For all these have of their abundance cast into the offerings of God: but she of her want hath cast in all the living that she had.
απαντες γαρ ουτοι εκ του περισσευοντος αυτοις εβαλον εις τα δωρα του θεου αυτη δε εκ του υστερηματος αυτης απαντα τον βιον ον ειχεν εβαλεν
13 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 15 commentaries
For God regarded not the scantiness of the offering, but the overflowing of the affection. Almsgiving is not the bestowing a few things out of many, but it is that of the widow emptying, herself of her whole substance. But if you cannot offer as much as the widow, at least give all that remains over.
Or the widow may be taken to mean any soul bereft as it were of her first husband, the ancient law, and not worthy to be united to the Word of God. Who brings to God instead of a dowry faith and a good conscience, and so seems to offer more than those who are rich in words, and abound in the moral virtues of the Gentiles.
She offered two oboli, which with the sweat of her brow she had earned for her daily living, or what she daily begs for at the hands of others she gives to God, shewing that her poverty is fruitful to her. Therefore does she surpass the others, and by a just award receives a crown from God; as it follows, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more, &c.
No stone will remain intact; everything will be obliterated. The earlier narrative concerning the widow has been addressed in our work 'On Widows,' and is therefore excluded from this discussion.
In the same text, it is also conveyed how we ought to show compassion and mercy to those in need, emphasizing that one should not feel ashamed due to their own poverty. True mercy is not assessed by the wealth one has inherited, but rather by the heart's willingness to give. Indeed, the divine voice lifts up the widow of whom it is said, “This widow ...
has given more than all.” Here, our Lord reminds us that no one should refrain from giving out of embarrassment regarding their financial status, and those endowed with wealth should not take pride in their contributions that may appear greater than those of the less fortunate. A small gift from a humble individual holds more significance than great riches from a wealthy person, for what matters is not the amount given, but what remains after the offering. No one has truly given more than one who kept nothing for herself.
Why do you, the wealthy, boast against the poor, draping yourself in gold and flaunting your rich attire as if it were inconsequential compared to your affluence, demanding respect simply due to your financial superiority? Just as rivers overflow during floods, a mere sip from a brook can be more refreshing. Young wine foams during fermentation, yet the farmer does not mourn over spillage. Even in threshing, when the sound of chains thrums on the floor and grain disperses, once the work concludes, flour abounds, and clay jars brim with oil. Now, during this drought, the vessels of the rich are drained, while the small jar of oil belonging to the widow remains full. Therefore, we should not disdain any offering, but rather value everything done with a godly attitude. Indeed, no one has given more than that widow who fed the prophet with the food meant for her children. As no one has given more than her, none are more deserving of God's grace: this is undoubtedly true.
Do not look down on this woman, who humbly offers two small coins to the treasury. She is indeed great in the eyes of God and is deemed worthy to be placed above all others. Is she not the one whose faith bridged the two covenants for humanity’s sake, therefore surpassing all women? And no man can equal her in offerings, as she combined her faith with acts of charity. So let every widow among you boldly contribute her two small coins, representing her total faith and love.
Blessed is she who brings forth from her treasury the image of the King intact. Your treasury consists of wisdom, purity, righteousness, and a sound mind, similar to the treasure from which the wise men gave gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Lord—gold symbolizing the King’s power, incense honoring God, and myrrh reflecting the confession of the resurrection of the body. This treasure exists within you, should you seek it earnestly: for we possess our treasures in fragile vessels.
You also have gold to offer, but the Lord is not interested in the shiny metal; He desires that which cannot be consumed by fire on the day of judgment. God does not yearn for precious gifts, rather He desires the sweet aroma of faith that emanates from the altars of your hearts, mingled with the love of a devout spirit.
From this very treasury spring not only the two coins of the widow—wherein shines the pure image of the heavenly King—but also the tribute of chastity, attained through diligent effort. This is the offering of a widow who perseveres day and night in her labors, compiling a righteous reward for her esteemed chastity, as she keeps faith with her deceased husband's bed, provides for her beloved children, and attends to the poor. Such a widow should be esteemed above the rich; she shall not quake before the judgment of Christ.
