Mar 12:42-44 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 42. Two mites . The word translated mite denotes a small coin made of brass, the smallest in use among the Jews. The precise value cannot now be easily estimated. It was much less than any coin we have, as the farthing was less than an English farthing. It was in value about three mills and a half, or one third of a cent. (2) "two mites" "7th part of that piece of brass money"

Mark 12:42-44

Verse 42. Two mites. The word translated mite denotes a small coin made of brass, the smallest in use among the Jews. The precise value cannot now be easily estimated. It was much less than any coin we have, as the farthing was less than an English farthing. It was in value about three mills and a half, or one third of a cent.

(2) "two mites" "7th part of that piece of brass money" Verse 43. This poor widow hath cast more in, etc. 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 2Cor 8:12.

(x) "this poor widow" 2Cor 8:2,12 Verse 44. Of their abundance. Of their superfluous store. They have given what they did not need. They could afford it as well as not; and in doing it they have shown no self-denial.

She of her want. Of her poverty.

All her living. All that she had to live on. She trusted in God to supply her wants, and devoted her little property entirely to him. From this passage we may learn:

(1.) That God is pleased with offerings made to him and his cause.

(2.) That it is our duty to devote our property to God. We received it from him; and we shall not employ it in a proper manner unless we feel that we are stewards, and ask of him what we shall do with it. Jesus approved the conduct of all who had given money to the treasury.

(3.) That the highest evidence of love to the cause of religion is not the amount given, but the amount compared with our means.

(4.) That it may be proper to give all our property to God, and to depend on his Providence for the supply of our wants.

(5.) That God does not despise the humblest offering, if made in sincerity, He loves a cheerful giver.

(6.) That there are none who may not in this way show their love to the cause of religion. There are few, very few scholars in all our Sabbath schools, who may not give as much to the cause of religion as this poor widow; and Jesus would be as ready to approve their offerings as he was hers, and the time to begin to be benevolent and to do good is in early life, in childhood.

(7.) That it is every man's duty to make inquiry, not how much he gives, but how much compared with what he has; how much self-denial he practises, and what is the motive with which it is done.

(8.) We may remark that few practise self-denial for the purposes of charity. Most give of their abundance--that is, what they can spare without feeling it--and many feel that this is the same as throwing it away. Among all the thousands who give to these objects, how few deny themselves of one comfort, even the least, that they may advance the kingdom of Christ!

(y) "abundance" 1Chr 29:3,17, 2Chr 24:10 (z) "even all her living" De 24:6