A.T. Robertson Commentary Luke 21
A.T. Robertson Commentary
Luke 21
A.T. Robertson Commentary
Luke 21
"And he looked up, and saw the rich men that were casting their gifts into the treasury." — Luke 21:1 (ASV)
And he looked up (Αναβλεψας δε). He had taken his seat, after the debate was over and the Sanhedrin had slunk away in sheer defeat, "over against the treasury" . The word for "treasury" (γαζοφυλακιον) is a compound of γαζα (Persian word for royal treasury) and φυλακη guard or protection. It is common in the LXX, but in the N.T. only here and Mr 12:41,43; John 8:20. Jesus was watching the rich put in their gifts as a slight diversion from the intense strain of the hours before.
"And he saw a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites." — Luke 21:2 (ASV)
Poor (πενιχραν). A rare word from πενης (πενομα, to work for one's living). Latin
penuria and Greek πειναω, to be hungry are kin to it. Here only in the N.T. Mr 12:42 has πτωχη, a more common word from πτωσσω, to be frightened, to strike and hide from fear, to be in beggary. And Luke uses this adjective also of her in verse 3.
"And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than they all:" — Luke 21:3 (ASV)
More than they all (πλειον παντων). Ablative case after the comparative πλειον.
"for all these did of their superfluity cast in unto the gifts; but she of her want did cast in all the living that she had." — Luke 21:4 (ASV)
All these did cast (παντες ουτο εβαλον). Constative second aorist active indicative covering the whole crowd except the widow.
Living (βιον). Livelihood as in Mr 12:44, not ζωην, principle of life.
"And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and offerings, he said," — Luke 21:5 (ASV)
As some spake (τινων λεγοντων). Genitive absolute. The disciples we know from Mr 13:1; Matthew 24:1.
How (οτ). Literally, "that."
It was adorned (κεκοσμητα). Perfect passive indicative, state of completion, stands adorned, tense retained in indirect discourse, though English has to change it. Κοσμεω, old and common verb for orderly arrangement and adorning.
With goodly stones and offerings (λιθοις καλοις κα αναθημασιν). Instrumental case. Some of these stones in the substructure were enormous. "The columns of the cloister or portico were monoliths of marble over forty feet high" (Plummer). Cf. Josephus, War, V.5. The word αναθημα (here only in the N.T.) is not to be confused with αναθεμα from the same verb ανατιθημ, but which came to mean a curse (Galatians 1:8; Acts 23:14). So αναθεμα came to mean devoted in a bad sense, αναθημα in a good sense. "Thus knave, lad, becomes a rascal; villain, a farmer, becomes a scoundrel; cunning, skilful, becomes crafty" (Vincent). These offerings in the temple were very numerous and costly (2Macc. 3:2-7) like the golden vine of Herod with branches as tall as a man (Josephus, Ant. XV. ii.3).
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