Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 21:4
For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
4. of their abundance ] Rather, out of their overplus. The essence of charity is self-denial. But in these days most people give ‘ mites’ out of their vast superfluity, which is no charity at all; and they talk of these offerings as ‘mites,’ as though that word excused and even consecrated an offering miserably inadequate.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
4. of their abundancetheirsuperfluity; what they had to spare,” or beyond what theyneeded.
of her penuryor “want”(Mr 12:44) her deficiency,of what was less than her own wants required, “all theliving she had.” Mark (Mr12:44) still more emphatically, “all that she hadherwhole subsistence.” Note: (1) As temple offerings areneeded 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 standardof commendable offering is not our superfluity, but ourdeficiencynot what will never be missed, but what costs ussome real sacrifice, and just in proportion to the relative amount ofthat sacrifice. (See 2Co8:1-3.)
Lu21:5-38. CHRIST’SPROPHECY OF THEDESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEMAND WARNINGS TOPREPARE FOR HISSECOND COMING,SUGGESTED BY ITHISDAYS AND NIGHTSDURING HIS LASTWEEK.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For all these have of their abundance,…. Which they had remaining; the same Hebrew word signifying to remain, and to abound: they had large possessions, and gave in much, and yet had a great deal left; out of which they
cast in unto the offerings of God; or “gifts of God”: not as gifts unto him; or among the gifts of God; but into the treasury where the gifts, and freewill offerings were put; the same with the “Corban”, in Mt 27:6 and so the Syriac version here renders it, “the house of the offering of God”: and it is expressed in the plural; because there were several chests, in which these gifts were put, for various uses; [See comments on Mr 12:41]
but she of her penury hath cast in all the living she had;
[See comments on Mr 12:44].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
All these did cast ( ). Constative second aorist active indicative covering the whole crowd except the widow.
Living (). Livelihood as in Mr 12:44, not , principle of life.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Offerings of God. The best texts omit of God. Rev., more simply, unto the gifts.
Penury [] . Lit., lack. Rev., neatly, of her want.
5 – 19. Compare Mt 24:1 – 14; Mr 13:1 – 13.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “For all these have of their abundance,” (pantes gar houtoi ek tou perisseuontos autois) “For all these rich ones of their abundance and asset wealth,” of their superlativity, of what they had to spare, beyond what they needed. A sharp contrast with the percentage that the wealthy gave, Mar 12:44.
2) “Cast in unto the offerings of God:” (ebalon eis ta dora) “Tossed into the gifts,” for the temple of God, Mar 12:44.
3) “But she of her penury,” (aute de ek tou husterematos autes) “Yet this woman out of her want,” very poor estate condition.
4) “Hath cast in all the living that she had.” (panta ten bien hon eichen ebalen) “Has tossed in all the living which she had or held,” Not just a tithe or small free-will offering. All her substance with all her heart, her entire devotion of life, as well as her livelihood.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(4) For all these have . . . cast.Better, all these cast . . ., and so in the next clause.
Unto the offerings of God.The better MSS. omit the last two words. Offerings, literally, gifts.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Luk 21:4. For all these See the notes on Mar 12:41; Mar 12:44. Both the poor and rich may learn something from this passage of the gospel; the poor, who seem to have the means of doing charitable offices in a great measure denied them, are encouraged by it to do what they can, because, although it may be little, God, who looks into the heart, values it not according to what it is in itself, but according to the disposition with which it is given. On the other hand, it shews the rich, that it is not enough that they exceed the poor in the quantity of their charity; a little given, where but a little is left behind, often appears in the eye of God a much nobler offering, and discovers a far greater strength of good dispositions, than sums vastly larger bestowed out of a plentiful abundance. See the Inferences at the end of the Annotations on Mark 12. Some read the last clause of the verse, But she, out of what she wants for herself, hath cast in all she had to live upon.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
4. ] ., among (into) the gifts; not qu donarent (Beza), ‘ as ,’ or, ‘ for, gifts ,’ which would require the omission of the article: nor so that . = .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Luk 21:4 . , all these, referring to the rich and pointing to them. : practically = Mk.’s , preferred possibly because in use in St. Paul’s epistles: not so good a word as to denote the state of poverty out of which she gave. Lk.’s expression strictly means that she gave out of a deficit, a minus quantity (“ex eo quod deest illi,” Vulg [170] ), a strong but intelligible way of putting it. . , her living , as in Luk 15:12 ; Luk 15:30 = means of subsistence. Lk. combines Mk.’s two phrases into one.
[170] Vulgate (Jerome’s revision of old Latin version).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
of = out of. (Greek. ek. App-104.
unto. Greek. eis, as in Luk 21:1.
offerings = gifts. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for the chest containing them.
God. See App-98.
penury = lack, or want.
living = livelihood. Greek. hies. App-170.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
4.] ., among (into) the gifts; not qu donarent (Beza), as, or, for, gifts, which would require the omission of the article:-nor so that . = .
Fuente: The Greek Testament
all: Luk 8:43, Luk 15:12, Act 2:44, Act 2:45, Act 4:34
Reciprocal: 2Ki 12:4 – and all the money 1Co 13:3 – though I bestow
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
CHRISTS STANDARD OF GIVING
For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
Luk 21:4
Observe
I. How keenly our Lord observes the things that are done upon earth.All things are naked and opened to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do (Heb 4:13). He measures littleness and greatness by a very different measure from the measure of man. Events in our own daily life, to which we attach no importance, are often very grave and serious matters in Christs sight.
II. Christs standard of liberality.He would have us know that some persons appear to give much to religious purposes who in Gods sight give very little, and that some appear to give very little who in Gods sight give very much.
III. Our use of the money God has given us will have to be accounted for at the last day.The Judge of all will be He Who noticed the widows mite. Our incomes and expenditures will be brought to light before an assembled world.
Illustration
Let us beware of lightly using the expression, giving our mite, in reference to giving money to religious or charitable causes. The phrase is often employed without thought or consideration. If people would give their mite really and literally as the widow gave hers, many would have to give far more money than they ever give now. Her mite meant something that she gave with immense self-denial, and at great sacrifice. Most mens mite nowadays means something that is not felt, not missed, and makes no difference to their comfort. If all people gave their mite as the widow gave hers, the world and the Church would soon be in a very different state.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Luk 21:4. Unto the gifts, i.e., those in the chests. This incident, witnessed by Jesus at such a time, resembles a flower which He comes upon all at once in the desert of official devotion, the sight and perfume of which make Him leap with joy. (Godet.)