📖 Biblical Definition
Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4 record one of Christ's most countercultural commendations. As He sat opposite the temple treasury watching the rich cast in their gifts, a poor widow came and dropped in two mites — the smallest Roman copper coins, together a fraction of a day's wage. Christ called His disciples and announced: this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury... she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
WIDOW'S MI, n.
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A scriptural event; the widow's offering Christ commended in the temple.
📖 Key Scripture
Mark 12:42 — "A certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing."
Mark 12:43 — "Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury."
Mark 12:44 — "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."
2 Corinthians 8:12 — "For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity counts gifts by the dollar amount; Christ counted by the proportion of life surrendered.
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Mark 12 contains one of the most deflating verses for wealthy donors and one of the most encouraging for poor givers. The rich gave large sums; the widow gave two mites; Christ said the widow gave more. The accounting was not by amount but by what remained after the gift. The rich went home with their lifestyles intact; the widow went home with nothing.
Modern Christianity often celebrates large dollar donations and overlooks small ones. The Lord counts by the proportion of life surrendered. The single mom who tithes; the retired widow who gives sacrificially; the student who funds a missionary out of her ramen budget — these are the great donors of the kingdom by Heaven's accounting. The two mites are still being recorded.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek roots below.
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G3016 — lepton — mite; smallest coin
G1042 — gazophulakion — treasury
Usage
"Modern Christianity counts gifts by dollar amount; Christ counted by proportion of life surrendered."
"The rich went home with lifestyles intact; the widow went home with nothing."
"The two mites are still being recorded."