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Mar_12:41-44. Comp. Luk_21:1-4. It is surprising that this highly characteristic and original episode, which according to Eichthal, indeed, is an interpolation and repeated by Luke, has not been adopted in Matthew. But after the great rebuking discourse and its solemn close, the little isolated picture seems not to have found a place.
τοῦ γαζοφυλακίου ] comp. Josephus, Antt. xix. 6. 1, where Agrippa hangs a golden chain ὑπὲρ τὸ γαζοφυλάκιον . According to the Rabbins it consisted of thirteen trumpet-shaped brazen chests ( ùÑåÉôÈøåÉú ), and was in the fore-court of the women. It was destined for the reception of pious contributions for the temple, as well as of the temple-tribute. See, generally, Lightfoot, Hor. p. 539 f.; Reland, Antt. i. 8. 14. The treasure-chambers ( γαζοφυλάκια ) in Josephus, Bell. v. 5. 2 and vi. 5. 2, have no bearing here. Comp. Ebrard, p. 495. The word itself (comp. Joh_8:20) is found also in the Greek writers (Strabo, ii. p. 319), and frequently in the LXX. and the Apocrypha.
χαλκόν not money in general (Grotius, Fritzsche, and others), but copper money, which most of the people gave. See Beza.
ἒβαλλον ] imperfect, as at Mar_12:17-18. The reading ἒβαλον (Fritzsche) is too weakly attested, and is not necessary.
Mar_12:42 f. μία ] in contrast with the πολλοί πλούσιοι : one single poor widow. A λεπτόν , so called from its smallness (Xen. Cyr. i. 4. 11 : τὸ λεπτότατον τοῦ χαλκοῦ νομίσματος ), was 1/8th of an as in copper. See on Mat_5:26. It is the same definition in the Talmud, that two ôøåèåú make a ÷ãøéåðèí ; see Lightfoot, p. 638 f.
On the fact that it is not “a quadrans” but λεπτὰ δύο , that is mentioned, Bengel has aptly remarked: “quorum unum vidua retinere potuerat.” The Rabbinical ordinance: “Non ponat homo λεπτόν in cistam eleemosynarum” (Bava bathra f. 10. 2), has no bearing here (in opposition to Schoettgen), for here we have not to do with alms.
προσκαλεσάμ .] “de re magna,” Bengel.
πλεῖον πάντων ] is said according to the scale of means; all the rest still kept back much for themselves, the widow nothing (see what follows),—a sacrifice which Jesus estimates in its moral greatness; τὴν ἑαυτῆς προαίρεσιν ἐπεδείξατο εὐπορωτέραν τῆς δυνάμεως , Theophylact.
The present participle βαλλόντων (see the critical remarks) is not inappropriate (Fritzsche), but designates those who were throwing, whose βάλλειν was present, when the widow ἔβαλε .
Mar_12:44. ἐκ τῆς ὑστερήσ . αὐτῆς ] (not αὑτῆς ) is the antithesis of ἐκ τοῦ περισσ . αὐτ . in Mar_12:43. Comp. 2Co_8:14; Php_4:12. Out of her want, out of her destitution, she has cast in all that (in cash) she possessed, her whole (present) means of subsistence. Observe the earnest twofold designation. On βίος , victus, that whereby one lives, comp. Luk_8:43; Luk_15:12; Luk_15:30; Hesiod, Op. 230; Xen. Mem. iii. 11. 6; Soph. Phil. 919, 1266; Dem. 869, 25; Plat. Gorg. p. 486 D; and Stallbaum in loc.