Context No. 3356 of 4322 · Mark

Mark 12:34-44: in context

34When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from God’s Kingdom.” No one dared ask him any question after that. 35Jesus responded, as he taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36For David himself said in the Holy Spirit, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.”’ 37Therefore David himself calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?” The common people heard him gladly. 38In his teaching he said to them, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces, 39and to get the best seats in the synagogues and the best places at feasts, 40those who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.” 41Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much. 42A poor widow came and she cast in two small brass coins, which equal a quadrans coin. 43He called his disciples to himself and said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury, 44for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.”

Two contrasts close this scene in the temple. Jesus warns against the scribes who love long robes, prominent seats, and greetings in the marketplaces, who make long prayers for show while devouring widows' houses, religion turned into a means of status and gain. And then he sits down across from the treasury and watches a poor widow drop in two tiny coins.

He calls his disciples and says she has given more than all the rich donors, because they gave out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty gave everything she had to live on. God does not measure gifts by their amount but by their cost to the giver. The rich gave what they would never miss; the widow gave her whole living. Her two coins, which seemed like nothing beside the large sums, outweighed them all in heaven's accounting, because they were all she had. The scribes performed their religion for gain; the widow quietly gave away her last, and Jesus saw.

Does my giving cost me anything, like the widow's, or do I give only from my abundance what I will never miss?

Sources

Mark 12:43: "This poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury."
Mark 12:44: "They all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on."
Mark 12:40: "Those who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers."