Luke 21 · Verse 1

Luke 21:1

And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
Luke 21:1, King James Version

Luke 21:1 in other translations

BSBThen Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,
WEBHe looked up and saw the rich people who were putting their gifts into the treasury.
ASVAnd he looked up, and saw the rich men that were casting their gifts into the treasury.
YLTAnd having looked up, he saw those who did cast their gifts to the treasury--rich men,
DARBYAnd he looked up and saw the rich casting their gifts into the treasury;
BBEAnd looking up, he saw the men of wealth putting their offerings in the money-box.
WebsterAnd he looked up, and saw rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

What does Luke 21:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Lu 21:1-4. The Widow's Two Mites.

1. looked up--He had "sat down over against the treasury" (Mr 12:41), probably to rest, for He had continued long standing as he taught in the temple court (Mr 11:27), and "looking up He saw"--as in Zaccheus' case, not quite casually. the rich, &c.--"the people," says Mr 12:41 "cast money into the treasury, and many rich east in much"; that is, into chests deposited in one of the courts of the temple to receive the offerings of the people towards its maintenance (2Ki 12:9; Joh 8:20).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verses 1-4. Mk 12:41, also Mk 12:42-44

Verse 1.

(a) "and saw the rich men" Mk 12:41

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The poor widow casting two mites into the treasury, Luk 21:1-4. The destruction of the temple foretold, Luk 21:5, Luk 21:6. The signs of this desolation, Luk 21:7. False Christs, Luk 21:8. Wars, Luk 21:9, Luk 21:10. Earthquakes and fearful sights, Luk 21:11. Persecutions against the godly, Luk 21:12-19. Directions how to escape, Luk 21:20-22. The tribulation of those times, Luk 21:23-28. The parable of the fig tree, illustrative of the time when they may expect these calamities, Luk 21:29-33. The necessity of sobriety and watchfulness, Luk 21:34-36. He teaches by day in the temple, and lodges by night in the mount of Olives, and the people come early to hear him, Luk 21:37, Luk 21:38. Verse 1 The rich men casting their gifts into the treasury - See all this, from Luk 21:1-4, explained on Mar 12:41-44 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 21:1-4
From the offering of this poor widow, learn that what we rightly give for the relief of the poor, and the support of God's worship, is given unto God; and our Saviour sees with pleasure whatever we have in our hearts to give for the relief of his members, or for his service. Blessed Lord! the poorest of thy servants have two mites, they have a soul and a body; persuade and enable us to offer both unto thee; how happy shall we be in thine accepting of them!

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Luke 21:1 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἈναβλέψαςAnablepsasHaving looked upG308
δὲdenowG1161
εἶδενeidenHe sawG1492
τοὺςtousthe onesG3588
βάλλονταςballontascastingG906
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὸtotheG3588
γαζοφυλάκιονgazophulakiontreasuryG1049
τὰtatheG3588
δῶραdōragiftsG1435
αὐτῶνautōnof themG846
πλουσίους.plousiousrich.G4145

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 21:1

  • Mark 12:41-44

    And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

  • John 8:20

    These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:18

    And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon.

  • Matthew 27:6

    And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.

  • Nehemiah 13:13

    And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.

  • Joshua 6:19

    But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.

  • 2 Kings 24:13

    And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the Lord, as the Lord had said.

  • Mark 7:11-13

    But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 Christ commends the poor widow.
5 He foretells the destruction of the temple, and of the city Jerusalem;
25 the signs also which shall be before the last day.
34 He exhorts them to be watchful.

and saw.
Mr 7:11-13; 12:41-44
the treasury.
Jos 6:19,24; 1Ki 14:26; 2Ki 24:13; 2Ch 36:18; Ne 13:13; Mt 27:6
Joh 8:20

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 21:1

    And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

  • Luke 21:2

    And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

Read all of Luke 21

Luke 21:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y MIRANDO, vió á los ricos que echaban sus ofrendas en el gazofilacio.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et comme il regardait, il vit des riches qui jetaient leurs dons au trésor.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Aufblickend aber sah er die Reichen ihre Gaben in den Schatzkasten legen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Respiciens autem, vidit eos qui mittebant munera sua in gazophylacium, divites.