“This poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury.” Mark 12:43
At the temple, Jesus warned against scribes who prayed for show. Then He sat across from the treasury and watched. Rich people gave much, but a poor widow gave two tiny coins, all she had. Jesus called His disciples to notice that she had given more than all the rest.
Teaching in the temple, Jesus warned, “Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing,” who loved greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats, who took advantage of widows and “for a pretence make long prayers.”
Then Jesus sat across from the treasury and watched people give. Many rich people gave much. A poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a farthing. Jesus called His disciples and said, “This poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 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.”
Who’s who
Jesus Christ: who sees the heart behind every gift
The scribes: who love to be seen
A poor widow: who gives all she has
His disciples: whom Jesus calls to notice her
Where and when
In the temple courts in Jerusalem, near the treasury, days before the Crucifixion.
Watch for the Savior
Watch who Jesus notices that everyone else might miss.
Eight stops from the scribes’ long robes to all her living. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.
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The story, plainly
Four scenes: the warning, the rich gifts, the two mites and the lesson. Look for the Savior in each one.
Read it plainly
The words that trip people up
Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.1
Mark 12:38“love Meaning: formal, respectful greetings. in the marketplaces”
Mark 12:40“which Meaning: eat up; take away. widows’ houses”
Mark 12:40“and for a Meaning: show; to look good. make long prayers”
Mark 12:41“sat Meaning: across from. the treasury”
Mark 12:42“which make a Meaning: a Roman coin of very small value.”
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Look closer
Small details tell the story. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from Church leaders, Church resources or outside sources. Each card says which.
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All nine. The long robes, the widows’ houses, the treasury chest, the gold, the two mites, the disciples, the basket, the purse and the heart. Mark 12:38–44
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Where are you?
Only a little to give, feeling small, giving from little, or giving all. Which feels most like you right now?
A next step for you
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For show or from the heart?
Jesus contrasted the scribes with the poor widow. Read each choice and decide: is it for show, or from the heart?
“This poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury.” Mark 12:43
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Their world, their words
A little background on the temple treasury, the coins, the timing and two Greek words helps the story come alive. Outside sources are labeled.
Church resource · Student manual
The coins
The mites were “small Jewish coins called lepta,” worth less than a farthing, “the Roman coin of lowest value at the time.”2
Almost nothing, and everything.
Church resource · Student manual
Devotion and pretense
Her gift “exemplified her sincere devotion to God, in contrast to the pretense of the scribes.”2
Two ways to worship.
Church leader · Elder Uchtdorf
Days before
“Days before He gave His life for us, Jesus Christ was at the temple in Jerusalem, watching people make donations to the temple treasury.”3
He was about to give all.
Church leader · Elder Haleck
Her faith
“She gave knowing that her ‘want’ would be supplied.”4
The rich gave from extra. She gave from her need, and Jesus said that made it more.1
What the text does not say
Jesus doesn’t say the rich gifts were bad or that everyone must give away all their money. He taught that the Lord measures a gift by the heart behind it.1,3 The widow gave “all that she had,” and He noticed.1
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Look to Him
He sat and watched, saw one widow’s heart, and days later gave His own all for us.
“Our offering may be large or it may be small, but either way, it must be our heartfelt all.”
“Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing.” Mark 12:38
Jesus, about the widow
He taught
“This poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury.” Mark 12:43
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Seek Him today
A question to ask in prayer
Lord, what can I give Thee with my whole heart? Mark 12:44
Ask, then give it, even if it feels small.
Try it today
One way to give your heartfelt all each day. It saves on this device, one day at a time.
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This week:0 of 7 days
Seven days of heartfelt giving. Come again tomorrow.
A quiet moment
“All that she had.”
Read Mark 12:41–44 slowly. Picture Jesus sitting across from the treasury, watching each person. Then picture Him watching you give. What does He see in your heart? Mark 12:41–44
A verse to hold
Talk about it
What did Jesus warn about the scribes?
What did the rich people give?
What did the widow give?
Why did Jesus say she gave more?
Open
For adults and deeper study
Go deeper
Longer readings, harder questions, and where to study next. Each one says what it is before you click.
Apostle
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Our Heartfelt All” (2022)
How the widow’s gift sets a standard for all of our discipleship.3
Everything on this page as a 11-page letter-size PDF: the map, scenes, cards, activity, word studies, tracker, Go deeper and sources. For home, class or a quiet Sunday.
The Widow’s Mites is part of the Scripture Story Sketch Notes for the New Testament, set alongside Come, Follow Me for May 17–23, 2027 (Joseph Smith—Matthew; Matthew 24–25; Mark 12–13; Luke 21).
Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. The words are in Mark 12:38–44; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.
