Mark 12:41-44 the widow's mite

[spencer2]

need some clarity on the widow’s mite. jesus states that the widow gave everything she owned into the treasury, so how did she survive? it doesn’t say if it was a free will gift or a coersion, but either way she is now impoverished with no means of exchanging for food any resource.

 

[TimothyH]

The Law of Moses had provisions for widows and orphans.

"At the end of every three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your produce in the same year, and lay it up within your towns; and the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled; that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do. (Deuteronomy 14:28)

There were many others like this. Israel was not always faithful to these commands however, one of the reasons why they were exiled and power taken way from the priests and pharisees.

-Tim-

 

[KLM789]

need some clarity on the widow’s mite. jesus states that the widow gave everything she owned into the treasury, so how did she survive? it doesn’t say if it was a free will gift or a coersion, but either way she is now impoverished with no means of exchanging for food any resource.

The story is told implying that God will take care of her. It is immaterial how she came across more resources for the rest of her life.
Also the implication is she gave it of free will. Coercion is not giving. It’s theft from the person. There is no reason for the story to have come from coercion. The story would have no point.
Hopefully you are interested in the point of this, which is, among other things, to demonstrate that giving is a relative thing. And a very personal choice (noticed by God especially in the context of the extent of what that giving meant to the giver).