Luke 21:2
and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Luke 21:2
and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
What strikes me here is the specific word Luke uses for "poor." It suggests she wasn't just needy, but struggling to maintain herself, making her sacrifice even more profound. Jesus didn't just see coins; He saw the heart behind a gift that represented her entire livelihood.
Jesus is observing people giving offerings at the temple treasury. While many wealthy individuals are contributing generously, his attention is drawn to a very poor widow who gives the smallest possible amount, two tiny coins. This seemingly insignificant act will lead Jesus to reveal a profound truth about true generosity and sacrifice to his disciples.
We see a poor widow giving what seems like nothing. But Jesus saw something profoundly different. What made her gift so valuable?
Luke carefully selects the word "poor" to describe this widow. It's a word not commonly used, suggesting she wasn't just lacking funds, but was genuinely needy, possibly living day-to-day. Yet, in that moment, her "poverty" was not defined by what she lacked, but by the completeness of her giving. She gave "all her living," her entire substance, her very means of survival.
This wasn't about the coin's value in the marketplace, but its value in her heart and in God's eyes. Jesus is highlighting that true wealth isn't measured by abundance, but by devotion. Her offering was a powerful statement of trust and complete surrender to God.
In a bustling temple, surrounded by crowds and grand displays, one specific act captured Jesus' attention. Why?
The verse begins with Jesus looking up and seeing the rich. But then, the focus shifts: "and he saw a poor widow." This isn't just a narrative detail; it's a theological statement about Jesus' awareness. He wasn't just observing the wealthy throwing in large sums, but he was also keenly aware of the quiet, seemingly insignificant offering of the one who had the least.
This shows Jesus' deep compassion and his focus on the heart behind the action, not just the outward show. He notices the marginalized, the overlooked, and the sacrificial. His gaze is fixed on genuine devotion, regardless of the size of the gift.
Two small copper coins – they sound like almost nothing. But in their context, they held a profound meaning for Jesus.
The "two mites" were the smallest denomination of currency circulating at the time, likely a Greek lepton. In Roman currency, this would be the quadrans. These were such tiny amounts that some traditions even had rules against giving less than two, as it was seen as too insignificant. For this widow, giving these two coins meant giving everything she had for her sustenance that day.
Jesus uses this moment to teach a radical truth: God's economy doesn't operate on worldly values. The value of an offering isn't determined by its size, but by the sacrifice and the heart behind it. What seems insignificant to us can be supremely valuable to God when it represents our all.
Understand the original words
chēra · Greek Noun
A woman whose husband has died; in biblical usage, she is often categorized among the vulnerable, marginalized, and socially unprotected, whom God frequently commands His people to care for and defend.
lepton · Greek Noun
A Greek copper coin of the lowest denomination, often referred to as a 'lepton'; it represents the smallest unit of currency, symbolizing extreme financial insignificance in the eyes of the world.
This encounter happened during Jesus' final week in the Temple, just before its destruction. The widow's small gift, seen against the backdrop of both immense wealth and impending catastrophe, highlights Jesus' focus on genuine devotion over outward show, especially as the religious system was about to collapse.
c. 29 AD— this verse
Jesus visits the Temple in Jerusalem
Jesus is teaching in the Second Temple complex during his final week before Passover. He observes people giving offerings at the treasury.
c. 30 AD
Jesus predicts the Temple's destruction
Shortly after this event, Jesus predicts the complete destruction of the Second Temple, an event that would profoundly impact Jewish life and faith.
c. 70 AD
Destruction of the Second Temple
The Roman army, led by Titus, destroys Jerusalem and the Second Temple during the First Jewish-Roman War. This event marks a catastrophic turning point for Judaism.
This passage sets the scene for the widow's offering, highlighting the contrast between the wealthy giving out of their abundance and the widow giving her all.
Mark 12:42This parallel account specifies the value of the two mites, emphasizing their smallness and thus the magnitude of the widow's sacrifice.
Mark 12:43Jesus uses this moment to teach his disciples, drawing a profound lesson about the true measure of giving, which is based on sacrifice rather than amount.
Luke 21:3Jesus directly comments on the widow's incredible generosity, affirming that her offering, though small, was greater than all the others because it came from her deep need.
2 Corinthians 8:12This verse echoes the principle that the value of a gift is determined by what one has, not by what one doesn't have, aligning with Jesus' evaluation of the widow's offering.
vincentLuke 21:2: "And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites."
PoorSee on Matthew 5:3.MitesSee on Mark 12:42.
bengelLuke 21:2: "And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites."
Luke 21:2 . Τινὰ καὶ χήραν ) He saw a certain woman, and her too a widow .
What strikes me here is the specific word Luke uses for "poor." It suggests she wasn't just needy, but struggling to maintain herself, making her sacrifice even more profound. Jesus didn't just see coins; He saw the heart behind a gift that represented her entire livelihood.
Jesus is observing people giving offerings at the temple treasury. While many wealthy individuals are contributing generously, his attention is drawn to a very poor widow who gives the smallest possible amount, two tiny coins. This seemingly insignificant act will lead Jesus to reveal a profound truth about true generosity and sacrifice to his disciples.
Jesus is observing people giving offerings at the temple treasury. While many wealthy individuals are contributing generously, his attention is drawn to a very poor widow who gives the smallest possible amount, two tiny coins. This seemingly insignificant act will lead Jesus to reveal a profound truth about true generosity and sacrifice to his disciples.
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"and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins." — What strikes me here is the specific word Luke uses for "poor." It suggests she wasn't just needy, but struggling to maintain herself, making her sacrifice even more profound. Jesus didn't just see…