Notes on Luke 21:1-4

The event is covered in detail in the Gospel of Mark below.

treasury. This was the treasury of the Jewish temple, which was located in the Court of Women (see notes on 2:27; 19:45). Money was collected in thirteen brass, horn-shaped receptacles. These offerings were used to support the temple itself as well as the Levities who had no land as an inheritance (Deut. 10:8-9).

mites. The Romans called these coins leptas, from a words which means peeled or fine because of its thin size. One of these mites equated one-one hundredth of a denarius (that is, about a day's wage).

Jesus contrasted the rich men (v. 1) who were giving large sums and the poor woman (v. 2) who had very little to give. put in more. Despite the tiny amount she gave, it was counted as more than the gift of the wealthy because she gave everything she had. It is not the quantity, but the quality of the offering that concerns God (Matt. 6:1-4; Jam. 2:5). She offered her gift with superior faith (see Gen. 4:1-5; Heb. 11:4).