THE WIDOW'S OFFERING

Passage: Mark 12:41-44

Key verse: 44

NIV

The Widow’s Offering(A)

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put(B) and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”(C)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Widow's Offering

41 (A)And he sat down opposite (B)the treasury and watched the people (C)putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two (D)small copper coins, which make a penny.[a] 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, (E)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 (F)poverty has put in everything she had, all (G)she had to live on.”

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 12:42 Greek two lepta, which make a kodrantes; a kodrantes (Latin quadrans) was a Roman copper coin worth about 1/64 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The offering of the rich (41)

Jesus was teaching in the temple. He had warned his disciples about trying to become great men by dressing in fancy clothes. Now he sat watching the crowd putting their money in the temple treasury. Jesus was interested in the people's giving, because giving is a spiritual thermometer. The way people use their money tells where their hearts are. The rich people threw in large amounts of money, but it was money left over after they had bought all the things they felt they needed. There was no sacrifice and no love for God in their giving.

2. The poor widow's offering (42-44)

Jesus was moved when a poor widow offered two small coins, for she gave out of her poverty, not out of her wealth. He didn't look at the amount of money, but at the amount of sacrifice. She could offer because she did not depend on money. Rather, she loved God and depended on him. She gave the most.

Prayer: Lord, help me to offer you the first and best, not the leftovers.

One Word: Love God and give him the best