Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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:
43. he called unto him ] “De re magna. Specimen judicii olim exercendi, pro statu cordium.” Bengel.
more in, than all they ] It is not said that the gifts of the others were worthless. Many possessed, no doubt, no worth (Mat 6:1); others, a greater or a less. The greatest value, however, attached itself to her gift, because of the self-denial which it implied.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
This poor widow hath cast more in … – That is, more in proportion to her means, and therefore more that was acceptable to God. He does not mean that this was more in value than all which the others had put in but it showed more love to the sacred cause, more self-denial, and, of course, more sincerity in what she did. This is the rule by which God will reward us. Compare 2Co 8:12.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
And he called unto him, his disciples,…. Who were at some little distance from him, he having finished his discourses:
and saith unto them, verily I say unto you: a way of speaking he often used, when he was about to deliver something of importance, and not so easy of belief, and which required attention, and what he solemnly affirmed:
that this poor widow, pointing to her,
hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: not that she had cast in more, or so much as any one of them as to value and substance, much less more than them all put together; but that she had cast in more in proportion to what she had, than they had in proportion to their substance; and that hers, though very small in itself, and might be contemptible to others, yet it was more in the account of God and Christ, and more highly valued and esteemed of by them, than all that the rich men put in: since what she gave, she gave in faith, and from a principle of love, and with a view to the glory of God; when theirs was given only in hypocrisy, to make an outward show, and to be seen of men.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Called unto him (). Indirect middle voice. The disciples themselves had slipped away from him while the terrific denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees had gone on, puzzled at this turn of affairs.
More than all ( ). Ablative of comparison (). It may mean, more than all the rich put together.
All that she had ( ). Imperfect tense.
Cast in (). Aorist tense, in sharp contrast.
All her living ( ). Her
livelihood (), not her life (). It is a tragedy to see a stingy saint pose as giving the widow’s mite when he could give thousands instead of pennies.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
This poor widow [ ] . The Greek order is very suggestive, forming a kind of climax : this widow, the poor one, or and she poor.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And He called unto Him His disciples,” (kai proskalesamenos tous mathetas autou) “And calling together (to Him) His disciples,” while yet near the treasury, to teach them a lesson by means of contrasting greed and unselfishness, humility and sacrifice, in the light of empty public religious show and sham, as evidenced in the Scribes, Pharisees, and rich givers.
2) “And saith unto them,” (eipen autois) “He said to them all,” instructed them by example of what had just happened.
3) “Verily I say unto you,” (amen lego humin) “Truly I assure you all,” I certify as a valid conclusion of what has happened in temple giving today, before your eyes.
4) “That this poor widow,” (hoti he chera he ptoche) “That this particular impoverished widow,” who has cast in, cut herself loose from, the two mites, Mar 12:42.
5) “Hath cast in more than,” (pleion panton ebalen) “Has cast in or put in (into the holy treasury) more than all they,” or any who passed by, according to her ability to give, and because of her motive.
6) “All they which have cast into the treasury:” (ton ballonton eis to gagophulakeion) “Than all others, those others repeatedly putting into the treasury,” handful after handful of coppers, Luk 21:3. For what she did was of a willing mind, 2Co 8:12.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Mar 12:43
. Verily I say to you. This reply of Christ contains a highly useful doctrine that whatever men offer to God ought to be estimated not by its apparent value, (122) but only by the feeling of the heart, and that the holy affection of him who according to his small means, offers to God the little that he has, is more worthy of esteem than that of him who offers a hundred times more out of his abundance. In two ways this doctrine is useful, for the poor who appear not to have the power of doing good, are encouraged by our Lord not to hesitate to express their affection cheerfully out of their slender means; for if they consecrate themselves, their offering, which appears to be mean and worthless, will not be less valuable than if they had presented all the treasures of Crœsus. (123) On the other hand, those who possess greater abundance, and who have received from God larger communications, are reminded that it is not enough if in the amount of their beneficence they greatly surpass the poor and common people; because it is of less value in the sight of God that a rich man, out of a vast heap, should bestow a moderate sum, than that a poor man, by giving very little, should exhaust his store. This widow must have been a person of no ordinary piety, who, rather than come empty into the presence of God, chose to part with her own living. And our Lord applauds this sincerity, because, forgetting herself, she wished to testify that she and all that she possessed belonged to God. In like manner, the chief sacrifice which God requires from us is self-denial. As to the sacred offerings, it is probable that they were not at that time applied properly, or to lawful purposes; but as the service of the Law was still in force, Christ does not reject them. And certainly the abuses of men could not prevent the sincere worshippers of God from doing what was holy, and in accordance with the command of God, when they offered for sacrifices and other pious uses.
(122) “ Selon le prix qu’il vaut au monde;” — “according to the price at which it is estimated by the world.”
