Mark 12:35-44 The Pharisee’s Plight and the Widow's Mite

And Jesus began to say, as He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself said in the Holy Spirit, ‘THE Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, and UNTIL I put Your enemies beneath Your feet.”’ David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; so in what sense is He his son?” And the large crowd enjoyed listening to Him. In His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, ^and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation.” And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; ⁴⁴ for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”

Jesus renews His accusations against the Temple leaders charging them for robbing even widows for their own honor’s sake. Meanwhile He takes notice of a widow who gave a small offering, which represented all that she had. Jesus raises her up to His disciples because this one gave not from what she has, but she gave all that she has. In Jesus’ view, the Pharisee’s lost honor and reward because they were seeking to magnify themselves, but the widow was raised up before the disciples and God for her quiet faithfulness before God.

Daily Prayer: Father, in all that we do, let not our right hand know what our left hand is doing, so that all we do will be for Your greater glory. In Jesus name I pray Amen.