The Widow's Two Small Coins (Mark 12:35–44)

 

The Widow's Two Small Coins (Mark 12:35–44)

How does one become abundant? By loving God and loving one's neighbor. God first loved us (John 3:16). That love is a sacrificial love that did not spare his own Son Jesus Christ but gave him up (Rom. 5:8). Love is giving. God pours out on us the grace of forgiveness of sins without measure (Rom. 5:16). Loving and forgiving gives birth to life and brings it to flourishing.

In Mark 12:35–44, Jesus rebuked the scribes for their ignorance and misunderstanding about the Messiah as a descendant of David, and for their hypocrisy in seeking the recognition and praise of people. He taught that the two small coins the widow gave were more than all the large amounts the rich had given. God rescued us from sin and death by giving up the life of his own Son. Therefore, it is only right to love God with all one's life, heart, mind, and will.

Christ and the Son of David (Matt. 22:41–46; Luke 20:41–44)

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, "Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."' 37 David himself calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?" The large crowd listened to him with delight. (Mark 12:35–37)

The Jewish religious leaders were confident they knew everything about God and his Messiah. Yet they failed to recognize Jesus of Nazareth, who had come as the Son of God. They regarded Jesus merely as a lawbreaker who was violating the law of Moses. So they tried to bring him down in various ways by testing him, but they could not. This was because Jesus had truly come to this earth as God's Christ.

The Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes were rabbis who were thoroughly versed in the law of Moses. But because of their misunderstanding and ignorance about the Messiah, they failed and stumbled when it came to recognizing the Christ whom God had sent (Mark 12:24). They said that the Christ was the son of David. This was correct, but they misunderstood what it implied. They imagined a Christ who was militarily strong and powerful, like King David.

However, the Messiah God testified to through the law and the prophets is portrayed as a suffering servant (Isa. 42, 49, 50, 52–53). God's Messiah came to save this world that was groaning under the power of sin and death. God's Christ pays the wages of sin by giving up his own life and sets free the sinners who are held captive under sin.

They also failed to understand what David had said. David called the coming Messiah "Lord," and God had said to his Lord — that is, the Christ — to sit at his right hand until he put his enemies under his feet. As David confessed, Jesus is by nature the Son of God and the Creator God who made all things by his word. Yet he humbled himself, took on human form, was incarnate, was crucified on the cross, and was buried in a tomb — all to save this world from sin. But God raised the Lord on the third day, and he ascended into heaven, where he sits at the right hand of God's throne and reigns until his enemies bow down and submit under his feet (1 Cor. 15:25).

Though their ancestors had written down clearly what the coming Christ would be like, they failed to understand it and fashioned a Messiah of their own making. The fact that the Jews — who had God's word and abundant evidence before them — failed to recognize the Messiah shows that even among believers today, there can be those who expect a distorted messiah. We must endure the suffering and pain of daily life. In those moments, while it is possible to look to the suffering Christ and have the roots of faith grow firm, there are also many who fall into grumbling and complaining and end up serving as slaves to sin.

Beware of the Teachers of the Law (Matt. 23:1–36; Luke 20:45–47)

38 As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely." (Mark 12:38–40)

Jesus said to beware of the scribes. As rabbis, they did not seek their authority by teaching God's word and obeying it, but by showing off their outward appearance and receiving greetings, hospitality, and honor. Instead of caring for widows — whom they ought to have shown compassion to — they made lengthy prayers to put themselves on display before people. Because the scribes had been set apart to teach the holy and true word of God to the people, they would receive a more severe judgment (James 3:1).

The scribes did not charge fees for teaching the law. But they were permitted to receive donations. The problem was that they used their religious standing to fundraise in a virtually coercive manner. Their entrusted stewardship was to teach and illuminate God's word. But they used that position and authority to create a logic that compelled donations, even pressuring poor widows and plundering their houses.

Our reward is not earthly things such as material possessions. The spiritual things that belong to heaven are the reward of those who believe. The Lord Jesus told his disciples that if they received recognition and praise on this earth, there would be no reward for them in heaven (Matt. 6:1). Whatever God's grace received through faith may be, it is not for oneself but to be given for building up the church (Eph. 4:12).

