MPV Commentary

The Widow's Two Mites.

Jesus had been standing for a long time teaching in the temple court (Mark 11:27), and he sat down to rest near the treasury. As he looked up, he noticed the rich people casting large amounts of money into the collection chests (2 Kings 12:9; John 8:20).

The widow, however, was different. She contributed two small coins, which together made a farthing, the smallest Jewish coin. She could have kept one for herself.

Jesus called his disciples to him and used this opportunity to teach them an important lesson. He pointed out that the widow's offering was more significant than those of the rich people because it represented her entire living, everything she had to spare (Mark 12:44).

In contrast, the rich people were giving from their abundance, what they could easily afford to give up. The widow, on the other hand, gave from her penury, or lack, sacrificing what was barely enough for her own needs. This is the standard of commendable offering that Jesus teaches – not what we can spare, but what costs us some real sacrifice (2 Corinthians 8:1-3).