Mark 12:41 — Community Reflections

MARK 12:41 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“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.”

Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts — the treasury observation scene is introduced as a deliberate watching: Jesus sat down and watched. The treasury had thirteen trumpet-shaped receptacles for different offerings; the sound of coins and the visibility of the givers made giving a semi-public act. Many rich people threw in large amounts — the language threw in (eballon) communicates the physicality and possibly the showiness of the large-gift deposit.

Church Fathers on Mark 12:41

The Lord, who had warned them to avoid the desire of high place and vain glory, now distinguishes by a sure test those who brought in gifts.
Bede · 8th century

Now there was a praiseworthy custom amongst the Jews, that those who were able and willing should put something into the treasury, for the maintenance of the priests, the poor, and the widows.
Theophylact · 11th century

But in a mystical sense, they are rich, who bring forth from the treasure of their heart things new and old, which are the obscure and hidden things of Divine wisdom in both testaments; but who is the poor woman, if it be not I and those like me, who cast in what I can, and have the will to explain to you, where I have, not the power. For God does not consider how much ye bear, but what is the store from which it comes; but each at all events can bring his farthing, that is,…
Pseudo-Jerome · 5th century

Read all 6 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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