The perfect example of this is our Lord Jesus Christ himself. He did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage but humbled himself, took on the form of a servant, and was incarnate in human likeness on this earth. No one recognized him as the Christ who had come as the Son of God. The Lord Christ, who is worthy of all glory, honor, and worship, instead endured all kinds of false accusation, insult, spitting, and beating, and finally died on the cross.

Jesus Christ was mocked, rejected, and abandoned by this world, and above all was completely forsaken by his beloved heavenly Father (Matt. 27:46; Ps. 22:1). Yet even though Jesus died as one counted among criminals in this world, God raised the Son who was obedient to the point of death from among the dead. And God seated the Son on the highest throne in heaven and gave him authority to reign until his enemies bow down and submit under his feet.

God chose David — the youngest of seven brothers, a mere shepherd — and anointed him. Yet before he became king, King Saul sought to kill him, and David spent at least ten years or more continually fleeing for his life. Yet even when the perfect opportunity came to kill Saul, David feared God and could not lay a hand on the king whom God had anointed. God exalted David and made him king over a united Israel.

Yet God opposes the proud (James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5). To exalt oneself is what Satan the devil does (Isa. 14:13). God has pronounced a curse on the devil. Therefore, Satan can never win and has no choice but to forever carry the yoke of defeat, and his days are numbered (Gen. 3:14).

The Widow's Offering (Luke 21:1–4)

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put 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." (Mark 12:41–44)

The offering receptacle mentioned in the passage was located in the Court of Women within the temple precincts. From the Court of Israel further inward, only men were permitted to enter, which is why the offering receptacle was placed there. The origin of the offering receptacle goes back to the ninth century BC, during the reign of King Joash, when it was created to collect funds to repair and restore the deteriorating and damaged temple of Solomon (2 Kings 12). In Jesus' time, both the obligatory temple tax and voluntary offerings — such as the widow's two small coins — were placed in this receptacle. The money placed in it was used for the maintenance of the temple, the costs of public worship, and charitable relief.

The people also brought sacrificial offerings according to the law of Moses when they came to the temple. This was to support the tribe of Levi, who had been called to serve as priests. Because the tribe of Levi had not received an allotment of land but were scattered among the various tribes to carry out the duties of the priesthood (Deut. 10:9; Josh. 21:41–42), the income of the priests came from the offerings brought to the temple. Even in Jesus' day, people continued to bring sacrificial offerings.

First, God looks at the motive of the heart rather than the amount of the offering. In those days, when the wealthy brought their offerings to the treasury, they did not give quietly and unobtrusively — they sounded trumpets to draw attention and show off (Matt. 6:2). But the widow gave quietly so that no one would notice. Perhaps it was because the amount was so small that there was nothing to show off.

Yet Jesus said that the widow who gave two small coins had put in more than all those who had given large amounts. In terms of the actual amount, the widow's offering was practically nothing. But God looks not at the size of the offering but at the motive of the heart. God does not accept offerings given out of a sense of duty and reluctance, or given to impress others. God is pleased with what is given from the heart with gratitude and joy.

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Cor. 9:6–7)

God also looks at the cost the giver must bear. The widow gave everything she had to live on. An offering is ultimately given to God, who bestows grace and mercy. God has made the finest vineyard and prepared every condition for it to bear good fruit. All of this comes from grace and love. Jesus shed his blood to atone for sin and cleanse it. Now, when we respond to that love and bring the fruit of repentance back to God, he gladly receives it.

And God does not need our offerings. Therefore, offering gifts to God is ultimately for our own sake. Jesus taught his disciples to pray in this way, and among the things he said was to ask God to give us each day our daily bread (Matt. 6:11). Yet God already knows everything we need before we ask. Therefore, asking God to give us our daily bread is for our sake — it is a reminder to us that God is the source of the daily provision we need.

Jesus taught that the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. This is because God first loved us. This love did not come from the earth — it is spiritual and belongs to heaven. This is the very love with which the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, gave up his own life.

When we follow the example of Christ and love and forgive our neighbors with God's love, God opens the windows of heaven and pours out grace upon grace beyond measure. For us to fully submit to God and give up our lives is ultimately the path that leads into a greater measure of God's grace.

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." (Mal. 3:10)

Amen!

August 30, 2026

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Scripture quotes are from the NIV.