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Mark 12:43
ESV And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.
NIV Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, 'Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.
NASB Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, 'Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury;
CSB Summoning his disciples, he said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.
NLT Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 'I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions.
KJV 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:

What does Mark 12:43 mean?

Jesus and the disciples are in the temple courtyard. Jerusalem is filled with visitors as it is only a few days before Passover. In the courtyard, priests, city elders, legal scribes, legalistic Pharisees, and literal-minded Sadducees have come to see and be seen. They all have ideas about what it means to be righteous before God and which parts of the Mosaic law are most important. But they all agree that power, influence, and authority in their chosen milieus are essential to their well-being.

For most, that includes letting it be known that they have wealth and that they give significantly to the treasury for the upkeep of the temple. The temple is designed and built to be the place where God meets with the high priest once a year and accepts the offerings of the people. Its meaning had grown, by the time of Jesus' earthly ministry, to be a symbol of Israel and the Jewish people. It was the equivalent of the modern Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower, or Big Ben. To be seen generously donating to the temple is to be known as someone who keeps Israel together.

When Jesus indicates that the widow gave "more," He isn't necessarily referring to the percentage of her assets, although that's part of it. It's the attitude with which she gives. This attitude is also seen in the chief tax collector Zacchaeus who, when shown encouragement by Jesus, joyfully accepts Him and proves it by promptly giving half his goods to the poor and recompensing his victims fourfold (Luke 19:1–10). No doubt, such generosity doesn't place Zacchaeus in the same impoverished tax-bracket as the widow, but his attitude is the same. Compare Ananias and Sapphira who donate money to the church, but do so only to gain recognition (Acts 5:1–11).
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