The Widow's Offering
Two small coins
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Story
What happened?
Tap a verse number, like , to read the Bible’s exact words.
The whole story, in shortWhat happens, start to finish. Open it if you want the ending first.
In the temple, Jesus warned about scribes who showed off and took advantage of widows. Then he sat watching people put money in the offering boxes, where rich people gave large amounts and a poor widow put in two small copper coins. Jesus told his disciples that she had given more than all the others, because they gave out of their extra, but she gave all she had to live on.
Where it is in the Bible: Mark 12:38-44
Who’s who and what came beforePeople, places, and the story so far. Open it anytime.
Scene Card
Cast
- Jesus: The one the Gospels present as the promised Messiah and the Son of God. It is a few days before he dies.
- The scribes: Teachers of God's law. Some of them like to be noticed.
- Rich people: People giving large gifts at the temple.
- A poor widow: A woman whose husband has died. She has almost nothing.
- The disciples: Jesus's closest followers.
Setting
- The temple courts in Jerusalem, near the boxes where people gave offerings.
When
- Holy Week, about 2,000 years ago, a few days before Jesus was crucified.
Before the Story
Jesus was teaching in the temple. A scribe had asked him which commandment is the most important. Jesus said: love God, and love your neighbor (12:28-31).
God's law told his people to care for widows. A widow often had no one to provide for her (Deuteronomy 24:19).
Here's what you know: In a few days, Jesus will give everything he has, his own life.
Map of the Story
| Scene | Verses | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Watch out | 12:38-40 | Jesus warns about scribes who show off |
| 2. The offering boxes | 12:41 | Rich people give large amounts |
| 3. Two small coins | 12:42 | A poor widow gives a tiny gift |
| 4. More than all the others | 12:43-44 | Jesus says she gave the most |
Plain Retelling
Scene 1 of 4Watch Out
Jesus was teaching in the temple. "Watch out for the scribes," he said (12:38).
Some of them liked to walk around in long robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplace.
They liked the best seats in the synagogue and the places of honor at dinners.
"They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers" (12:40). To defraud means to cheat.
They looked holy, but they took advantage of the weakest people.
Scene 2 of 4The Offering Boxes
Then Jesus sat down across from the place where people put in their offerings. He watched.
Many rich people came and put in large amounts.
Scene 3 of 4Two Small Coins
Then a poor widow came.
She put in two small copper coins. Together they were worth almost nothing.
Hardly anyone would have noticed her. But Jesus did.
Scene 4 of 4More Than All the Others
Jesus called his disciples over.
"Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury" (12:43).
"For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on" (12:44).
Surplus means extra. The rich gave what they had left over. She gave everything.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "Watch out for the scribes" (12:38) | Don't be fooled by people who just look holy. |
| "For a show make lengthy prayers" (12:40) | Prayer can be turned into showing off. God isn't fooled. |
| "He watched the crowd" (12:41) | Jesus notices what people do, and why. |
| "Two small copper coins" (12:42) | Her gift was tiny to everyone else. |
| "More than all the others" (12:43) | Jesus measures a gift by the heart and the cost, not the amount. |
| "All she had to live on" (12:44) | She trusted God with everything. |
Back Then
The temple had thirteen offering boxes shaped like trumpets. People dropped coins in, and you could hear them fall.
The widow's coins were called lepta. A lepton was the smallest coin. It was worth a tiny part of a day's pay.
Luke tells this story too. Luke 21:1-4.
Literal Reader Alert
Should people give away all their money? Jesus didn't tell everyone to do what the widow did. He praised her trust. God cares about the heart behind a gift, not the size of it.
Did Jesus approve of her being poor? No. Right before this, Jesus spoke against people who cheat widows. He cares about people who are poor.
Are all scribes bad? No. Just before this, Jesus told a scribe he was not far from the kingdom of God (12:34). Jesus is warning about showing off and taking advantage of people.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Some scribes | Proud | They liked the best seats and attention (12:38-39) |
| The rich | Comfortable | They gave out of their extra (12:44) |
| The widow | Trusting | She gave all she had (12:44) |
| The disciples | Surprised | Jesus said she gave the most (12:43) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
Do you ever feel like what you have to give is too small? Tap one.
Yes
Jesus saw two tiny coins. He sees your small gifts too.
I want to be noticed
Jesus warned about showing off. He sees what's done quietly.
I have a lot
You can give generously. Jesus cares about the heart behind it.
Thankful
God gave everything for you. You can give with a glad heart.
You Might Have Heard
"Only big gifts make a difference."
What's true: Big gifts can do a lot of good.
What the story is mainly about: Jesus noticed a gift no one else noticed. He said the widow's two coins were more than everyone else's. God sees the heart, and he sees people the world overlooks.
Where Jesus is: Sitting across from the offering boxes, watching, a few days before he gave everything.
Good News
The widow gave everything she had. A few days later, Jesus gave everything he had: his life, for us.
"She out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on" (12:44).
Jesus sees people no one else notices. He sees you. And he held nothing back to save you.
Jesus notices the people the world overlooks. He gave everything for us, and he sees what we give in love.
Big Idea
A poor widow gave two small coins, all she had. Jesus said it was more than everyone else's. He sees the heart.
If this story brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther taught that God doesn't need our good works, but our neighbor does. Gifts given in faith, however small, are precious to God.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. In Year B, it reads Mark 12:38-44 in November (Lectionary 32).
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury.
How did that feel?
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Lectionary 32 Year BGospel, Mark 12:38–44
For a newsletter or sermon notes
The Widow's Offering, explained in plain words. Rich people give large gifts. A poor widow gives two tiny coins, and Jesus notices. About 8 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/the-widows-offering/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church