This poor widow has put more into
the treasury than all the others.
—Mark 12:43
“Many rich people threw in large amounts [into the temple treasury]. But a poor widow came and put in two very small coins, worth only a fraction of a penny” (Mk 12:41–42).
“This poor widow,” Jesus said, “has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had.”
It’s difficult to hear this story without a pang of guilt. But don’t read more into it than is there. Jesus didn’t condemn or even criticize the rich; he just said, by comparison, the poor widow gave more than they.
This was Jesus’ last visit to the temple; and his last word in the temple: She gave “all she had.”
Three days from now, he would do the same.
It isn’t the size of the gift,
but the size of the sacrifice that counts.