Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Mark 12:41

καθίσας : Jesus, a close and keen observer of all that went on (Mark 11:11), sits down at a spot convenient for noticing the people casting their contributions into the temple treasury. γαζοφυλακίου (γάζα, Persian, φυλακή = θησαυροφυλάκιον, Hesychius). Commentators are agreed in thinking that the reference is to the treasury in the court of the women, consisting of thirteen brazen trumpet-shaped receptacles, each destined for its distinctive gifts, indicated by an inscription, so many for the temple tribute, and money gifts for sacrifice; others for incense, wood, etc.; all the gifts having reference to the service carried on. The gifts were people's offerings, generally moderate in amount: “the Peter's pence of the Jews” (Holtzmann, H. C.). χαλκὸν may be meant for money in general, copper representing all sorts (Fritzsche, Grotius, etc.); but there seems to be no good reason why we should not take it strictly as denoting contributions in copper, the ordinary, if not exclusive, money gifts (Meyer; Holtzmann, H. C.). πολλοὶ πλούσιοι, etc., many rich were casting in much: Jesus was near enough to see that, also to notice exactly what the widow gave. Among the rich givers might be some of the praying scribes who had imposed on widows by their show of piety, suggesting reflections on where wealthy givers get the money they bestow for pious purposes. That is not a matter of indifference to the Kingdom of God, whatever it may be to beneficiaries.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Mark 12:41

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