This is the widow to model your lives after, O daughters; for “it is good to be jealous of good things always.” Be fervent in seeking virtuous gifts. The Lord is ever watching; Jesus, I assure you, sees when you approach the treasury, poised to give from the fruits of your labor to assist the needy. Present your coins, knowing they yield the body of Christ! Therefore, approach your Lord with charity, faith, and purity, for Jesus esteems not those of little means but those abundant in virtues. Let Him witness your diligence and industry. This is the tribute you ought to offer to God: demonstrate gratitude, even for the merits of others. There is no greater thanksgiving to the Lord than that which incorporates the gifts of piety.
Mark addressed this in his fortieth chapter, and you can find the complete explanation there.
In the Greek language, φυλάξαι signifies to keep, and gaza in Persian means riches, hence gazophylacium is used for the name of the place in which money is kept. Now there was a chest with an opening at the top placed near the altar, on the right hand of those entering the house of God, into which the Priests cast all the money, which was given for the Lord’s temple. But our Lord as He overthrows those who trade in His house, so also He remarks those who bring gifts, giving praise to the deserving, but condemning the bad. Hence it follows, And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
For whatever we offer with an honest heart is well pleasing to God, who hath respect unto the heart, not the substance, nor does He weigh the amount of that which is given in sacrifice, but of that from which it is taken; as it follows, For all these have cast in of their abundance, but she all that she had.
Now mystically, the rich men who cast their gifts into the treasury signify the Jews puffed up with the righteousness of the law; the poor widow, the simplicity of the Church which is called poor, because it has either cast away the spirit of pride, or its sins, as if they were worldly riches. But the Church is a widow, because her Husband endured death for her. She cast two mites into the treasury, because in God’s sight, in whose keeping are all the offerings of our works, she presents her gifts, whether of love to God and her neighbour, or of faith and prayer.
And these excel all the works of the proud Jews, for they of their abundance cast into the offerings of God, in that they presume on their righteousness, but the Church casts in all her living, for every thing that hath life she believes to be the gift of God.
After exiting the inner chamber of the temple, Jesus Christ paused at the entrance to the outer chamber designated for women and sat down beside the collection box where worshippers deposited their offerings, observing the people as they passed by. Many contributed substantial amounts, some driven by eagerness and others (the Pharisees) motivated by pride. The Lord remained silent. At that moment, a destitute widow approached the box and placed two small coins (half-shekels) inside, clearly giving her last available funds. To those with a Pharisaical mindset, such a contribution would have seemed insignificant. However, the Lord focused not on the monetary value but on the heart of the giver: her offering held immense worth in His eyes.
Summoning His disciples as if to reveal a precious insight, He said to them, "Look, this poor widow has put in more than all the others!" The disciples were astonished, lacking understanding of His words. "The others," the Lord continued, "gave out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty; they donated what they could spare, while she offered all that she possessed, even perhaps the last morsel of food" (Luke 21:1-4). This comment on the widow's action not only reflects her character but also reveals aspects of Jesus Himself. It provides a valuable lesson to observe how His moments of leisure were utilized for good, showing that He did not overlook even the simplest situations when they held profound meaning. In contrast, the Pharisaical teachers were preoccupied with trivial matters, and unable to derive any significant insights from them, became lost and wretched in their pursuits.
Just as the Lord distanced Himself from the emptiness of the Pharisees, He consistently demonstrated to His disciples that genuine intent is the only true measure of religious acts; such sincerity bestows immense worth upon every individual. Without it, no significant achievement is possible. He illustrated this principle as He observed the gifts of the wealthy in contrast to those of the humble widow in the temple treasury.
After condemning the Pharisees and scribes, Christ took a moment to rest in the area known as the court of the women. He sat near the collection box and observed how worshippers were contributing their gifts to the temple, each according to their willingness and ability. He noticed numerous wealthy individuals depositing large amounts, as well as poorer folks offering less.
