Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury.
Parallel translations
- WEB He called his disciples to himself, and said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury,
- KJV And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
- NKJV So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury;
- NASB 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;
- NLT 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus calls his disciples and declares that this poor widow has given more than all the wealthy donors. God measures giving by sacrifice, not size.
Overview
With his solemn 'Most certainly I tell you,' Jesus overturns human evaluation. Her two coins outweigh the large sums because true generosity is measured by the cost to the giver and the trust it expresses. This teaching frees the poor from shame and confronts the rich, reminding all that God sees and values the surrendered heart.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 2 Cor 8:2In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.
- 2 Cor 9:6–8Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
- Acts 11:29So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.
- 2 Cor 8:12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
- Matt 10:42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”
- Exod 35:21–29And everyone whose heart stirred him and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its services, and for the holy garments.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 12:43 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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