(123) “ De Crœsus, lequel on dit avoir esté si riche;” — “of Crœsus, who is said to have been so rich.” — The allusion is to Crœsus, King of Lydia, whose vast wealth was a proverb among the Greeks and Romans. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(43) And he called unto him his disciples.The act was significant. He sought to teach them to judge of acts by other than a quantitative standard. For him the widows mites and the ointment that might have been sold for 300 pence stood on the same level, so far as each was the expression of a generous and self-sacrificing love.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
43. Called unto him his disciples There was a sight to see, and a lesson to learn. It is true that the contributions made by these pious souls were likely to be wasted by a profligate hierarchy. But still the poor widow intends it as an offering to God. It is the evidence of her faith and love, not for the den of thieves, but for the house of God and the God of that house. Hath cast more in Not more in pecuniary amount, but more in the amount of faith and heart. God estimates the liberality according to the ability of the giver. And so the Saviour, who now sat to behold and bless the widow’s offering, forever lives, forever watches, and forever blesses the offerings of the faithful heart and the liberal hand in his cause. And the judgment that he now passes sitting at the treasury, he will finally confirm when he sits upon the throne.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And he called to him his disciples, and said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow dropped in more than all those who are dropping money into the Treasury, for they all dropped in of what they had to spare, but she of her want did drop in all that she had, even all that she had to live on.” ’
There is a deliberate contrast here between the Rabbis who ‘devoured widows’ houses’ (Mar 12:40), and the widow who unselfishly gave all that she had to God. There is also a contrast with the rich and wealthy ostentatiously giving their gifts (how else did Jesus know?) while she gave unobtrusively. And there is the verdict. That she was the one who gave the most. For God judges our giving, not by how much we give, but by how much we have left. She alone received the Messiah’s commendation. And although she did not realise it she was being watched by the One Who would Himself, by the offering of Himself, give more than any other ever could.
There is a further contrast. As they leave the spot the disciples will point out the splendours of the Temple. They had not been too impressed by the widow’s gift, but the Temple was something else. It had so taken up their attention that Jesus’ words had almost passed them by. However, God did not see things as they saw them. He was not concerned about the Temple. His gaze was still focused on the woman’s gift. For the fact was that while what the woman had given would last for ever in men’s memories and in the record of heaven, God would arrange for that splendid Temple shortly to be razed to the ground and become almost forgotten because it had rejected His Son.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
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:
Ver. 43. This poor widow ] Women are noted in the parable of the lost groat to be fond of money; widows especially, and poor widows, make much of that little they have, as their life; so it is called here, Mar 12:44 , even all her life ( ), that is, her livelihood. All this she cast in, it being rather to and for the service of God than to the poor. She resolves, as a widow indeed, to trust wholly in God.
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.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
43. ] more, in God’s reckoning; more, for her own stewardship of the goods entrusted to her care. “Non quantum detur, sed quantum resideat, expenditur.” Ambr. in Bp. Wordsw.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mar 12:43 . , emphatic the poverty-stricken; manifest from her dress and wasted look.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Verily. See note on Mat 5:18.
this poor widow = this widow; and she a poor one.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
43.] -more, in Gods reckoning;-more, for her own stewardship of the goods entrusted to her care. Non quantum detur, sed quantum resideat, expenditur. Ambr. in Bp. Wordsw.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mar 12:43. , having called unto Him) As being about to speak of a momentous subject. He thus gives us a specimen of the judgment which He will hereafter exercise, according to the state of hearts.- , the disciples) who had not estimated the widows gift so highly. [It is for this reason the , Knower of hearts, prefaces His words with Amen, verily.-V. g.]-, more) not in mere geometrical proportion, but in mind [intention, motive], to which the Lord had regard. If any rich man had contributed all his resources, the act, viewed extrinsically, would have been greater, in so far as two pieces of money are more readily acquired again, than many: but yet he would not thereby have surpassed the mind [influencing motive] of this poor woman. [That praise, wherewith Jesus honoured the poor widow, altogether exceeds (to what an amazing degree!) all the acclamations of the world.-V. g.]
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
That: Exo 35:21-29, Mat 10:42, Act 11:29, 2Co 8:2, 2Co 8:12, 2Co 9:6-8
Reciprocal: 1Ki 17:15 – did according Mat 5:18 – verily Luk 21:3 – more Joh 8:20 – in the treasury
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
3
Jesus stated in literal language what he meant comparatively.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 12:43. And he called unto him. Peculiar to Mark. Our Lord directed their special attention to this act of the widow.
More than all they that are casting into the treasury. Not more than a specific number, but than the many who had given and were still giving. The reason follows.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Mark stressed the importance of this lesson for disciples by noting that Jesus called His disciples to Him and then prefaced His statement with "Truly I say to you" (NASB). The poor widow’s offering was more than the others because it cost her more to give it and because she gave it willingly nevertheless. Since she gave two coins, she could have kept one for herself. Her sacrifice expressed her love for God and her trust in God to sustain her (cf. 1Ki 17:8-16).
"The means of the giver and the motive are the measure of true generosity." [Note: Plummer, p. 290.]
"The test of liberality is not what is given, but what is left." [Note: William Kelly, An Exposition of the Gospel of Mark, p. 179.]
Here is another instructive example of a person with a servant’s attitude who gave her all, as little as that was, to God (cf. Mar 10:45). Jesus and Mark taught disciples how God values wholehearted commitment to Himself with this incident.