The Widow's Mites Mathematics
The widow gave two mites — the smallest denomination possible — and Jesus said she gave more than everyone else.
Mark 12:41–44, Luke 21:1–4. The widow casts in two mites (Greek: lepta, the smallest coin in use). Jesus calls his disciples and says she 'hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury.' The rich had cast in 'of their abundance'; she cast in 'of her want, even all that she had.' The comparative 'more than all' is absolute: not more proportionately, but literally more in Jesus's accounting. The evaluation reverses the observable data — the rich contributed the most money; the widow contributed the most. Jesus's commentary redefines the unit of measure.
Red Letter Sources
Mark 12:43Mark 12:44Luke 21:3
And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That 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.
And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
Evidence Notes
Mark 12:44: 'she of her want did cast in all that she had.' The 'more than all' comparison is explicit in Mark 12:43.
