Mark 12:42 narrates: “A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny.”
I would like to point out three significant things from this verse. First, the narrator introduces the ‘status’ of a ‘journeying woman’ over against the status of ‘many rich men.’ She might be ‘coming’ (Gk. ‘elthousa’) after a tiresome long walk. She is a ‘widow’ (Gk. ‘chēra’), hence was not cared. She was a ‘poor’ (Gk. ‘Ptōchē’), hence was a needy woman.
Second, the storyteller reveals her ‘activity’ of putting into ‘two small copper coins’ (Gk. ‘lepta duo’). Here, ‘many rich people’ are contrasted with ‘one’ (Gk. ‘mia’) ‘poor widow’ and ‘the large sums’ (see v. 41) are with ‘two small copper coins’.
Third, the narrator explains the comparative ‘value’ of the amount she put in. The two copper coins she put in worth a penny, which was the principal silver coin of the Roman Empire. Three things are noticeable in the story: first, the woman’s ‘status’ is comparatively much lesser than the status of the many rich men; second, the ‘activity’ of the woman is mentioned in comparison to the activity of men; and third, the ‘value’ of her offering is brought to the fore in relation to the value of the offering in v. 41. One of the significant things in this verse is that the poor-widow-woman gets particular attention whereas the rich-men get collective attention.
Prayer: God, thanks that you do not consider our lowly status, thanks that you are mindful of our activities, and thanks that you value our humble offerings. Amen.
