The Widow's Offering: True Generosity
Mark 12:41-44
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Mark.12.41 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- καθισας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- κατεναντι: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- γαζοφυλακιου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- εθεωρει: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- πως: ADV
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- οχλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- βαλλει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- χαλκον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- γαζοφυλακιον·και: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- πολλοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- πλουσιοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- εβαλλον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- πολλα·: ADJ,acc,pl,n
Parallels
- Luke 21:1-4 (verbal): Direct parallel narrative of the widow’s offering; Luke records the same scene (a poor widow putting two small coins into the treasury) with closely related wording and emphasis.
- Mark 12:43-44 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same pericope in Mark: Jesus commends the widow’s offering, explaining its value compared with the rich who gave much.
- Mark 12:40 (structural): The preceding verse provides the immediate context/contrast (scribes devouring widows’ houses), which frames the significance of the widow’s contribution observed at the treasury.
- Malachi 3:8-10 (thematic): Thematically related discussion of bringing money into God’s ‘house’/storehouse (treasury) and the obligations of giving; addresses temple collections and righteousness in offerings.
- 2 Chronicles 31:11-12 (thematic): Describes people bringing contributions into the temple storehouses for religious use—parallel motif of depositing wealth into the temple’s treasury and communal support of cultic functions.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and watched how the people put money into the offering box; many rich people were putting in large sums.
- And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched how the crowds were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums.
Mark.12.42 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ελθουσα: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,f
- μια: NUM,nom,sg,f
- χηρα: NOUN,nom,sg,fem
- πτωχη: ADJ,nom,sg,fem
- εβαλεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- λεπτα: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
- δυο: NUM,acc,pl,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- κοδραντης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 21:1-4 (verbal): Direct parallel account of the widow's offering; very similar wording and the observation that she gave all she had.
- 1 Kings 17:8-16 (thematic): Widow of Zarephath gives her last food to Elijah and is miraculously provided for—shared motif of a poor widow's sacrificial trust and divine provision.
- Luke 7:11-17 (thematic): Story of the widow of Nain: Jesus shows special compassion to a bereaved widow and restores her son, highlighting Jesus' concern for vulnerable widows.
- James 1:27 (thematic): Defines pure religion as caring for orphans and widows, echoing the social and religious importance of supporting widows like the one who gave.
- 2 Corinthians 8:2-5 (thematic): Paul commends the Macedonian churches' extreme poverty and abundant generosity, paralleling the widow's sacrificial giving despite her lack.
Alternative generated candidates
- And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins—lepta, worth only a tiny fraction.
- And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins—what is called a quadrans.
Mark.12.43 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- προσκαλεσαμενος: VERB,aor,mid,ptc,nom,sg,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- μαθητας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις·Αμην: PRON,dat,pl,m
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- οτι: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- χηρα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- πτωχη: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- πλειον: ADV,comp
- παντων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- εβαλεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- βαλλοντων: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,pl,m
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- γαζοφυλακιον·: NOUN,acc,sg,n
Parallels
- Mark 12:41-44 (structural): Immediate context of the same pericope describing the setting (the treasury) and the contrast between the rich donors and the poor widow; vv.41–44 frame v.43 with the full narrative.
- Luke 21:1-4 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel in Luke recounting the same episode of the poor widow’s two small coins and Jesus’ commendation that she gave more than all.
- Matthew 6:2-4 (thematic): Jesus’ teaching on almsgiving and the distinction between ostentatious public charity and humble/secret giving echoes the point that true value is measured by motive and sacrifice, not amount shown.
- 2 Corinthians 8:2-5 (thematic): Paul praises the Macedonian churches’ generous giving ‘beyond their ability’ as sacrificial poverty yielding rich generosity—a theological parallel to the widow’s gift being more significant because of her poverty and devotion.
Alternative generated candidates
- Calling his disciples to him, he said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all who are contributing to the treasury."
- And he called his disciples and said to them, 'Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all who have put into the treasury.'
Mark.12.44 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- παντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- γαρ: PART
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- περισσευοντος: PART,pres,act,gen,sg,m
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- εβαλον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- δε: CONJ
- εκ: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- υστερησεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτης: PRO,gen,sg,f
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- οσα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- ειχεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- εβαλεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ολον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- βιον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αυτης: PRO,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Luke 21:1-4 (verbal): Nearly identical account of the widow’s offering; Luke preserves the same contrast between many giving from abundance and the widow giving all her livelihood.
- Mark 12:38-40 (structural): Immediate context in Mark — Jesus warns against scribes who exploit widows; the widow’s sacrificial gift is set in contrast to their hypocrisy.
- 2 Corinthians 8:2-5 (thematic): Paul commends Macedonian churches who, though in extreme poverty, gave abundantly and beyond their means — echoes the theme of sacrificial giving out of poverty.
- James 1:27 (thematic): Defines true religion as caring for orphans and widows; connects to the social and religious significance of the widow’s action and the community’s responsibility toward widows.
Alternative generated candidates
- For they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had—her whole livelihood.
- For they all gave from their abundance; but she, from her poverty, has given all she had, everything she had to live on.
And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched how the crowd put money into the treasury; and many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins.
Calling his disciples to him, he said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them."
For they all gave out of their surplus; but she, from her poverty, put in everything she had, all that she had to live on.