG3778 G846 ofG1537 herG846 penuryG5303 hath castG906 in allG537 the livingG979 thatG3739 she hadG2192 . 5AndG2532 as someG5100 spakeG3004 ofG4012 the templeG2411, howG3754 it was adornedG2885 with goodlyG2570 stonesG3037 andG2532 giftsG334, he saidG2036, 6As for these thingsG5023 whichG3739 ye beholdG2334, the daysG2250 will comeG2064, inG1722 the whichG3739 there shallG863 notG3756 be leftG863 one stoneG3037 uponG1909 anotherG3037, thatG3739 shallG2647 notG3756 be thrown downG2647 . 7AndG1161 they askedG1905 himG846, sayingG3004, MasterG1320, butG3767 whenG4219 shallG2071 these thingsG5023 beG2071 ? andG2532 whatG5101 signG4592 will there be whenG3752 these thingsG5023 shallG3195 come to passG1096 ? 8AndG1161 he saidG2036, Take heedG991 that ye beG4105 notG3361 deceivedG4105 : forG1063 manyG4183 shall comeG2064 inG1909 myG3450 nameG3686, sayingG3004,G3754 IG1473 amG1510 Christ; andG2532 the timeG2540 draweth nearG1448 : go yeG4198 notG3361 thereforeG3767 afterG3694 themG846. 9ButG1161 whenG3752 ye shall hearG191 of warsG4171 andG2532 commotionsG181, beG4422 notG3361 terrifiedG4422 : forG1063 these thingsG5023 mustG1163 firstG4412 come to passG1096 ; butG235 the endG5056 is notG3756 by and byG2112. 10ThenG5119 said heG3004 unto themG846, NationG1484 shall riseG1453 againstG1909 nationG1484, andG2532 kingdomG932 againstG1909 kingdomG932: 11AndG5037 greatG3173 earthquakesG4578 shall beG2071 inG2596 divers placesG5117, andG2532 faminesG3042, andG2532 pestilencesG3061; andG5037 fearful sightsG5400 andG2532 greatG3173 signsG4592 shall there beG2071 fromG575 heavenG3772. 12ButG1161 beforeG4253 allG537 theseG5130, they shall layG1911 theirG846 handsG5495 onG1909 youG5209, andG2532 persecuteG1377 you, deliveringG3860 you upG1519 to the synagoguesG4864, andG2532 into prisonsG5438, being broughtG71 beforeG1909 kingsG935 andG2532 rulersG2232 forG1752 myG3450 name'sG3686 sakeG1752. 13AndG1161 it shall turnG576 to youG5213 forG1519 a testimonyG3142. 14SettleG5087 it thereforeG3767 inG1519 yourG5216 heartsG2588, notG3361 to meditate beforeG4304 what ye shall answerG626 : 15ForG1063 IG1473 will giveG1325 youG5213 a mouthG4750 andG2532 wisdomG4678, whichG3739 allG3956 yourG5213 adversariesG480 shallG1410 notG3756 be ableG1410 to gainsayG471 norG3761 resistG436 . 16AndG1161 ye shall be betrayedG3860 bothG2532 byG5259 parentsG1118, andG2532 brethrenG80, andG2532 kinsfolksG4773, andG2532 friendsG5384; andG2532 some ofG1537 youG5216 shall they cause to be put to deathG2289 . 17AndG2532 ye shall beG2071 hatedG3404 ofG5259 allG3956 men forG1223 myG3450 name's sakeG3686. 18ButG2532 there shall notG3364 an hairG2359 ofG1537 yourG5216 headG2776 perishG622 . 19InG1722 yourG5216 patienceG5281 possess yeG2932 yourG5216 soulsG5590. 20AndG1161 whenG3752 ye shall seeG1492 JerusalemG2419 compassedG2944 withG5259 armiesG4760, thenG5119 knowG1097 thatG3754 the desolationG2050 thereofG846 is nighG1448 . 21ThenG5119 let themG5343 which are inG1722 JudaeaG2449 fleeG5343 toG1519 the mountainsG3735; andG2532 let themG1633 which are inG1722 the midstG3319 of itG846 depart outG1633 ; andG2532 letG1525 notG3361 them that are inG1722 the countriesG5561 enterG1525 thereintoG1519 G846. 22ForG3754 theseG3778 beG1526 the daysG2250 of vengeanceG1557, that all thingsG3956 whichG3588 are writtenG1125 may be fulfilledG4137 . 23ButG1161 woeG3759 untoG1722 them that are with childG1064 G2192, andG2532 to them that give suckG2337, inG1722 thoseG1565 daysG2250! forG1063 there shall beG2071 greatG3173 distressG318 inG1909 the landG1093, andG2532 wrathG3709 uponG1722 thisG5129 peopleG2992. 24AndG2532 they shall fallG4098 by the edgeG4750 of the swordG3162, andG2532 shall be led away captiveG163 intoG1519 allG3956 nationsG1484: andG2532 JerusalemG2419 shall beG2071 trodden downG3961 ofG5259 the GentilesG1484, untilG891 the timesG2540 of the GentilesG1484 be fulfilledG4137 . 