Keraia
Mark 12

Mark 12:43

The Widow’s Offering · Mark 12:41–44
Read Mark 12

Translations

Modern
Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury.
Traditional
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:
Literal
And having summoned His disciples, He said to them, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow cast in more than all of those casting into the treasury.
Latin
…et convocans discipulos suos, ait illis: Amen dico vobis, quoniam vidua hæc pauper plus omnibus misit, qui miserunt in gazophylacium.

Original

Greek
English
Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury.

Notes

Mark 12:43–44

Jesus called his disciples to hear his teaching (see 3:23; 6:7; 8:1; 10:42; see also 7:14; 8:34). In 12:43, Jesus showed a big difference between his thinking and that of the world. No one would have named a building after the widow for her gift of two small coins, but Jesus and his Father look at a person’s heart (1 Samuel 16:7). The widow was doing exactly what Jesus told the rich young ruler to do (Mark 10:21) and what he taught his disciples (1:18, 20; 8:34–37; 10:28–29). Like the woman in 14:3–9, the poor widow loved God with all her heart, soul, mind, and strength (12:30).

Mark 12:41–44

This story about a poor widow shows the difference between the religious leaders who were not sincere and those who truly love God (12:38–40). The focus of the passage is on the statement from Jesus, Truly I tell you, where the widow is said to have given more than the rich people.

Theme notes and profiles

Christian Giving Concern for the Poor

Events

Parallels

Luke 21:1–4

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Mark, Gospel of Temple

Topics

Liberality: Extraordinary - Exemplified: Poor Widow Paying a Late Tithe Poor: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Riches: They Who Possess, should Devote Them to God's Service Self-Denial: General Scriptures Concerning Temple: Herod the Great's Temple: Jesus Teaches In Temple: Herod the Great's Temple: Treasury of The Poor: Offerings of, Acceptable to God Treasure-Houses: Solomon's Temple Used For Widow: The Woman Who Gave Two Mites (Leptas) in the Temple Courtyard Widows: Great Liberality In Widows: Though Poor, May be Liberal Women: The Widow Who Put Her Two Mite (Small Coins, Greek: Leptas) Into the Treasury