When a destitute widow placed only two mites, a little over half a kopeck, into the treasury, He called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury; for all contributed out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, has put in everything she had, all her livelihood.” In this moment, the Lord taught His disciples that the value of a sacrifice is measured by God not in terms of quantity or outward riches, but by the heartfelt commitment and sincerity with which it is given.
Jesus gathered His apostles and explained that while the wealthy contributed substantial amounts, they did so from their surplus, essentially parting with what they could spare. In contrast, the widow offered her entire livelihood, giving everything she possessed, her very last resource. Her act of devotion, even considering her circumstances, exceeded the offerings of all the affluent. God evaluates gifts not merely by the quantity given but by the depth of love motivating the offering. With a sincere heart and profound love for God, this widow approached the treasury and willingly gave all she had.
With righteous indignation and heartfelt compassion, Christ departed from the temple for the final time. His spirit was heavy, leading Him to take a seat in the women's courtyard to find solace. In this area, numerous collection boxes awaited the offerings of the faithful. A poor widow, filled with hesitance, placed her meager donation among the wealthy contributors who arrogantly cast in their gold and silver. The expressions of the affluent donors revealed disdain for her modest gift, which was barely acceptable for the temple. She contributed two lepta, the smallest currency available, unworthy even for the poorest of worshippers.
Each lepton or rod equated to an eighth of a cent and held a value slightly above half a penny, summing up her contribution to little more than a single penny. Though she might have felt shame for her lack of resources amidst the wealthy men who were donating lavishly, Christ recognized her faith and selflessness. Her offering was akin to a ‘cup of cold water’ given in love, which would certainly not go unnoticed in His kingdom. Consequently, He sought to impart that true generosity is gauged by the level of sacrifice involved; the widow’s offering, in her need, far surpassed the contributions of the wealthiest Pharisee who donated gold. 'For they all contributed out of their surplus; she, however, offered all she possessed, all her livelihood.'
Luke's narrative concerning the widow who deposited two small coins into the temple treasury aligns closely with Mark's version, despite some differences in the storytelling. In Mark 12:41-44, it is noted that "He saw the rich." This refers to the Lord observing everyone as they contributed their gifts to the treasury, which included wealthy individuals as well as, notably, a destitute widow.
After departing from the inner narthex of the temple, the Lord Jesus Christ paused at the entrance of the outer narthex, where the treasury was located. This was the place where individuals contributed their offerings for the temple. During significant feasts, such as Passover, many donors came forth, hastening to present their gifts according to their means, keeping in mind the commandment from Moses that no one should approach the Lord empty-handed (Deuteronomy 16:16). The Saviour positioned Himself near the treasury, observing the people as they made their contributions.
Numerous wealthy individuals placed large sums into the offering, motivated by varying intentions: some from genuine fervor, some from their surplus, and others possibly driven by a desire for public recognition, displaying a façade of generosity. The Lord silently witnessed these acts of giving.
In the midst of these wealthy contributors, a poor widow approached and deposited two lepta, the smallest denomination equivalent to a penny. Despite the minimal nature of her offering, the heart-knowing One recognized its profound significance. As St. Gregory the Theologian noted, "God does not quantify the gift by the status of the giver, but by the intent and capabilities of the one who gives." The Lord then called His disciples and declared, "Amen I say unto you, this poor widow has offered more to the treasury than all those who have contributed, for they have given from their abundance, but she has given all that she had out of her need, her entire livelihood."
In the words of Venerable Isidore of Pelusium, "Every deed performed to the utmost of one's ability has the power to ascend to the heavens. The widow, who placed two mites in the sacred treasury, is celebrated for surpassing all kings and queens, for it was not the amount she offered that was esteemed, but her will, by which all that she possessed was dedicated to God." This account serves as an important reminder of how the Divine Teacher employed even the smallest of situations to impart significant moral truths, contrasting with the Pharisees, who twisted essential truths with their interpretations, stripping them of their true meaning.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 23 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS