The first five occurrences of 2713 appear in accounts that frame the final week of the Lord Jesus. Each instance marks a specific physical perspective that heightens the theological message of the scene.

• Matthew 21:2, Mark 11:2, Luke 19:30 – As the disciples are sent to secure the colt, they are told it will be found “opposite” or “just ahead.” The term fixes the animal at a precise point already known to Christ, underscoring His omniscience and sovereign orchestration of the Triumphal Entry.

• Mark 12:41 – Jesus “sat down opposite the treasury and watched the crowd putting money into it.” His position conveys deliberate scrutiny. From that stance He discerns the widow’s heart, revealing that true worship is measured not by amount but by devotion.

• Mark 13:3 – “As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple,” the Olivet Discourse begins. By situating Himself where He can view the sanctuary, He visually anticipates the judgment soon to fall on that very structure, marrying prophecy to perspective.

Faith Lived in the Presence of God (Romans 4:17)

Paul cites Abraham, “in the presence of God in whom he believed,” to show that saving faith rests before the gaze of the living God. The orientation word moves the discussion from geography to theology: Abraham’s faith was exercised not in isolation but coram Deo. Thus, justification by faith is inseparable from conscious awareness of God’s reality and power—“the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist” (Romans 4:17).

Apostolic Integrity Before the Divine Audience (2 Corinthians 2:17; 2 Corinthians 12:19)

Twice Paul appeals to ministering “in the sight of God.”

• “We are not like so many, peddling the word of God; on the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God” (2 Corinthians 2:17).
• “Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. All this, beloved, is for your edification” (2 Corinthians 12:19).

The apostle points to 2713 to remind the church that every sermon, correction, and pastoral act unfolds under divine inspection. The word thereby functions as a moral plumb line, calling leaders to purity of motive and transparency.

Historical Setting

In Second Temple Jerusalem, the royal portico overlooked the treasury chests, and the Mount of Olives provided a clear, elevated line of sight to Herod’s Temple complex. The Evangelists’ use of 2713 accords with these physical realities, lending verisimilitude to their narratives and rooting spiritual truth in real locations.

Pastoral and Devotional Implications

1. Christ’s knowledge of what lies “opposite” encourages believers to trust His provision for needs not yet visible.
2. Worship and giving are conducted “before” the Lord; secrecy of heart is an illusion.
3. Prophetic warnings, like the Olivet Discourse, derive their weight from the Speaker who sees the end from the beginning.
4. Ministry evaluated “in the sight of God” demands sincerity, forbids manipulation, and aims at edification.
5. Personal faith, modeled after Abraham, is exercised consciously in God’s presence, fostering both humility and boldness.

Summary

Strong’s 2713 links physical positioning with spiritual accountability. Whether describing the exact location of a colt, the vantage point of Christ over the Temple, or the ever-present gaze of God upon His servants, the word consistently reminds readers that every act of faith, worship, and ministry is carried out before the One who sees all.