Mark 12:44

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Mark 12:44

Of their abundance - Of their superfluous store. They have given what they did not “need.” They could afford it as well as not, and in doing it they have shown no self-denial.She of her want - Of her poverty.All her living - All that she had to live on. She trusted in God to supply her wants, and devoted her little property entirely to him. From this passage we may learn:1. That God is pleased with offerings made to him and his cause.2. That it is our duty to devote our property to God. We... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Mark 12:41-44

Mark 12:41-44. Jesus sat over against the treasury “Jesus was now in the treasury, or that part of the women’s court where the chests were placed for receiving the offerings of those who came to worship. These chests, being thirteen in number, had each of them an inscription, signifying for what use the offerings put into them were destined; and were fixed to the pillars of the portico which surrounded the court. From these voluntary contributions were bought wood for the altar, salt, and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Mark 12:41-44

130. The widow’s offering (Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4)In one of the courts of the temple were large containers into which people dropped their gifts of money. The containers were in an open place, and onlookers could easily see how much people put in. Also, those who gave a lot could easily attract attention to themselves. Jesus noticed that some of the rich gave generously, but a poor widow gave an amount so small that it was almost of no value in the local market place (Mark 12:41-42).Jesus,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Mark 12:44

of = out of. Greek ek. App-104 . want = destitution. all = the whole. that = as much as. living = life. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), App-6 , for the means whereby her life was supported: i.e. her livelihood. Greek. bios. See App-170 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Mark 12:44

For they all did cast in of their superfluity; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.Christ thus explained why the widow's gift was "more" and all of the others "less." Theirs were easy gifts; hers was a hard one. It may be doubted if any passage in the whole New Testament has been any more widely misused than has this one. One often hears people speak of giving "the widow's mite"; but what is evidently meant is that they are giving the amount of the widow's... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Mark 12:42-44

Mark 12:42-44. She threw in two mites, which make a farthing, &c.— Κοδραντης . This coin in value was no more than three-fourths of our farthing: wherefore the offering given by this poor widow was very small in itself, though in another respect it was a great gift, being all that she had, even all her living. We can hardly suppose, that at each of the chests there were officers placed to receive and count the money which the people offered, and to name the sum aloud before they put it in;... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Mark 12:27-44

B. Jesus’ teaching in the temple 11:27-12:44This entire section contains Jesus’ teaching in the temple courtyard on Wednesday. The religious leaders first questioned Jesus’ authority (Mark 11:12 to Mark 12:12) and then His teaching (Mark 12:13-37). Finally Jesus condemned their hypocrisy and commended a widow’s action that demonstrated reality (Mark 12:38-44). Jesus functioned as a faithful servant of the Lord in the role of a prophet here. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Mark 12:38-44

3. Jesus’ condemnation of hypocrisy and commendation of reality 12:38-44Jesus proceeded to condemn His accusers who had condemned Him. They had condemned Him because He did not fit their ideas of Messiah. He had shown that the Old Testament presented a different Messiah than the one they wanted. Now He condemned them for failing to measure up to what the Old Testament required of them. This section concludes Mark’s account of Jesus’ public ministry and resumes Jesus’ teaching of His disciples. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Mark 12:41-44

Jesus’ commendation of reality 12:41-44 (cf. Luke 21:1-4)This incident contrasts the spiritual poverty and physical prosperity of the scribes with the physical poverty and spiritual prosperity of the widow. It also contrasts the greed of the scribes with the generosity of the widow. It resumes Jesus’ instruction of His disciples (Mark 12:41 to Mark 13:37). This pericope brings the themes of true piety (the woman) and hardened unbelief (the scribes) to a climax. [Note: See Geoffrey Smith, "A... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Mark 12:43-44

Mark stressed the importance of this lesson for disciples by noting that Jesus called His disciples to Him and then prefaced His statement with "Truly I say to you" (NASB). The poor widow’s offering was more than the others because it cost her more to give it and because she gave it willingly nevertheless. Since she gave two coins, she could have kept one for herself. Her sacrifice expressed her love for God and her trust in God to sustain her (cf. 1 Kings 17:8-16)."The means of the giver and... read more

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