Mark 12:41-44--The Widow's Offering

Mark 12:41-44
English Standard Version
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The Widow's Offering
41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

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Jesus is still teaching at the Temple as the Jewish people are making their pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Passover.  The Temple would be flooded at this time with people having their Passover lambs inspected by the priests to make sure they were without blemish (which in a sense is what's happening to Jesus right now as He's being tested.  It is being shown and proven that He is an acceptable sacrifice).

As He was sitting down teaching the crowds, many people came into the Temple to put money into the offering box, and they tried to use many small coins that would make lots of noise so that everyone would notice how large of an offering they made.  Sometimes they would even have people blow trumpets during their giving to draw even more attention to themselves.  Jesus taught in the past that such people have received their reward in full if they give so that they will receive the praise and applause of men.

However, there was a woman who was a widow that caught Jesus's attention, even though she didn't catch the attention of anyone else.  She slipped in quietly and dropped in two small copper coins.  She hoped to go unnoticed, but Jesus noticed her because of her great faith, for she had given all that she had to the LORD that day.  He stopped teaching to tell the crowd how this woman, this poor widow, had given more than all those who were contributing those large sums of money.  How can that be when she gave so little, maybe only the equivalent of one or two pennies to us?  Jesus explains it was because all the rich gave out of their abundance, and it didn't really take any faith for them to give what they did, but she gave out of her scarcity and poverty and had decided to give everything that she had to live on.  What great faith this was, and it caught the attention of God.  We too should be willing to give everything including all our worldly treasure to Him and trust Him by faith to continue to take care of us (if that is what He calls us to do).  She stands in contrast to the rich, young ruler who went away sad when Jesus told him to sell all he had and give the money to the poor because he had much wealth, and he loved his money.  Isn't interesting how those who have much desire to have more but those who have little are usually so willing to entrust the little they have to the Lord because they know they need His provision daily anyways.