Mite (a Lepta)

How Nave’s arranged it

• About one-fifth of a centMark 12:42
• Widow'sLuke 21:2

The passages, in Bible order (2)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 2 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Mark 12:42

   Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius.

   ›Commentary on Mark 12:422 voices

   “I pass on to the widow in the gospel who, though she was but a poor widow was yet richer than all the people of Israel. [Mark 12:43] She had but a grain of mustard seed, but she put her leaven in three measures of flour; and, combining her confession of the Father and of the Son with the grace of the Holy Spirit, she cast her two mites into the treasury. All the substance that she had, her entire possessions, she offered in the two testaments of her faith.

   “Two mites - The word translated “mite” denotes a small coin made of brass - the smallest in use among the Jews. The precise value cannot now be easily estimated. It was much less than any coin we have, as the “farthing” was less than an English farthing. It was in value about three mills and a half, or one-third of a cent.

   Everything gathered on Mark 12:42→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Luke 21:2

   and He saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.

   ›Commentary on Luke 21:22 voices

   “We learn, for one thing, from these verses — how keenly our Lord Jesus Christ observes the things that are done upon earth. We read that "He looked up and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw also a certain poor widow casting in two mites." We might well suppose that our Lord's mind at this season would have been wholly occupied with the things immediately before Him. His betrayal, His unjust judgment, His cross, His passion, His death — were all close at hand — and He knew it.

   “And he saw also a certain poor widow,.... Whom he took particular notice of above all the rest: the poor, and the widow, are regarded by him, and are his care; nor are their mean services, done in faith, and from a principle of love, despised by him, but preferred to the greater services of others, where faith and love are wanting: casting in thither two mites; the value of a farthing. The Persic version renders it, "two bottoms of yarn"; See Gill on Mar 12:42,

   Everything gathered on Luke 21:2→

   Verse page →Original language →