What does Luke 21:4 mean?
Jesus is at the temple, watching people donate money for the treasury. He sees an extremely poor widow give her last two copper coins. The coins are worth so little that it was considered rude to donate only one to a beggar. What this woman gives is the tiniest possible amount with any value. But Jesus says she gave more than anyone else there (Luke 21:1–3).The rich donate large amounts of money (Mark 12:41). Jesus says those large amounts are little compared to how much they still own afterwards. The widow gave "all she had to live on." The contrast is even greater considering what Jesus has just said about the religious leaders: "Beware of the scribes…who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation" (Luke 20:46–47).
It should be noted that Jesus isn't judging rich people; He's lifting up the widow. The wealthy men are free to do with their money what they please (Acts 5:4). Nor is Jesus saying that His followers are obligated to donate everything we have. That, as well, is the widow's choice. Jesus commends her for it, but He doesn't make her sacrifice a standard. The point of the story isn't to tell His followers to give everything; it's to think carefully before judging someone who gives little. And, to think of giving in terms of personal sacrifice, rather than just raw numbers.
The King James Version uses the word "penury," which means extreme poverty.
