Mark 12:41–44Mark 12:41–44

two themes in this two themes in this story:story:

• • the true measure of giving, the true measure of giving, andand

• • another reason for the coming another reason for the coming judgment upon the nation of judgment upon the nation of

Israel (an underlying theme in Israel (an underlying theme in the Gospel of Mark)the Gospel of Mark)

• • evidence for God’s evidence for God’s lawsuit against Israel lawsuit against Israel accumulates as Mark accumulates as Mark

progresses—culminating in progresses—culminating in the religious leaders the religious leaders

mocking their Messiah on mocking their Messiah on the cross (Mark 15:31–32)the cross (Mark 15:31–32)

context:context:

• • why is this story between why is this story between the condemnation of the the condemnation of the

scribes (12:38–40) and the scribes (12:38–40) and the destruction of the Temple destruction of the Temple

(13:1–2)?(13:1–2)?

• • the end of Jesus' the end of Jesus' public ministry occurs public ministry occurs in Mark 12:40—in the in Mark 12:40—in the

Temple (12:35)Temple (12:35)

Mark 12:38–40Mark 12:38–40

And in His teaching He was And in His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes saying: “Beware of the scribes

who like to walk around in who like to walk around in long robes, and long robes, and likelike respectful respectful greetings in the market places greetings in the market places

(Mark 12:38),(Mark 12:38),

and chief seats in the and chief seats in the synagogues, and places of synagogues, and places of honor at banquets (Mark honor at banquets (Mark

12:39).12:39).

They They areare the ones who devour the ones who devour widows’ houses, and for widows’ houses, and for

appearance’s sake offer long appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive prayers; these will receive

greater condemnation” (Mark greater condemnation” (Mark 12:40).12:40).

two sins:two sins:

• • hypocrisy (appearance of hypocrisy (appearance of godliness),godliness),

• • stealing from widows and then stealing from widows and then covering up their despicable theft covering up their despicable theft

with a hypocritical show of with a hypocritical show of godliness—offering long prayersgodliness—offering long prayers

terrible crime:terrible crime:

• • to "devour widows' houses" to "devour widows' houses" probably refers to encouraging probably refers to encouraging

widows to make large gifts widows to make large gifts beyond their means to teachers beyond their means to teachers

of the Law and to the Temple of the Law and to the Temple (teachers were not allowed to (teachers were not allowed to

charge for their teaching)charge for their teaching)

• • "devouring" ("devouring" (katesthiokatesthio) implies ) implies consuming completely: birds consuming completely: birds

eating seed (Luke 8:5) and the eating seed (Luke 8:5) and the effect of fire (Rev 11:5; 20:9)—to effect of fire (Rev 11:5; 20:9)—to

devour financially is to leave devour financially is to leave someone pennyless (the prodigal someone pennyless (the prodigal

son completely lost his son completely lost his inheritance, Luke 15:12–14, 30)inheritance, Luke 15:12–14, 30)

Corban:Corban:

• • was a similar crime—by was a similar crime—by encouraging adult sons to encouraging adult sons to dedicate their earnings to dedicate their earnings to

God, aged and needy parents God, aged and needy parents were impoverished (Mark 7:6–were impoverished (Mark 7:6–

13)13)

Mark 12:41–44Mark 12:41–44

And He sat down opposite the And He sat down opposite the treasury, and treasury, and beganbegan observing how observing how the multitude were putting the multitude were putting 11money money

into the treasury; and many rich into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums people were putting in large sums

(Mark 12:41).(Mark 12:41).

11 i.e., copper i.e., copper coinscoins

And a poor widow came and put in And a poor widow came and put in two small copper two small copper 11coins, which coins, which

amount to a amount to a 22cent (Mark 12:42).cent (Mark 12:42).

