that the “glad tidings” are practically and permanently experienced by the human heart.—M.
Vers, 41—44.— The widow's two mites. The treasury, “in front of the sanctuary,” consisted of thirteen brazen chests, called “trumpets” from their peculiar shape, “swelling out beneath, and tapering upward into a narrow mouth or opening, into which the contributions were put.” The contributions given were towards the sacrifice fund, and they were voluntary. This incident has a deep, permanent interest for ail Christians.
I, CuRisT’s OBSERVATION OF RELIGIOUS @IvINe. He “sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury.” This has been felt to be typical of his eternal attitude: he still sits “over against the treasury” of his Church. 1. /é was deliberate. He did it as one who had purposed to do it; and he was not in any hurry. ‘I'he position was chosen, and was well suited to carry out his Intention. 2, It was careful and discrimisiating. The different classes of people were poted—rich and poor, ostentatious and retiring, mean and generous. He beheld how fhe people cast in. 3, It was comprehenstve. No individual seems to have escaped
ow. x11. 1—44.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. 175
his attention. Even the poor widow is observed. 4. It was his last act eve quitting the temple for ever.
Il, His KNOWLEDGE OF ITS MOTIVES AND CIRCUMSTANCES. 1. How penetrating | ‘The outward actions and bearing of the donors would doubtless reveal to his eye, who “knew what was in man,” their real characters. Now he looks directly upon our secret thoughts and feelings, and is acquainted with all the conditions of mind and heart through which we pass. He knows the history of the gift, as well as its actual bestowal. 2. How complete! The domestic circumstances of the widow were well] known to him. No tax-surveyor could have reckoned the income of the people more accu- rately. 3. How minute! The exact nature and number of the widow’s coins are noted.
III. His supemenT as TO ITs worTH. His attitude now, as on the day when “he looked round about upon all things,” was authoritative and judicial. He sat as one who had a right to be there. It is from a supreme elevation of moral sentiment that he looks, for already clearly visible to his spirit is his own great gift—of himself. 1. Given from a spiritual point of view. Not the objective amount, but the motives and feelings of the givers. The spirit of sacrifice, the religious enthusiasm of each, is measured and declared. 2. The standard indicated is not how much is given, but from how much tt is given. They all cast in “of their abundance.” What they gave was, therefore, a mere superfluity. Their comforts were not decreased, their luxuries still abounded. The need—the absolute poverty—of the widow rendered her gift a sacri- fice, and a heroic act of faith. It was prophetic of the Divine charities that were to be awakened in the breasts of regenerate men, when his own great sacrifice should have borne its fruit. The Macedonian Churches (and many a one since) gave not only to their power, but beyond it, their deep poverty abounding to the riches of their liberality (2 Cor. viii. 1,2). “ Now, many would have been ready to censure this poor widow, and to think she did ill. Why should she give to others when she had little enough for herself? . . . It is so rare a thing to find any that would not blame this widow, that we cannot expect to find any that will imitate her! And yet our Saviour commends her, and therefore we are sure that she did very well and wisely ” (Matthew
Henry).
Ver. 41.—Jesus lingering in the temple. This is one of the best-known incidents in the life of our Lord. It is strange that it should be so. If we consider the greatness of his work, we should hardly expect that room would be found in a brief record of it for so trivial an event. It was an every-day occurrence for the worshippers who entered the temple to cast their offerings into the treasury, and not a few widows would be found among them. Yet an evangelist, who was inspired of God to select or reject any of the multitudinous facts of Christ’s ministry, did not leave untold the story of the widow’s mite; and it is repeated with equal emphasis by Luke. Evidently God judges not as man does. We think much of a philanthropic scheme which loudly asserts itself; but he probably estimates more highly the scheme of some obscure Christian worker, who gathers together the poor and wretched, telling them of a nobler, purer life, and lifting them up towards the light of God’s love. In trivial incidents great principles are found, and we should dig in them as for hid treasure. Our Lord Jesas Christ ia naturally the Centre of this scene, and we will see what we may of his characteristics as exhibited in it.
I. Taz @enTLENESS OF CuRist. For the last time our Lord had appeared in the temple as a public Teacher. Before crowds of people he had once more strongly denounced the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees, They were convicted by their own consciences, and incapable of reply, so “ they answered not a word; ” but, in their desperation and malignity, they resolved the more speedily to put him to death. He knew it perfectly well. Yet, after speaking as the rightcous Rebuker of sin, he gladly turns aside to discover and commend a hidden act uf goodness. Indeed, he seemed eager to see something which would redeem his Father’s house from the wickedness which dishonoured it. Hence “he sat over against the treasury,” and watched til he saw one worshipper whose sacrifice he could rejoice over—that of a poor widow, who cast in all the living that she had. That act of hers came to him like a streak of sun- shine through the clouds. Hovv tenderly and patiently does he still watch for any glimmer of faith and love in human hearts.
176 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. [om x 1—44.