"And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 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."(Mark 12:41-44)
See Video:
http://lds.org/bible-videos/videos/jesus-teaches-about-the-widows-mites?lang=eng
In this story we find Christ in the temple, shortly after expelling money changers from the temple for the second time, teaching his disciples some final lessons before his death. With in the week Jesus Christ would be betrayed, scourged, and crucified. His aim, teach the prudent doctrine of the kingdom.
As Christ observed the temple traffic he caught sight of the offering area, a place where temple contributions where made for temple maintenance and construction. All classes where present to offer, the rich and poor alike gave to the God of Israel. In this time it was the practice of many Pharisees to contribute mass amounts of monetary substance, with the intent to earning for themselves status and social recognition.
This was in nowise the case of the poor, especially the lowly widow, who as Christ states "did cast in all that she had, even all her living", her gift was given willingly and with great sacrifice. The two mites was all that she could give, but she gave with a willing heart and a contrite spirit, seeking to please the Father in Heaven. Her sacrifice out weight all the sum of selfish hypocritical offers.
The worth of 2 mites in US currency is .5 cents, but the key to this story is not the amount, it is the personal cost and devotion of the giver. Even thought the Pharisees gave more as in monetary currency, their selfish sacrifice could not purchase what Elder Uctdoft entitles "a loaf of bread in the economy of heaven". Such is the kingdom of God, it requires the giver to sacrifice all he has with a willing heart, "For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God"(Moroni 7:8).
As we face life let us give our "widows mites", this act will empower us to overcome, so that the promise the Resurrected Lord makes in Revelation " To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God"(Revelation 2:7) may be had. True discipleship requires such, such the widows mite...
Mark 12:41-44-http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/mark/12.41-44?lang=eng#40
loaf of bread in the economy of heaven-http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/you-matter-to-him?lang=eng
Moroni 7:8-http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/7.8?lang=eng#7
Revelation 2:7- http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/rev/2.7?lang=eng#6
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