1 1 Lit., Lit., leptalepta22 Lit., Lit., quadrans, i.e.,quadrans, i.e., 1/64 of a denarius 1/64 of a denarius

• • the faithful widow is a striking the faithful widow is a striking contrast to the greed and contrast to the greed and

hypocrisy of the scribes (12:38–hypocrisy of the scribes (12:38–40)40)

• the juxtaposition of this story • the juxtaposition of this story with verse 40 suggests she is with verse 40 suggests she is

most likely one of their victimsmost likely one of their victims

• • she is also a striking contrast to she is also a striking contrast to the "many rich people" who "were the "many rich people" who "were

putting in large sums" (12:41)putting in large sums" (12:41)

41c41c many rich people were putting in large many rich people were putting in large amountsamounts

42a a poor widow put in 42a a poor widow put in two small two small coinscoins

44a44a They all out of the richesThey all out of the riches to them put in to them put in

44b44b she out of the poverty of her she out of the poverty of her put in put in

• • contributions were dropped into 13 contributions were dropped into 13 trumpet-shaped chests called trumpet-shaped chests called shopharotshopharot

(“the Trumpets”) placed at intervals around (“the Trumpets”) placed at intervals around the walls of the Court of the Womenthe walls of the Court of the Women

• coins were dropped into the narrow top • coins were dropped into the narrow top and accumulated in the wider baseand accumulated in the wider base

• they were inscribed with various titles: • they were inscribed with various titles: "New Shekel Dues," "Old Shekel Dues," "New Shekel Dues," "Old Shekel Dues," "Bird-Offerings," "Young Birds for the "Bird-Offerings," "Young Birds for the

Holocaust," "Wood," "Frankincense," "Gold Holocaust," "Wood," "Frankincense," "Gold for the Mercy-Seat," and six "Freewill-for the Mercy-Seat," and six "Freewill-

Offerings"Offerings"

• • she gave her offering and she gave her offering and believed God would provide all believed God would provide all of her needs; the scribes used of her needs; the scribes used their religion to exploit people their religion to exploit people

to raise moneyto raise money

And calling His disciples to And calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow say to you, this poor widow

put in more than all the put in more than all the contributors to the treasury contributors to the treasury

(Mark 12:43);(Mark 12:43);

for they all put in out of their for they all put in out of their 11surplus, but she, out of her surplus, but she, out of her

poverty, put in all she owned, poverty, put in all she owned, 22all all she had to live on” (Mark 12:44).she had to live on” (Mark 12:44).

1 Or, 1 Or, abundanceabundance2 Lit., 2 Lit., her whole livelihoodher whole livelihood

• • her small offering was greater her small offering was greater than all the offerings made by the than all the offerings made by the

rich together (12:43)rich together (12:43)

• she gave two • she gave two leptalepta—about a —about a fourth of a centfourth of a cent

• a • a leptonlepton (“the thin one”), the (“the thin one”), the smallest of all Jewish coins , was smallest of all Jewish coins , was worth about an eighth of a cent worth about an eighth of a cent

and is the only Jewish coin and is the only Jewish coin mentioned in the New Testamentmentioned in the New Testament

• • the rich gave from their the rich gave from their surplus surplus afterafter their own needs their own needs were satisfied; she gave all were satisfied; she gave all

she owned she owned beforebefore God God provided her needsprovided her needs

• • the value of an offering is best the value of an offering is best measuredmeasured

(1) against the financial worth of the (1) against the financial worth of the offerer,offerer,

(2) as a percentage of total assets,(2) as a percentage of total assets,(3) by the amount left over after (3) by the amount left over after

giving, orgiving, or(4) by the sacrifice made, not the (4) by the sacrifice made, not the amount given (amount given (cf.cf. 2 Sam 24:24) 2 Sam 24:24)

• • by this measure anyone—by this measure anyone—rich or poor—can lay up rich or poor—can lay up

treasure in heaven and be rich treasure in heaven and be rich toward Godtoward God

(Luke 12:21, 33–34; 18:22)(Luke 12:21, 33–34; 18:22)

