Luke 21:1 kjv
And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
Luke 21:1 nkjv
And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury,
Luke 21:1 niv
As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.
Luke 21:1 esv
Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box,
Luke 21:1 nlt
While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box.
Luke 21 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 16:7 | "...man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." | God's focus on inward disposition, foreshadowing Jesus's observation in Lk 21:1. |
| Ps 139:1-2 | "O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up..." | God's comprehensive knowledge of human actions, echoing Jesus's keen observation. |
| Prov 21:2 | "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts." | God's evaluation extends beyond external acts to internal motives. |
| Matt 6:1 | "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them." | Warning against ostentatious giving, a theme implied by the rich giving publicly. |
| Matt 6:2-4 | "...do not sound a trumpet before you...when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing..." | Guidance on humble, secret giving contrasting with visible rich donors. |
| Matt 23:23 | "...Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters..." | Critique of external religious observance without inner righteousness. |
| Mark 12:41 | "Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury..." | Parallel account, emphasizing Jesus's deliberate observation. |
| Luke 21:2-4 | "...And He saw a certain poor widow putting in two mites...She out of her poverty put in all that she had..." | Immediate context; the wealthy donors contrast with the poor widow's sacrifice. |
| Luke 12:48 | "...For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required..." | Principle of stewardship for those with abundant resources. |
| Acts 4:34-35 | "...nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them...and laid them at the apostles' feet." | Example of early believers' radical generosity and sharing. |
| 2 Cor 8:12 | "For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have." | God values willingness and capacity in giving. |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." | The principle of cheerful and intentional giving. |
| Heb 11:4 | "By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain..." | Sacrifice evaluated by God based on the giver's heart and faith. |
| Deut 14:28-29 | "At the end of every third year...you shall bring out the tithe...and give it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow..." | Old Testament commands for regular giving and supporting the needy. |
| Mal 3:8-10 | "...Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me!...in tithes and offerings." | Failure to give is seen as robbing God, emphasizing the duty of offerings. |
| Prov 3:9-10 | "Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase..." | Admonition to give from wealth to honor God. |
| Isa 1:11-12 | "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?" Says the LORD..." | Critique of ritualistic worship without genuine devotion, applicable to giving. |
| Amos 5:21-24 | "I hate, I despise your feast days...Let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream." | God prefers genuine righteousness over empty religious acts. |
| 1 Tim 6:17-19 | "...Charge those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God...that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give..." | Instruction for the wealthy on true riches and proper use of resources. |
| James 2:1-4 | "My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality to the rich." | Warning against showing preference based on wealth, a contrast to how God evaluates giving. |
Luke 21 verses
Luke 21 1 Meaning
Luke 21:1 introduces an episode where Jesus observes people contributing to the Temple treasury. He deliberately directs His attention to the donors, particularly noting the wealthy individuals as they deposit their offerings. This act of observation sets the stage for a profound teaching on true giving and sacrificial devotion, distinguishing it from outward display. It highlights Jesus's perceptive awareness of human actions and motives.
Luke 21 1 Context
Luke 21:1 follows Jesus's sharp condemnations of the religious leaders, particularly the scribes (Luke 20:45-47), for their hypocrisy and exploitation of vulnerable people, such as widows. His discourse on the future and signs of His coming immediately precedes this specific observation about giving. The Temple treasury, gazophylakion in Greek, was likely located in the Court of Women, accessible to all, with thirteen trumpet-shaped offering chests for various specific donations. This public setting meant that contributions were visible, allowing for public display, especially by the wealthy. Jesus's actions here – sitting down and observing – indicate a deliberate act of teaching through discernment, not just casual viewing. The scene serves as a stark transition, pivoting from condemnation of hypocrisy to a positive illustration of true, sacrificial devotion, paving the way for the profound teaching embodied in the parable of the widow's mite in the subsequent verses (Luke 21:2-4).