25AndG2532 there shall beG2071 signsG4592 inG1722 the sunG2246, andG2532 in the moonG4582, andG2532 in the starsG798; andG2532 uponG1909 the earthG1093 distressG4928 of nationsG1484, withG1722 perplexityG640; the seaG2281 andG2532 the wavesG4535 roaringG2278 ; 26Men'sG444 hearts failing themG674 forG575 fearG5401, andG2532 for looking afterG4329 those things which are coming onG1904 the earthG3625: forG1063 the powersG1411 of heavenG3772 shall be shakenG4531 . 27AndG2532 thenG5119 shall they seeG3700 the SonG5207 of manG444 comingG2064 inG1722 a cloudG3507 withG3326 powerG1411 andG2532 greatG4183 gloryG1391. 28AndG1161 when these thingsG5130 beginG756 to come to passG1096, then look upG352, andG2532 lift upG1869 yourG5216 headsG2776; forG1360 yourG5216 redemptionG629 draweth nighG1448 . 29AndG2532 he spakeG2036 to themG846 a parableG3850; BeholdG1492 the fig treeG4808, andG2532 allG3956 the treesG1186; 30WhenG3752 they nowG2235 shoot forthG4261, ye seeG991 and knowG1097 ofG575 your own selvesG1438 thatG3754 summerG2330 isG2076 nowG2235 nigh at handG1451. 31SoG3779 likewiseG2532 yeG5210, whenG3752 ye seeG1492 these thingsG5023 come to passG1096, know yeG1097 thatG3754 the kingdomG932 of GodG2316 isG2076 nigh at handG1451. 32VerilyG281 I sayG3004 unto youG5213,G3754 ThisG3778 generationG1074 shallG3928 notG3364 pass awayG3928,G302 tillG2193 allG3956 be fulfilledG1096 . 33HeavenG3772 andG2532 earthG1093 shall pass awayG3928 : butG1161 myG3450 wordsG3056 shallG3928 notG3364 pass awayG3928 . 34AndG1161 take heedG4337 to yourselvesG1438, lest at any timeG3379 yourG5216 heartsG2588 be overchargedG925 withG1722 surfeitingG2897, andG2532 drunkennessG3178, andG2532 caresG3308 of this lifeG982, andG2532 so thatG1565 dayG2250 comeG2186 uponG1909 youG5209 unawaresG160. 35ForG1063 asG5613 a snareG3803 shall it comeG1904 onG1909 allG3956 them that dwellG2521 onG1909 the faceG4383 of the wholeG3956 earthG1093. 36Watch yeG69 thereforeG3767, and prayG1189 alwaysG1722 G3956 G2540, thatG2443 ye may be accounted worthyG2661 to escapeG1628 allG3956 these thingsG5023 that shallG3195 come to passG1096, andG2532 to standG2476 beforeG1715 the SonG5207 of manG444. 37AndG1161 in the day timeG2250 he wasG2258 teachingG1321 inG1722 the templeG2411; andG1161 at nightG3571 he went outG1831, and abodeG835 inG1519 the mountG3735 that is calledG2564 the mount of OlivesG1636. 38AndG2532 allG3956 the peopleG2992 came early in the morningG3719 toG4314 himG846 inG1722 the templeG2411, for to hearG191 himG846.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE WIDOW'S TWO MITES. (
Luke 21:1-
Luke 21:4)
looked up--He had "sat down over against the treasury" (
Mark 12:41), probably to rest, for He had continued long standing as he taught in the temple court (
Mark 11:27), and "looking up He saw"--as in Zaccheus' case, not quite casually.
the rich, &c.--"the people," says
Mark 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 (
2Kgs 12:9;
John 8:20).
2 two mites--"which make a farthing" (
Mark 12:42), the smallest Jewish coin. "She might have kept one" [BENGEL].
3 And he said--"to His disciples," whom He "called to Him" (
Mark 12:43), to teach from it a great future lesson.
more than . . . all--in proportion to her means, which is God's standard (
2Cor 8:12).
4 of their abundance--their superfluity; what they had to spare," or beyond what they needed.
of her penury--or "want" (
Mark 12:44) --her deficiency, of what was less than her own wants required, "all the living she had." Mark (
Mark 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
2Cor 8:1-3.)
5 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. (Luke 21:5-38)
(See on
Matt 24:1-
Matt 24:3.)
8 the time--of the Kingdom, in its full glory.
go . . . not . . . after them--"I come not so very soon" (
2Thess 2:1-2) [STIER].
9 not terrified--(See
Luke 21:19;
Isa 8:11-
Isa 8:14).
end not by and by--or immediately, not yet (
Matt 24:6;
Mark 13:7): that is, "Worse must come before all is over."
