John Calvin Commentary Mark 12:43

"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:" — Mark 12:43 (ASV)

Truly I say to you. This reply of Christ contains a highly useful doctrine: that whatever anyone offers to God should be estimated not by its apparent value,¹²² but only by the feeling of the heart; and that the holy affection of a person who, according to their limited means, offers to God the little they have, is more worthy of esteem than that of someone who offers a hundred times more out of their abundance.

This doctrine is useful in two ways. First, the poor, who seem not to have the ability to do good, are encouraged by our Lord not to hesitate to express their affection cheerfully from their limited resources. For if they consecrate themselves, their offering, which appears humble and worthless, will not be less valuable than if they had presented all the treasures of Croesus.¹²³

Second, those who possess greater abundance and have received more abundant gifts from God are reminded that it is not enough if the amount of their generosity greatly surpasses that of the poor and common people. This is because it is of less value in God’s sight for a rich person, out of a vast heap, to give a moderate sum, than for a poor person, by giving very little, to exhaust their store.

This widow must have been a person of no ordinary piety, who, rather than come empty-handed into God’s presence, chose to part with all her living. Our Lord applauds this sincerity because, forgetting herself, she wished to testify that she and all she possessed belonged to God. In the same way, the chief sacrifice God requires from us is self-denial.

Regarding the sacred offerings, it is probable that they were not at that time used properly or for lawful purposes. However, as the service of the Law was still in force, Christ does not reject them. And certainly, the abuses of people could not prevent sincere worshippers of God from doing what was holy and in accordance with God’s command when they offered for sacrifices and other devout purposes.

¹²² “Selon le prix qu’il vaut au monde;” — “according to the price at which it is estimated by the world.”;” — “according to the price at which it is estimated by the world.”

¹²³ “De Crœsus, lequel on dit avoir esté si riche;” — “of Crœsus, who is said to have been so rich.” — The allusion is to ;” — “of Crœsus, who is said to have been so rich.” — The allusion is to Crœsus, King of Lydia, whose vast wealth was a proverb among the Greeks and Romans. — King of Lydia, whose vast wealth was a proverb among the Greeks and Romans. — Ed.