The Story of the Widow’s Coins in Context

Mark 12:41–44 ESV And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. ₄₂ And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. ₄₃ And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. ₄₄ For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

The Story of the Widow’s Coins is often used as a lesson on giving generously to one’s local church. Indeed, if the Story were read on its own, it can seem as though Jesus was praising the widow’s generosity, because she gave a larger portion of her money to the Temple treasury than other richer people.

However, Bible stories should not be taken out of context. There is a reason why this Story was placed in this specific place in the Gospel of Mark. When the Story of the Widow’s Coins is read in context, the true message of Jesus’ saying becomes clear. (This study also works for the parallel account in Luke 21:1–4.)

In context, Jesus was in the Temple, teaching against a teaching of the scribes—the Jewish religious leaders of the Temple (vv. 35–37). In the passage just before the Story of the Widow’s Coins, Jesus warned his followers about the scribes:

Mark 12:38–40 ESV And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces ₃₉ and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, ₄₀ who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

As part of his teachings against the scribes, Jesus tells his followers that the scribes, among other things, “devour widows’ houses” (v. 40). Widows were generally poor and needed support from others. According to the Bible, God cares for widows (Deut. 10:18; Psa. 68:5; 146:9). He considers it a great injustice to mistreat widows (Exod. 22:22–24; Deut. 27:19; Mal. 3:5).

Right after Jesus’ saying that the scribes “devour widows’ houses”, the text narrates that Jesus was watching people putting money into the treasury when the poor widow came and put her money into the treasury (vv. 41–42). This practice of giving money to the Temple treasury is not found anywhere in the Bible. Rather, it seems that the scribes instituted this practice, but they taught the people that it came from God (cf. 7:6–13).

Richer people would not be troubled by this teaching of the scribes, since they could afford to give more money to the Temple treasury and still have much money for themselves. In contrast, this poor widow had only a small amount of money. However, because of this teaching of the scribes, she felt that she needed to give her money to the Temple treasury as an act of obedience to God.

The scribes were devouring this widow’s house!