The contrast between the widow and the rich men suggests the difference between the devoted, yet poor, remnant of the Jews, and the self-satisfied state of the leaders, who with outward display of religiousness, yet were, as we have seen, far from pleasing Jehovah.
Verses 1-4. And He looked up and saw rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And He said, “Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow had cast in more than they all: for all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.” The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. So it is here. He looks on the heart’s motives. The rich men gave out of their superfluous abundance, it was no trial; it brought no freed of carefulness or scantiness to them. But the poor widow gave from a heart devoted to the service of the temple, still owned of Jehovah her all. She was “a widow indeed,” and her heart trusted in Jehovah for her next meal. Her confidence was in Him, so she gave all the living she had. The Lord saw her wholeheartedness. She kept back nothing. They kept back their abundance, and gave a little of their superfluity, for selfishness controlled their hearts. And may they not have been some of those who devoured widows’ houses, and for a show made long prayers? (Chapter 20:46,47). And as their prayers there, so their giving here was abomination to Him who could read their hearts. (Isa. 1:11-15). Verily I say unto you they have their reward. And what a warning they are to us, as the widow on the other hand is an encouragement. We might argue, how foolish of her to give her all to such a failing testimony, but it is better to see in these days of weakness, that we have a like privilege to go on with what is of God, and own with our company and interest the little remnant who are truly gathered to the Lord’s name, and have His presence in their midst (Matt. 18:20).
Verses 5, 6. And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, He said, “As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Verse 7. And they asked Him, saying, “Master, but when shall these things be? And what sign will there be, when these things shall come to pass?”
Verse 8. And He said, “Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in My name, saying, ‘I am Christ,’ and the time draweth near: go ye not after them.” “The time draweth near,” speaks of what was about to occur, and did take place after Christ was risen and glorified, and the Holy Spirit had come to form the church of God on earth. This warned them of anti-Christs of whom they were to beware. (1 John 2:18, 19).
Verse 9 warns of wars and commotions, but tells them not to be terrified. These things must come to pass, but the end was not immediately.
Verses 10, 11, tell of the fearful things that were to happen, and did, before Jerusalem was destroyed.
Verses 12-19. The believers are told of the trials to come on themselves as God’s testimony for Christ’s namesake, but they were not to be disturbed in their minds and hearts, and not to premeditate what they were to answer. He would give them a mouth and wisdom, which all their adversaries would not be able to gainsay nor resist. Yet He would allow them to suffer even from their own relatives, and some would be put to death, and they would be hated of all men for Christ’s namesake. But whatever was allowed to happen to them, not a hair of their head would perish; all was in the Father’s keeping; it was the Father’s will, so they could rest, possessing their souls in patience, receiving the end of their faith—soul salvation (1 Peter 1:9). They would be preserved for God’s heavenly Kingdom (2 Tim. 4:18). Man’s wrath but works out for us the will and glory of God (Psa. 76:10). Their home and portion was not in this world.
Verses 20-24 gives them the signal when to flee to the mountains. (Notice the difference in Matt. 24, which is still future. “The abomination of desolation.”) Those in Jerusalem were to depart; those outside were not to enter into it. For these be the days of vengeance, that all that was written may be fulfilled. In Luke 4:17-20, the Lord read Isaiah 61:1, 2, but closed the book at “the acceptable year of the Lord,” for then the day of vengeance had not come, but now He tells of its coming. And we can see it has come. Jerusalem was destroyed with great suffering to the Jews. God’s wrath has come upon them to the uttermost (1 Thess. 2:14-16), and there they remain scattered. Jerusalem and the land is under Gentile power, and so to continue till the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. The nations will have power over them till Christ’s government is set up. The Turks had it for years; others have it now more favorable to the Jews. The Roman Beast will have it (Rev. Chaps. 13 and 17). But Hosea 3:4 declares the condition of the Jews now. The terrible tribulation will take place before Hosea 3:5. Cain’s mark is on them, and they are vagabonds (Gen. 5:14).
Verses 25-27. This is future and gives some description of the scene before the Son of Man appears, “distress of nations.” “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” This affects the Gentiles as well as the Jews. (Compare Hag. 2:21, 22; Heb. 12:26, 27). Yet many of both—Jew and Gentile—will own the name of Jesus as the Messiah before they see Him. It will be a fearful time on earth and outside of the present time of the gospel of God’s grace, for when He appears we shall appear with Him, He having come for His saints as seen in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.
Verses 28-31. When the believers on earth see those things happening it will tell them to look up; their deliverance is near. As trees, the fig tree and all the trees, shoot forth and tell that summer is nigh at hand, so they who have eyes to see the signs of the times will know that the Kingdom of God is nigh at hand—the time when Christ will take His Kingdom and reign (Rev. 11:15).
Verse 32. Verily, I say unto you, “This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.” Alas! how true this is of the Jewish character. And this unbelieving, blind state will be with the Jews as a nation till Christ comes.
Verse 33. Come He will, and all must be fulfilled. Man cannot hinder God’s purposes. “Heaven and earth shall pass away; but My words shall not pass away.”
Verses 34-36 are words of warning to the disciples of that day, for they desire to stand before the Son of Man on earth. They are warned to be ready; not to be carried away with this life, and the pleasures and cares of it, for Satan will do all he can to lead them into his snare, therefore they were to watch and pray always. In principle they speak to us also that we might be in the watching and waiting attitude, dependent upon and cleaving to our Lord, till we see Him when caught up to meet him in the air.
Verses 37, 38. The Lord goes on with His ministry till the last. In the daytime teaching the people in the temple, and at night in the Mount of Olives (outside of the corrupt city), alone with the Father in the place where He ascended from (Acts 1), and where His feet shall stand when He returns (Zech. 14:4). And the people came early in the morning to Him in the temple for to hear Him. Does He not still love to speak to the hearing, diligent soul that makes an effort to get early into His presence. May we, like Mary (Luke 10), make choice of it, and taste the blessedness of John 14:18, 21, 23.