Mark 12:43

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.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses His disciples immediately after observing a poor widow deposit two small copper coins into the temple treasury. He calls them over at that exact moment to evaluate her action against the crowd's contributions.

The words — The Greek term ἀμὴν (amēn) serves as an emphatic marker meaning "truly" or "certainly." The verb προσκαλεσάμενος (proskalesamenos) indicates a deliberate, purposeful calling, showing Jesus intentionally summoned the disciples for this specific instruction.

The thread — The pattern of disproportionate giving appears in 2 Corinthians 8:2, where deep poverty overflows into generosity, and in Acts 11:29, where believers contribute according to their ability. The text also aligns with the principle in 2 Corinthians 9:6 that generous sowing produces generous reaping.

Why it lands — The text states that the widow gave all she had to live on while the others contributed only from their surplus. It requires readers to measure the weight of a gift by the cost to the giver rather than by its market value.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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:

Cross-references

2 Corinthians 8:2 In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.
2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Acts 11:29 So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.
Exodus 35:21 And everyone whose heart stirred him and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its services, and for the holy garments.
Matthew 10:42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”
2 Corinthians 8:12 For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.