The Widow's Mite Bible Study Lesson Series

Why The Widow Gave Her Mites

Now, let’s pick up Mark chapter twelve with verse 41. “Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much.” (verse 41) Jesus is getting ready to teach the disciples an object lesson about the difference between giving religiously – out of obligation – and giving from the heart. They are standing across from the courtyard and watching the people give their tithes and offerings. “(42) Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. (43) So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; (44) for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood." (Mark 12:42-44)

Remember we talked about how the story of the widow and her giving is normally presented to the church? “Do you see this poor widow woman? She only has two little mites. She puts it all in for God! She puts in all she has for God and you’re complaining about the tithe!” The word poor in verse 43 means “a beggar, destitute of wealth, influence, position and honor.” For all practical purposes, this widow was a beggar, but she gave all she had so that God would bless her. Now, we want you to see the comparison between the widow and the other givers. So, let’s read verse 44 again. “for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood." The word abundance – folks, that word means “leftovers”. After the rich had paid all their bills, and spent money on the things they wanted, they still had money left over to put into the offering plate. In other words, they gave what they didn’t need. Do you see what’s going here? God wasn’t first. They gave to God out of the money that they had left over after they had bought what they wanted for themselves, and it was still a lot. And then Jesus said the widow was giving out of her poverty – out of money she needed. The word describes “being destitute”. Jesus is telling us that the woman was giving money that she really didn’t have to give.

This is what we want you to understand. The widow believed she had to do this for God to bless her. And not only that, but she put ALL, not SOME, of her money in the offering plate. What are we saying? To put it into today’s language: this widow put her rent money in the offering plate. She put the money she needed to pay her electric bill in the offering plate. She put her grocery money in the offering plate. Do you see the picture? The rich put in money that they had left over after they had paid their rent, after they had paid their electric bill and after they had bought their groceries. The widow put in the money that she needed to live on. And here is the sad part in all of this: the widow did not have enough money to live on before she decided to put in ALL that she had! This is the picture that Jesus is painting for us. The money the widow put into the offering plate wasn’t enough to cover her living expenses and yet, she gave it because she had been taught to do that by the religious leaders.