10 Nation, &c.--Matthew and Mark (
Matt 24:8;
Mark 13:8) add, "All these are the beginning of sorrows," or travail pangs, to which heavy calamities are compared (
Jer 4:31, &c.).
12 brought before, &c.--The book of Acts verifies all this.
13 for a testimony--an opportunity of bearing testimony.
18 not a hair . . . perish--He had just said (
Luke 21:16) they should be put to death; showing that this precious promise is far above immunity from mere bodily harm, and furnishing a key to the right interpretation of the ninety-first Psalm, and such like. Matthew adds the following (
Matt 24:12): "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many," the many or, the most--the generality of professed disciples--"shall wax cold." But he that endureth to the end shall be saved. Sad illustrations of the effect of abounding iniquity in cooling the love of faithful disciples we have in the Epistle of James, written about this period referred to, and too frequently ever since (
Heb 10:38-
Heb 10:39;
Rev 2:10). "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness, and then shall the end come" (
Matt 24:14). God never sends judgment without previous warning; and there can be no doubt that the Jews, already dispersed over most known countries, had nearly all heard the Gospel "as a witness," before the end of the Jewish state. The same principle was repeated and will repeat itself to the end.
20 by armies--encamped armies, that is, besieged: "the abomination of desolation" (meaning the Roman ensigns, as the symbols of an idolatrous, pagan, unclean power) "spoken of by Daniel the prophet" (
Dan 9:27) "standing where it ought not" (
Mark 13:14). "Whoso readeth [that prophecy] let him understand" (
Matt 24:15).
Then . . . flee, &c.--EUSEBIUS says the Christians fled to Pella, at the north extremity of Perea, being "prophetically directed"; perhaps by some prophetic intimation still more explicit than this, which still would be their chart.
23 woe unto--"alas for."
with child, &c.--from the greater suffering it would involve; as also "flight in winter, and on the sabbath," which they were to "pray" against (
Matt 24:20), the one as more trying to the body, the other to the soul. "For then shall be tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world, nor ever shall be"--language not unusual in the Old Testament for tremendous calamities, though of this it may perhaps be literally said, "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved, but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened" (
Matt 24:21-
Matt 24:22). But for this merciful "shortening," brought about by a remarkable concurrence of causes, the whole nation would have perished, in which there yet remained a remnant to be afterwards gathered out. Here in Matthew and Mark (
Matt 24:24;
Mark 13:22) are some particulars about "false Christs," who should, "if possible"--a precious clause--"deceive the very elect." (Compare
2Thess 2:9-11;
Rev 13:13.)
24 Jerusalem . . . trodden down . . . until, &c.--Implying (1) that one day Jerusalem shall cease to be "trodden down by the Gentiles" (
Rev 11:2), as then by pagan so now by Mohammedan unbelievers; (2) that this shall be at the "completion" of "the times of the Gentiles," which from
Rom 11:25 (taken from this) we conclude to mean till the Gentiles have had their full time of that place in the Church which the Jews in their time had before them--after which, the Jews being again "grafted into their own olive tree," one Church of Jew and Gentile together shall fill the earth (Rom. 11:1-36). What a vista this opens up!
25 signs, &c.--Though the grandeur of this language carries the mind over the head of all periods but that of Christ's second coming, nearly every expression will be found used of the Lord's coming in terrible national judgments, as of Babylon, &c.; and from
Luke 21:28,
Luke 21:32, it seems undeniable that its immediate reference was to the destruction of Jerusalem, though its ultimate reference beyond doubt is to Christ's final coming.
28 redemption--from the oppression of ecclesiastical despotism and legal bondage by the total subversion of the Jewish state and the firm establishment of the evangelical kingdom (
Luke 21:31). But the words are of far wider and more precious import. Matthew (
Matt 24:30) says, "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven," evidently something distinct from Himself, mentioned immediately after. What this was intended to mean, interpreters are not agreed. But as before Christ came to destroy Jerusalem, some appalling portents were seen in the air, so before His personal appearing it is likely that something analogous will be witnessed, though of what nature it is vain to conjecture.
32 This generation--not "this nation," as some interpret it, which, though admissible in itself, seems very unnatural here. It is rather as in
Luke 9:27.
34 surfeiting, and drunkenness--All animal excesses, quenching spirituality.
cares of this life--(See on
Mark 4:7;
Mark 4:19).
36 Watch . . . pray, &c.--the two great duties which in prospect of trial are constantly enjoined. These warnings, suggested by the need of preparedness for the tremendous calamities approaching, and the total wreck of the existing state of things, are the general improvement of the whole discourse, carrying the mind forward to Judgment and Vengeance of another kind and on a grander and more awful scale--not ecclesiastical or political but personal, not temporal but eternal--when all safety and blessedness will be found to lie in being able to "STAND BEFORE THE SON OF MAN" in the glory of His personal appearing.
37 in the daytime--of this His last week.
abode in the mount--that is, at Bethany (
Matt 21:17).
