Luke 21:2

KJV

And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} he saw {G1492} also {G2532} a certain {G5100} poor {G3998} widow {G5503} casting {G906} in thither {G1563} two {G1417} mites {G3016}.

Complete Jewish Bible

he also saw a poor widow put in two small coins.

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

And he saw a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 21:2 presents a pivotal moment where Jesus, observing the Temple treasury, notices a stark contrast between the large offerings of the wealthy and the humble contribution of a destitute widow. This verse sets the stage for Jesus' profound teaching on the true nature of generosity, highlighting that divine valuation transcends mere monetary amount, focusing instead on the heart, sacrifice, and faith of the giver. It underscores God's unique perspective that often inverts human standards of worth.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within Jesus' final days of public ministry in Jerusalem, specifically during his teaching in the Temple courts just before his Passion. It immediately follows [Luke 21:1](/luke/21-1 "Luke 21:1 - Jesus Observes the Rich Giving") where Jesus observes rich people casting their gifts into the Temple treasury. The scene serves as a direct setup for Jesus' subsequent commentary in [Luke 21:3-4](/luke/21-3-4 "Luke 21:3-4 - Jesus' Commentary on the Widow's Offering"), where He explicitly articulates the spiritual significance of the widow's seemingly insignificant offering. This narrative is strategically placed to contrast worldly displays of wealth and piety with genuine, sacrificial devotion, leading into Jesus' prophecies about the Temple's destruction and the signs of the end times in [Luke 21:5-38](/luke/21 "Luke 21 - Prophecies of the End Times").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the Temple in Jerusalem, specifically the Court of Women, where thirteen trumpet-shaped collection chests (known as "shofars") were located. These chests were designated for various types of offerings, and worshippers would deposit their contributions there. In ancient Jewish society, widows were among the most vulnerable and marginalized groups, often lacking familial support or legal protection. They were particularly susceptible to poverty and exploitation, as highlighted in passages like [Deuteronomy 24:17](/deuteronomy/24-17 "Deuteronomy 24:17 - Justice for the Alien, Fatherless, and Widow") and [Isaiah 1:17](/isaiah/1-17 "Isaiah 1:17 - Seek Justice, Defend the Oppressed"). The "mites" (Greek *lepta*) were the smallest copper coins in circulation, two of which together equaled a *quadrans*, the smallest Roman coin. This context emphasizes the extreme poverty of the widow and the minuscule monetary value of her offering.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme emerging from this passage is **True Generosity and Sacrifice**. The narrative challenges the conventional human understanding of value, asserting that the worth of a gift is not determined by its absolute quantity but by the degree of sacrifice it entails for the giver. This is explicitly stated in [Luke 21:4](/luke/21-4 "Luke 21:4 - The Widow Gave All She Had"). Another crucial theme is **Divine Perspective vs. Human Perception**. While human observers, including the disciples, might have overlooked the widow's offering, Jesus' divine insight immediately recognized its profound spiritual significance, demonstrating that God sees beyond outward appearances to the heart's true devotion. This aligns with principles found in [1 Samuel 16:7](/1_samuel/16-7 "1 Samuel 16:7 - The Lord Looks at the Heart"). Finally, the widow's act powerfully illustrates **Faith and Trust in God's Provision**. Despite her dire circumstances, she gave her last two coins, demonstrating an unwavering trust that God would provide for her needs, rather than clinging to her meager resources.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **saw (Greek, _eídō'_):** This primary verb signifies not merely a casual glance but an act of perceiving or discerning. In the context of Jesus, it implies a deeper, insightful observation that goes beyond the surface. He "saw" not just the action, but the heart and the sacrifice behind it, distinguishing His perception from that of ordinary onlookers.
* **poor (Greek, _penichrós'_):** This adjective describes someone who is necessitous, in need, or destitute. It emphasizes the widow's extreme economic vulnerability and lack of resources, making her act of giving all the more striking and counter-cultural. It highlights her state of genuine poverty, not just a lack of surplus.
* **mites (Greek, _leptón'_):** This noun refers to the smallest Jewish copper coin. Two mites (*duo lepta*) were the smallest possible offering one could make. The term underscores the minuscule monetary value of her contribution, setting up the dramatic contrast with the larger sums given by the rich and emphasizing the true measure of her sacrifice.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he saw also":** This opening phrase immediately draws attention to Jesus' active observation. The "also" (G2532 *kai*) connects this observation to the preceding verse where He saw the rich casting in their gifts, establishing a direct comparison. Jesus is not just passively present; He is intentionally watching and discerning.
* **"a certain poor widow":** This identifies the subject of Jesus' observation. The phrase "poor widow" is critically important, as it immediately conveys her social and economic status. Widows in ancient society were often without male support, making them highly vulnerable and dependent. Her "poor" status indicates she had no surplus, making her subsequent action profoundly significant.
* **"casting in thither two mites.":** This describes her specific action and the nature of her offering. "Casting in thither" refers to her depositing the coins into one of the Temple treasury chests. The "two mites" (G1417 *dýo* G3016 *leptón*) specify the exact amount, emphasizing its extremely small monetary value. This seemingly insignificant act is what Jesus chooses to highlight, setting the stage for His radical redefinition of generosity.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 21:2 employs several powerful **Literary Devices**. The most prominent is **Contrast**, which is immediately established by juxtaposing the "rich" from [Luke 21:1](/luke/21-1 "Luke 21:1 - Jesus Observes the Rich Giving") with the "poor widow." This stark difference in economic status sets up the central teaching about true generosity. **Irony** is also present, as the one who gives the least in monetary terms is declared by Jesus to have given the most in spiritual value, subverting conventional human wisdom. The narrative also functions as an **Exemplum**, presenting the widow as a moral example for the disciples and future believers, illustrating the principles of sacrificial giving and radical trust in God. Finally, the "two mites" serve as a potent **Symbolism**, not of wealth, but of ultimate sacrifice and complete devotion, representing "all she had" ([Luke 21:4](/luke/21-4 "Luke 21:4 - The Widow Gave All She Had")).

