In the course of his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, 39 seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation.”
41 He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. 44 For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”
While teaching in the temple area, Jesus has answered questions from religious leaders and has shown the people the deeper meaning of God’s law. Now He turns to a serious warning. Some scribes enjoyed the prestige of their religious status and sought public honor. Jesus warns His listeners to beware of this kind of religious pride (vv. 38–39).
The scribes were experts in the Law and were respected as teachers. Jesus’ warning is directed at those who used religious position for their own honor and advantage. This desire for honor became especially grave when it was joined to injustice toward the vulnerable. Jesus says that they “devour the houses of widows” while reciting lengthy prayers (v. 40). Widows were among the most vulnerable people in Israel, along with orphans, the poor, and foreigners. The Law repeatedly called God’s people to protect them and act justly toward them (Deuteronomy 24:17–22). Prayer is meant to turn the heart toward God. Jesus condemns the misuse of prayer as a cover for greed and injustice.
This warning also echoes the prophets. Malachi speaks of the Lord coming to His temple and bringing judgment against those who oppress widows, orphans, workers, and foreigners (Malachi 3:1-5). In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is the Lord who comes to the temple and sees the truth of human hearts. He sees public honor, but He also sees hidden injustice. He sees long prayers, but He also sees whether mercy and justice are present.
Then Jesus sits opposite the treasury and watches the people making their offerings (v. 41). Many rich people give large sums. Then a poor widow gives two small coins, worth only a few cents (v. 42). These were among the smallest coins in circulation. To most people, her gift would have seemed inconsequential. To Jesus, it was the greatest gift.
Jesus calls His disciples to Himself because He wants them to learn how God measures a gift. The rich gave from their surplus wealth. Their offerings were large, but they still had much left. The widow gave from her poverty. She gave “all she had, her whole livelihood” (v. 44). Her gift was great because, in Jesus’ judgment, it cost her far more than the large gifts given from surplus.
The widow’s offering also reflects the commandment Jesus had just praised: to love God with all one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself (Mark 12:29-31). Her poverty does not keep her from worship. Jesus honors her gift because she gives from what she needs to live, while others give from what they have left over.
In this passage, Mark points the reader to the Passion. The widow gives her whole livelihood, and soon Jesus will give His life for the salvation of many (Mark 10:45). Her hidden generosity points toward the deeper self-giving of Christ. She gives everything she has to live on, and Christ gives Himself completely for us.
Jesus teaches His disciples to see as God sees. Human beings often notice status, titles, clothing, and large gifts. God sees the heart. True devotion before God is shown in humility, justice, mercy, and generous self-giving. The humble widow’s two small coins remain a lasting witness because Jesus saw that she had given everything she had to live on.
Lord Jesus, help me to seek Your approval more than human praise. Teach me to give with a sincere heart, to care for those who are vulnerable, and to trust You with all that I have. Amen.
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Sources and References
- The New American Bible, Revised Edition. Washington, DC: Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, 2011. Notes on Mark 7:1-23; 12:38-44; Matthew 23:1-39.
- Hahn, Scott, and Curtis Mitch. The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2010. Notes on Mark 12:42, 44.
- The Navarre Bible: Saint Mark’s Gospel. Dublin: Four Courts Press; Princeton, NJ: Scepter Publishers, 2005. Notes on Mark 12:38-44.
- Brown, Raymond E., Joseph A. Fitzmyer, and Roland E. Murphy, eds. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990. Page 623, paragraphs 81–82.
- Hamm, Dennis, and others. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Edited by José Enrique Aguilar Chiu, Richard J. Clifford, Carol J. Dempsey, Eileen M. Schuller, Thomas D. Stegman, and Ronald D. Witherup. New York: Paulist Press, 2018. Pages 1013–1014.
- Collins, John J., Gina Hens-Piazza, Barbara Reid, and Donald Senior, eds. The Jerome Biblical Commentary for the Twenty-First Century. London: T&T Clark, 2022. Pages 1275–1276.
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