Truly I tell you, whoever gives a mere drink of cold water to one of these least significant [disciples of mine] because he is a disciple, will certainly not lose his [temporal or eternal] reward.”
Mark 12:43 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has thrown in more than all the rest who are throwing [money] into the treasury. More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 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: Amplified Bible - Classic Edition And He called His disciples [to Him] and said to them, Truly and surely I tell you, this widow, [she who is] poverty-stricken, has put in more than all those contributing to the treasury. American Standard Version (1901) And he called unto him his disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than all they that are casting into the treasury: Common English Bible Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I assure you that this poor widow has put in more than everyone who’s been putting money in the treasury. Catholic Public Domain Version And calling together his disciples, he said to them: "Amen I say to you, that this poor widow has put in more than all those who contributed to the offertory. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version And calling his disciples together, he saith to them: Amen I say to you, this poor widow hath cast in more than all they who have cast into the treasury. |
Truly I tell you, whoever gives a mere drink of cold water to one of these least significant [disciples of mine] because he is a disciple, will certainly not lose his [temporal or eternal] reward.”
A poor widow came and threw in two small copper coins [Note: These two coins each amounted to about ten minutes’ worth of a farm laborer’s pay, or about $1.50 in 2005]. The total she gave was equivalent to a larger coin [i.e., worth twice as much].
For all of them threw in from their abundance, but being very poor, she threw in everything she had, even all she had to live on.”
Jesus spoke these words in the treasury [area of the Temple]. And no one arrested Him because His time had not yet come [i.e., to be turned over to the authorities and killed].
[In response to this prediction], the disciples decided to send as much relief as they could to help the brothers living in Judea.
For if the eagerness is there, [then] whatever a person has [to give] is acceptable, and not what he does not have.
[It is] how, in spite of their suffering severe trials, their overflowing joy and extreme poverty produced an overwhelming expression of generosity.