Mark 12:41-43 “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:”
Mark records for us what appears to be just another day of temple life; the routine event of casting money into the treasury for the upkeep of the temple and the humanitarian needs of the poor. Except for the occasional fanfare associated with the giving of the rich which was induced for the purpose of vain glory; most individuals were blinded by the activities of the present. Yet, before them was an unseen presence; “And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld.” This is nothing new; most people move through the daily activities of life, on the way to eternity unaware of the unseen presence.
The glorious truth is; “While they may have failed to notice Him, He had not failed to notice them!” It is comforting in that it was personal. He had not relinquished the task to another; “Jesus . . . beheld.” The word “beheld” means a spectator, to gaze, to look with interest or with purpose. It usually indicates the careful observation to detail. Jesus had positioned Himself so that He had an unobstructed view of the people. David enlarged upon this truth when he said, “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence” (Psalm 139:7). His positioning is the result of His passion; the Lord as a special interest and affection for men; “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).
It is concerning in that it was purposeful, “beheld how the people cast money.” Please note the word “how”; it means in what manner, how much, and in what way. The Apostle Paul reminds us that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (II Corinthians 5:10). The writer of Proverbs said, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place” (15:3) and “the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD” (5:21); nothing will escape the discerning eye of the Sovereign. In that day, the Lord is rolling out flat and weighing out mentally the hearts and the habits of all men! The writer of Hebrews tell us the scope of His perception; “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13).
It was just another day and the methodical routine of life had blind humanity to the unseen presence of God. The personal presence of God was among them closely scrutinizing the heart and the habits of men. He was there that day and He is here in our day. They missed seeing Him; you don’t have too!