The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2 — Section 176

mite (i\<,r-rov) w11s the smallest current coin. probably suggested the discourse, "I am 'l'wo of theso little pieces were the smallest the true Vine" (reported in ,John xv.)-such legol offering which could be dropped into as crowns, shields, vessels of gold anrl sil vcr, the "trumpet." But this snm, o.s the presented by princes and others who visited Henrt-reo.der, who knew o.Jl things, tells us the holy house on Zion. The temple was (ver. 4), wo.s ever1J particle of mone1J she had rich in these votive offerings. The historian in the world; o.nd it was this splendid Tacitns, for instance, calls it "a temple of generosity on the part of the poor solitary vast wealth" (' Hist.,' v. 8). widow which won the Lord's pro.ise, which Ver. 6.-There snail not be left one stone ho.s touched the heo.rb of so many genera- upon another. There is a remarkable pas- tions since, which has stirred up in so mo.ny sage in 2 Esdr. x. 54, "In the place wherein hearts an o.dmirntion of an act so strangely the Highest beginneth to show hi,; city, there beautiful, but well-nigh inimitable. can no man's building be able to stand." Vera. 5-7.-The temple-its impending The Lord's words were fulfilled, in spite of ruin. The disciples' questions. the strong wish of Titus to spare the temple. Ver. 5.-And a.e some spake of the temple. Josephus, writing upon the utter demolition After the Lord's remark upon the alms- of the city and temple, says that, with the giving of the rich men o.nd the poor widow exception of Herod's three great towers and to the treasury of the temple, the Master part of the western wall, the whole circuit Jpft the sacred building for his lodging out- of the city was so thoroughly levelled and side the citv walls. As far as we know, dug up that no one visiting it would believe his commen"t upon t.he widow's alms was that it had ever bean inhabited (' Bell. his last word of public teaching. On their J ud.,' vii. 1. 1). way home, while crossing the Mount of Ver. 7.-And they asked him, saying, Oli vee, they apparently halted for a. brief Master, but when sbs.11 these things be 1 and rest. It was then that some of hie friends what sign will there be when these things ea.lied attention to the glorious prospect shall come to pass 1 St. Mark (xiii. 3) tells of the temple, then lit up by the setting us that these questioners were Peter 11,nd sun. It was, no doubt, then in all its per- James, John 11,ucl Andrew.· They said to fect beauty, a vast glittering mass of white their !\foster, '' When shall these things be, marble, touched here and there with gold and what sign shall precede them?" They and colour. Whosoever had not gazed on asked their question with mingled feeling~ it, said the old rabbis, had not seen the of awe and gliirlness: of awe, for the ruin perfection of beauty. It is possible that the of their loved temple, and all that wonlrl bystander's remark was suggested by the probably accompany tile catastroplie, was 11 memory of the last bit of Divine teaching dread thought; of gladness, for they asso- tliey had listened to. " Lord, is not the ciated the foll of city and temple with house on Zion lovely? But if only such the manifestation of their Lord in glory. gifts as those you have just praised with In this glory they would assuredly she.re. such unstinting praise had been made, never But they wished to know more respcctin!{ had that glorious pile been mised in Lonour the times and seasons of the dread event. of the Eternal King." l\Iol'O prob11ble, how- Of late the disciples had begun dimly to ever, the sight of the greitt temple, then see that no Messianic restorntion sucil 11s bitthed in the golden glory of the faiit-setting they had beon taught to expect was con- sun, recalled some of the Master's s11yings templated by their Master. They were re- of th11t eventful dny, not11bly snob as, castin~ their hopes, and this solemn pre- " Your house is left unto you desol11te," diction they read in the light of the late which ocoun-ed in the famous twice-spoken s11d und gloomy words whicl, he had spoken apostrophe," 0 Jerus11lem, Jerusalem. thou of himself 11nd his fortunes. Perhaps ha that killest the prophets I " (Mntt. xxiii. 38 ; would leave them for a season o.nd thea ell, xiii. 35). " What, Lord I will that return, and, amid the crash or the ruined house, so great, so perfect in its beauty, so city and temple, set up his glorious kingdom. loved, the jnv of the whole earth,-will that But they longed to know when this would lwuse be lo"rt desolate 11nd in shapeless be; hence the question of the four. ruins?" With goodly stones. The enormous s;ze of the stones 11.ncl blocks of m11rble with The Lord's answer treated, in its first which the temple of Jerusalem wns built and longer portion, exclusively of the de- excited the surprise of Titus when the city struction of Jerus11lem aud its temple-the foll. Josephm; mentions(' Bell. Jud.,' v. 5) fnir city and the glorious house on wilich that some of the levelled blocks of mnrblo thoy were then gnzing, glorified in the or stone were forty cubits long 1111d ten high. And gifts; better rendered, sacrecl light of the sunset splendour; then, as he oj]orings, such 11s the "golden vine," with spoke, gradually the horizon widened. and it.II VIMlt clustel':I, the gift of Hru·od-which the i\foster toucheJ upon the fortunes of  18-l THE GOSPEL ACCORDING 'l'O ST. LUKE. [oH. xx.1. 1-88.