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 21:2, in conjunction with Jesus' subsequent commentary, profoundly redefines the nature of giving and worship. It shifts the focus from the quantity of the offering to the quality of the heart and the depth of sacrifice. The widow's act demonstrates that true generosity is not about giving from one's abundance, but giving from one's need, holding nothing back from God. This challenges believers to examine their motives for giving and to recognize that God values radical devotion and trust over impressive displays of wealth. Her offering, though monetarily insignificant, becomes a powerful testament to faith, a model of selfless devotion, and a reminder that God's economy operates on principles fundamentally different from human ones.

* [2 Corinthians 8:12](/2_corinthians/8-12 "2 Corinthians 8:12 - Willingness is Accepted")
* [Mark 12:41-44](/mark/12-41-44 "Mark 12:41-44 - The Widow's Offering (Parallel Account)")
* [Proverbs 3:9-10](/proverbs/3-9-10 "Proverbs 3:9-10 - Honor the Lord with Your Wealth")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The story of the poor widow and her two mites serves as a timeless challenge to our understanding of generosity and faith. It compels us to look beyond the superficiality of outward appearances and to consider the true measure of our devotion. In a world that often values size and quantity, Jesus elevates the heart and the spirit of sacrifice. This passage encourages us to ask ourselves if we are truly giving out of a spirit of worship and trust, or merely from our surplus. It reminds us that even the smallest acts, when offered with a whole heart and radical faith, are immeasurably precious in God's sight. The widow's act of giving her last two coins is a powerful call to radical trust in God's provision, demonstrating that true security is found not in clinging to what little we have, but in entrusting everything to the One who owns it all and promises to care for His own.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' observation of the widow challenge my own perceptions of what constitutes "significant" giving or service?**
* **What "mites" (small, seemingly insignificant offerings of time, talent, or treasure) might God be calling me to give sacrificially from my own "need" rather than just my "abundance"?**
* **In what areas of my life do I need to cultivate a deeper trust in God's provision, mirroring the widow's radical faith?**

### FAQ

**What were "mites" in biblical times, and how much were two mites worth?**

Answer: "Mites" translates from the Greek word *leptón* (λεπτόν), which was the smallest Jewish copper coin in circulation during Jesus' time. It was of extremely low value. Two mites (*duo lepta*) together were equivalent to a *quadrans* (Latin for "quarter"), which was the smallest Roman coin, worth about 1/64 of a denarius. A denarius was typically a day's wage for a common laborer. Therefore, two mites represented an almost negligible sum of money, highlighting the widow's extreme poverty and the profound sacrifice of her offering.

**Why did Jesus specifically point out the poor widow's offering?**

Answer: Jesus pointed out the poor widow's offering not because of its monetary value, but because of the immense sacrifice and faith it represented. In [Luke 21:3-4](/luke/21-3-4 "Luke 21:3-4 - Jesus' Commentary on the Widow's Offering"), Jesus explains that while the rich gave out of their abundance, the widow gave "all the living that she had." This act demonstrated a complete trust in God's provision and a heart fully devoted, making her offering, though small in human eyes, immeasurably greater in God's sight. Jesus used her as an object lesson to teach His disciples about the true nature of generosity and divine valuation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The poor widow's offering, though a poignant example of human faith and sacrifice, finds its ultimate fulfillment and meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Her act of giving "all the living that she had" ([Luke 21:4](/luke/21-4 "Luke 21:4 - The Widow Gave All She Had")) foreshadows the perfect, ultimate sacrifice of Christ Himself. Just as the widow held nothing back, Jesus, "though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich" ([2 Corinthians 8:9](/2_corinthians/8-9 "2 Corinthians 8:9 - Christ's Example of Poverty")). He did not merely give from His abundance, but gave His very life, emptying Himself completely on the cross ([Philippians 2:7-8](/philippians/2-7-8 "Philippians 2:7-8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")), becoming the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Her offering, a testament to radical trust in God's provision, points to the one who perfectly trusted the Father, even unto death, thereby securing eternal provision for all who believe. In His self-giving, Jesus perfectly embodies the principle that true value lies not in what is kept, but in what is sacrificially given for the glory of God and the redemption of humanity.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Mark 12:42

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