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Response
The accounts in the Gospels of Mark and Luke both recount an event involving a widow’s offering to God. She gave only two small coins—two mites—but was it truly insignificant?
This narrative is commonly referred to as the account of the widow’s mite or the story of the widow’s offering. One day, Jesus sat with His disciples near the temple treasury observing people putting money into the collection boxes. The court of women housed thirteen such boxes, allowing individuals to contribute as they passed by. Jesus observed the wealthy donating large sums, until a widow approached with two small coins in her hand. The ESV describes them as “two small copper coins, which make a penny” «And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. », (Mark 12:41). The KJV refers to these coins as “mites,” the smallest denomination. The widow placed her coins in the box, prompting Jesus to gather His disciples and highlight her deed: “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has contributed more than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything— all she had to live on” (Mark 12:43-44;cf: Luke 21:1-4).
The story of the widow’s mite imparts several lessons. Firstly, it illustrates that God perceives what humans may overlook. The grand donations in the temple surely caught people’s attention; that was likely what the disciples were observing. However, Jesus noticed what others did not: the modest offering of a destitute widow. This was the contribution that Jesus deemed noteworthy; this was the act that the disciples needed to acknowledge. The other donations in the treasury that day may have made a clamor as they clinked into the receptacles, but the widow’s mites were heard in heaven.
Second, God’s evaluation is different from man’s. The widow’s two mites added up to a penny, according to man’s calculation. But Jesus said that she had given more than anyone else that day «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: », (Mark 12:43). How could this be, when “many rich people threw in large amounts” «And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. », (Mark 12:41)? The difference is one of proportion. The rich were giving large sums, but they still retained their fortunes; the widow “put in everything—all she had to live on” «And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. », (Mark 12:42). Hers was a true sacrifice; the rich had not begun to give to the level of her sacrifice.
Third, God commends giving in faith. Here was a woman in need of receiving charity, yet she had a heart to give. Even though the amount was negligible—what could a widow’s mite buy?—she gave it in faith that God could use it. The widow’s faith is also evident in the fact that she gave the last of her money. Like the widow of Zarephath, who gave her last meal to Elijah (see 1 Kings 17:7-16), the widow in the temple gave away her last means of self-support. Does that mean the widow left the temple completely destitute, went home, and died of starvation? No. The Bible teaches that God provides for our needs (see Matthew 6:25-34).
It is remarkable that, just before Jesus commented on the widow’s mite, He remarked on the scribes “who devour widows’ houses” «which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation. », (Mark 12:40). The religious officials of the day, instead of aiding the widows in need, were content to rob them of their livelihood and inheritance. The system was corrupt, and the darkness of the scribes’ greed makes the widow’s sacrifice shine even more brightly. “God loves a cheerful giver” «Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. », (2 Corinthians 9:7), and He is faithful to take care of His own.