Luke 21 1 Word analysis
- And (δέ - de): A common conjunction, here marking a transition or continuation. It connects this observation to Jesus's previous teaching, showing a direct shift in focus from the hypocrisy of the scribes to an example of actual giving.
- He (αὐτὸς - autos): Emphatic, highlighting Jesus Himself as the one performing the action. It stresses His active role as an observer and discerning Teacher.
- looked up (ἀναβλέψας - anablepsas): A participle from anablepō. Means "to look up" physically, but also carries the connotation of "to look carefully," "to regain sight," or "to discern." Here, it implies Jesus deliberately raised His gaze and observed with focused attention, perceiving more than meets the eye. This is not a casual glance but a conscious act of spiritual insight.
- and (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction connecting the actions of "looking up" and "seeing," indicating that one action followed or resulted in the other.
- saw (εἶδεν - eiden): From horao, meaning "to see," "to perceive," "to observe." While "looked up" describes the act of looking, "saw" signifies the result of that observation – His direct perception of the scene unfolding before Him.
- the rich (τοὺς πλουσίους - tous plousious): A plural adjective used as a noun, referring specifically to "the wealthy ones." Luke directly identifies them by their financial status, highlighting their outward prosperity which implies an ability to give large sums.
- putting (βάλλοντας - ballontas): From ballō, meaning "to throw," "to put," or "to cast." It describes the act of depositing the gifts, possibly implying a public, somewhat showy action, or simply the common manner of putting offerings into the designated receptacles.
- their gifts (τὰ δῶρα αὐτῶν - ta dōra autōn): "Gifts" (dōra, plural of dōron) refers to offerings, donations, or presents, specifically those brought for religious purposes to the Temple. The possessive pronoun "their" (autōn) connects the offerings directly to the wealthy individuals, emphasizing what belonged to them.
- into (εἰς - eis): A preposition indicating motion toward or into something, signifying the destination of the gifts.
- the treasury (τὸ γαζοφυλάκιον - to gazophylakion): Literally "money chest" or "treasury box," specifically referring to the collection boxes located in the Temple courts. This was the place where offerings for Temple upkeep and sacred purposes were deposited. Its public location allowed for others, including Jesus, to observe the acts of giving.
- He looked up and saw: This phrase signifies Jesus's active engagement and spiritual discernment. He wasn't merely present; He was intently observing and understanding the nature of the acts before Him. It hints at His divine insight into people's motives, contrasting His perception with human surface-level judgment.
- the rich putting their gifts: This group analysis emphasizes the demographic observed and their action. The wealthy were expected to give, and their large contributions would have been publicly noticeable. This phrase sets up the forthcoming comparison with the poor widow, focusing on the material aspect of the donation.
Luke 21 1 Bonus section
- The Temple treasury system likely involved thirteen collection boxes, often referred to as "trumpets" because of their shape, each designated for a specific type of offering or fund (e.g., wood for the altar, frankincense, bird offerings, etc.). This organized system ensured specific accountability for donations.
- The placement of the treasury in the Court of Women meant it was accessible to both men and women, rich and poor, emphasizing that all were welcome to contribute. It was a bustling, public area, making acts of giving highly visible.
- This verse underscores Jesus's omnipresent awareness, even in seemingly mundane human actions. His observation of the donors sets up a significant teaching about spiritual values over worldly display, which is a recurring theme in Luke's Gospel.
Luke 21 1 Commentary
Luke 21:1 presents Jesus in a deliberate posture of observation within the Temple courts. His act of "looking up" and "seeing" is not casual; it indicates a focused, discerning gaze. He notices specifically "the rich" making their contributions into the public Temple treasury. This initial observation serves as the narrative backdrop for His subsequent teaching on the value of offerings. By highlighting the wealthy donors first, Luke draws the audience's attention to common assumptions about giving—namely, that larger contributions inherently signify greater value or piety. This verse is a setup, quietly establishing the scene of human financial activity and societal expectations before Jesus unveils a divinely inverted perspective on generosity, sacrifice, and true devotion in the verses that follow, ultimately valuing the heart of the giver over the size of the gift.