Church Fathers Commentary Mark 12:41-44

"And he sat down over against the treasury, and beheld how the multitude cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than all they that are casting into the treasury: for they all did cast in of their superfluity; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, [even] all her living." — Mark 12:41-44 (ASV)

The Venerable Bede: The Lord, who had warned them to avoid the desire for high status and vainglory, now distinguishes by a sure test those who brought gifts.

Therefore, it is said, And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury.

In the Greek language, "phylassein" means to keep, and "gaza" is a Persian word for treasure. Therefore, the word "gazophylacium," which is used here, means a place where riches are kept. This name was also applied to the chest where the people's offerings were collected for the necessary uses of the temple, and to the porch where they were kept.

You find a reference to the porch in the Gospel: These words spake Jesus in the treasury as He taught in the temple (John 8:20). You also find a reference to the chest in the book of Kings: But Jehoiada the priest took a chest (2 Kings 12:9).

Theophylact of Ohrid: Now there was a praiseworthy custom among the Jews that those who were able and willing should put something into the treasury for the maintenance of the priests, the poor, and the widows.

Therefore, it is added, And many that were rich cast in much.

But while many people were doing this, a poor widow came up and showed her love by offering money according to her ability.

Therefore, it is said, And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

The Venerable Bede: Reckoners use the word "quadrans" for the fourth part of anything, whether it be place, money, or time. Perhaps, then, in this passage it means the fourth part of a shekel, that is, five pence.

It goes on: 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. For God does not weigh the property but the conscience of those who offer. Nor did He consider the smallness of the sum in her offering, but the store from which it came.

Therefore, He adds, For all they did cast in of their abundance, but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Pseudo-Jerome: In a mystical sense, the rich are those who bring forth from the treasure of their heart things new and old—the obscure and hidden things of divine wisdom in both testaments.

But who is the poor woman, if not I and those like me, who contribute what I can? I have the will to explain to you, even where I lack the power. For God does not consider how much you bear, but the store from which it comes.

Each one, at all events, can bring his farthing, which is a ready will. It is called a farthing because it is accompanied by three things: thought, word, and deed.

And when it says that she cast in all her living, it is implied that everything the body needs is that by which it lives. Therefore, it is said, All the labour of man is for his mouth (Ecclesiastes 6:7).

Theophylact of Ohrid: Or else, that widow is the soul of man. Leaving Satan, to whom it had been joined, it casts two mites into the temple: the flesh and the mind. The flesh is offered through abstinence and the mind through humility.

In this way, the soul may be able to hear that it has cast away all its living and has consecrated it, leaving nothing of what it possessed for the world.

The Venerable Bede: Again, in an allegorical sense, the rich men who cast gifts into the treasury represent the Jews, who were puffed up with the righteousness of the law. The poor widow represents the simplicity of the Church.

She is poor indeed because she has cast away the spirit of pride and the desire for worldly things; she is a widow because Jesus her husband has suffered death for her.

She casts two mites into the treasury because she brings the love of God and of her neighbor, or the gifts of faith and prayer. These are looked upon as mites in their own insignificance, but when measured by the merit of a devout intention, they are superior to all the proud works of the Jews.

The Jew contributes from his abundance to the treasury because he presumes on his own righteousness. In contrast, the Church contributes her whole living into God's treasury because she understands that her very life is not from her own merit, but from Divine grace.