The Poor Widow Who Gave More Than Everyone Else (12:41-44).
In contrast with the greed of some of the Scribes (Mark 12:40), and the love of money of the rich young man (Mark 10:22), we now have drawn to our attention the generosity and self-sacrifice of a humble poor widow. Here was ‘true discipleship' from one who was not yet a disciple. And the main point that comes out from it is that God sees her as having given more than everyone else because He measured all their giving by what they had left.
Analysis.
a And He say down opposite the Treasury and watched how the crowd dropped money into the Treasury (Mark 12:41 a).
b And many who were rich dropped in large amounts (Mark 12:41 b).
c And there came a poor widow, and she dropped in two mites which make a penny (a few cents) (Mark 12:42).
d And He called to Him His disciples, and said to them (Mark 12:43 a).
c “Truly I say to you, this poor widow dropped in more than all those who are dropping money into the Treasury” (Mark 12:43 b).
b “For they all dropped in out of what they had to spare” (Mark 12:44 a).
a “But she of her want did drop in all that she had, even all that she had to live on” (Mark 12:44 b).
Note that in ‘a' many threw gifts into the Treasury, but in the parallel only one threw in all that she had. In ‘b' the rich dropped in large amounts, and in the parallel they did so out of what they had to spare. In ‘c' the widow dropped in a tiny amount, and in the parallel she was seen as having dropped in more than all of them. Centrally in ‘d' His message was directed at the disciples.