38 Jesus also taught: “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. 39 And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. 40 Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished.”

The Widow’s Offering

41 Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. 42 Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.[a]

43 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. 44 For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”

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Footnotes

  1. 12:42 Greek two lepta, which is a kodrantes [i.e., a quadrans].

38 (A)And in His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like (B)personal greetings in the marketplaces, 39 and seats of honor in the synagogues, and places of honor at banquets, 40 (C)who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive all the more condemnation.”

The Widow’s Coins

41 (D)And Jesus sat down opposite (E)the treasury, and began watching how the [a]people were (F)putting [b]money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large amounts. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two [c]lepta coins, which amount to a [d]quadrans. 43 Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all [e]the contributors to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their [f]surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, [g]all she had (G)to live on.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 12:41 Lit crowd was
  2. Mark 12:41 I.e., copper coins
  3. Mark 12:42 The smallest Greek copper coin, about 1/128 of a laborer’s daily wage
  4. Mark 12:42 A small Roman copper coin, worth about 1/64 of a laborer’s daily wage
  5. Mark 12:43 Lit those who were putting in
  6. Mark 12:44 Or abundance
  7. Mark 12:44 Lit her whole livelihood