• • she entrusted her life to she entrusted her life to God, lived in total dependence God, lived in total dependence upon him, laid up treasure in upon him, laid up treasure in

heaven, and became rich heaven, and became rich toward Godtoward God

• • the story of the poor widow the story of the poor widow is a bridge between the is a bridge between the

avarice of the religious leaders avarice of the religious leaders (12:38–40) and the coming (12:38–40) and the coming destruction of the Temple destruction of the Temple

(13:1–2)(13:1–2)

• • the abuse of widows in Jesus' the abuse of widows in Jesus' day justifies the coming day justifies the coming

destruction of Judea and the destruction of Judea and the Temple (as it justified the Temple (as it justified the

destruction of Israel and Judah destruction of Israel and Judah in the Old Testament)in the Old Testament)

• this widow is one of the last • this widow is one of the last nails in the coffin of nationalnails in the coffin of national

• • the days of covenant-the days of covenant-breaking Israel are numbered; breaking Israel are numbered;

all that remains is to all that remains is to implement the curse of the implement the curse of the

Sinaitic CovenantSinaitic Covenant

• • widows were as much a widows were as much a part of the covenant part of the covenant

community as anyone else community as anyone else (Deut 16:10–11, 13–14)(Deut 16:10–11, 13–14)

• • widows, orphans, and foreigners widows, orphans, and foreigners were vulnerable and dependent were vulnerable and dependent

and were offered special and were offered special protection under the Law:protection under the Law:

(1) fields should be left for widows (1) fields should be left for widows to glean (Deut 24:19–21; to glean (Deut 24:19–21; cf.cf. Lev Lev

19:9–10; 23:22; carried out in Ruth 19:9–10; 23:22; carried out in Ruth 2), and2), and

(2) a triennial tithe provided food (2) a triennial tithe provided food for widows and a blessing for for widows and a blessing for

Israel (Deut 14:28–29)Israel (Deut 14:28–29)

• • there was no reason for there was no reason for farmers to be greedy: God farmers to be greedy: God

promised to provide an promised to provide an abundance of food if the abundance of food if the

people obeyed the Covenant people obeyed the Covenant (Deut 28:4–5, 8, 11–12)(Deut 28:4–5, 8, 11–12)

• • God promised to (1) support (Psa God promised to (1) support (Psa 146:9; Prov 15:25), (2) execute justice 146:9; Prov 15:25), (2) execute justice

for (Deut 10:17–18; Psa 68:5), (3) for (Deut 10:17–18; Psa 68:5), (3) avenge (Psa 94:1–7), andavenge (Psa 94:1–7), and

(4) curse anyone who withholds (4) curse anyone who withholds justice from a widow (Deut 27:19)justice from a widow (Deut 27:19)

• oppressing a widow was a sin unto • oppressing a widow was a sin unto death (Exod 22:22–24)death (Exod 22:22–24)

• • widows were often widows were often taken advantage of in taken advantage of in

times of national times of national apostasy (Isa 1:16–17, 23; apostasy (Isa 1:16–17, 23;

10:1–4)10:1–4)

• • abuse of widows abuse of widows contributed to the fifth contributed to the fifth

cycle of discipline—to the cycle of discipline—to the fall and dispersion of Judah fall and dispersion of Judah in A.D. 70 (Jer 7:5–7; Ezek in A.D. 70 (Jer 7:5–7; Ezek

22:7; Zech 7:9–14)22:7; Zech 7:9–14)

• • Jews who exploited widows Jews who exploited widows in the Age of Israel will be in the Age of Israel will be judged shortly after the judged shortly after the

second coming of Christ—by second coming of Christ—by the Messiah (Mal 3:2–5)the Messiah (Mal 3:2–5)

Many of these insights come from an Many of these insights come from an excellent article by Geoffrey Smith:excellent article by Geoffrey Smith:

Geoffrey Smith, “A Closer Look At The Geoffrey Smith, “A Closer Look At The Widow’s Offering: Mark 12:41–44,” Widow’s Offering: Mark 12:41–44,” JETS,JETS, March 1997, 27–36.March 1997, 27–36.