What Does Mark 12:43-44 Mean?
Two renderings of the same sentence, the verses it belongs to, and what the passage is doing — so you can decide what it means rather than take someone's word for it.
"And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living." Mark 12:43-44, King James Version
The same verse in modern English
"Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury. For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”" Mark 12:43-44, Berean Standard Bible
What it sits inside
A verse quoted on its own is the commonest way one gets misread. Here it is with what comes immediately before and after, in the King James Version.
Mark 12:41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
Mark 12:42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
Mark 12:43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
Mark 12:44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
A conversation built on it
The rich gave what they'd never miss. The widow gave what she couldn't afford. And Jesus didn't say she was foolish. He said she gave the most. Generosity isn't about how much. It's about how much it costs you.
Questions people ask
What does Mark 12:43-44 mean?
In modern English (Berean Standard Bible) it reads: “Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury. For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”” The King James rendering most people know is: “And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”
What is the context of Mark 12:43-44?
The verses immediately around it read: (Mark 12:41) And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. (Mark 12:42) And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. (Mark 12:43) And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: (Mark 12:44) For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
How is Mark 12:43-44 used in a conversation about this?
The rich gave what they'd never miss. The widow gave what she couldn't afford. And Jesus didn't say she was foolish. He said she gave the most. Generosity isn't about how much. It's about how much it costs you.
Reading it is one thing. Saying what it stirs up is another.
Start a Conversation →