Saturday, March 5, 2016



Word of God
But he replied and said, "It is written, 'It is not by bread alone that a man lives, except by every word that issues from the mouth of God
The Gospel According to Matthew 4:4

The Gospel According to Mark 12:44
All commentary and study notes are prefaced/edited by Dr. Riktor Von Zhades

44 For they all did cast in of their superfluity: but she of her poverty did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Brethren:

Today we will read commentary from Reverend John Gill and Reverend Matthew Henry. Both of whom were contemporaries of each other in the latter part of the 17th century.

Or "superabundance", as the Arabic version renders it; or "superfluity": they abounded in the things of the world, of which they gave only a part; and though they might give much, yet they could easily spare it, and had enough remaining. [Yet she] her whole substance, all that she had in the world; what was to have bought her food, for that day; she left herself nothing (Read 2 Corinthians 8:2), but gave away all, and trusted to providence for immediate supply.” - John Gill

He saw many that were rich cast in much: and it was a good sight to see rich people charitable, to see many rich people so, and to see them not only cast in, but cast in much. Note, Those that are rich, ought to give richly; if God give abundantly to us, he expects we should give abundantly to the poor; and it is not enough for those that are rich, to say, that they give as much as others do, who perhaps have much less of the world than they have, but they must give in proportion to their estates.

[Then] there was a poor widow that cast in two mites (evidently the smallest coin minted that time), which make a farthing; and our Lord Jesus highly commended her; called his disciples to him, and bid them take notice of it; told them that she could very ill spare that which she gave, she had scarcely enough for herself, it was all her living, all she had to live upon for that day, and perhaps a great part of what she had earned by her labour the day before; and that forasmuch as he knew she did it from a truly charitable disposition, he reckoned it more than all that put together, which the rich people threw in; for they did cast in of their abundance, but she of her want. 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? Charity begins at home; or, if she would give it, why did she not bestow it upon some poor body that she knew? What occasion was there for her bringing it to the treasury to be disposed of by the chief priests, who, we have reason to fear, were partial in the disposal of it? 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. If Christ saith, Well-done, no matter who saith otherwise; and we must hence learn that giving alms, is an excellent good thing, and highly pleasing to the Lord Jesus; and if we be humble and sincere in it, he will graciously accept of it, though in some circumstances there may not be all the discretion in the world.” - Matthew Henry





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