Luke 21 3

Luke 21:3 kjv

And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

Luke 21:3 nkjv

So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all;

Luke 21:3 niv

"Truly I tell you," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others.

Luke 21:3 esv

And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.

Luke 21:3 nlt

"I tell you the truth," Jesus said, "this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them.

Luke 21 verses

Luke 21 3 Meaning

Luke 21:3 reveals Jesus' profound evaluation of an offering. He states that a poor widow, by placing two very small copper coins into the Temple treasury, effectively contributed more in divine value than all the wealthy individuals who gave large sums from their abundance. This pronouncement highlights God's primary focus on the giver's heart, the sacrifice involved, and the proportion of what is given relative to one's means, rather than the absolute monetary value of the gift. It signifies that true generosity is measured by costly giving that stems from trust and devotion.

Luke 21 3 Context

Luke 21:3 is part of an incident in the Temple treasury, which immediately precedes Jesus' extended teaching on the end times, often called the Olivet Discourse (Lk 21:5-38). The scene (Lk 21:1-4) opens with Jesus observing wealthy individuals proudly depositing large sums of money into the collection boxes (shofars), located in the Court of Women. This area was a prominent place for offerings. Directly contrasting this, Jesus points out a "poor widow" giving two tiny copper coins. The preceding verses (Lk 20:45-47) condemn the scribes for their hypocrisy, ostentation, and especially for "devouring widows' houses," which adds a layer of condemnation against religious leaders who exploit the vulnerable while appearing righteous. The Temple itself, soon to be discussed as facing destruction, represents the very system that measures worth differently from God. This small act of devotion by the widow thus becomes a powerful statement about God's counter-cultural kingdom values in the face of human-made systems of prestige and wealth.

Luke 21 3 Word analysis

• Truly (Greek: Alēthōs or Amēn from parallel Mk. Often Amēn is used, signifying a firm declaration. In Luke, it's frequently alēthōs here which confirms it as true)
  • Significance: Used by Jesus to emphasize the absolute certainty and profound truth of what He is about to say. It calls for deep attention and highlights the authoritative nature of His teaching, indicating that the following statement is not mere opinion but divine revelation.
• I tell you (Greek: Legō hymin - "I say to you")
  • Significance: A common pedagogical phrase of Jesus, demonstrating His authority as a teacher and prophet. It directly addresses His listeners, making the truth personal and unavoidable for them.
• this (Greek: Hautē - "this one")
  • Significance: A demonstrative pronoun that points directly to the specific person Jesus observed, drawing His disciples' attention sharply to her, contrasting her with the general class of donors.
• poor (Greek: Ptōchē - from ptōchos)
  • Significance: Describes someone in abject poverty, utterly destitute, forced to beg, utterly dependent on others or on divine providence. It's a stronger term than penēs (one who struggles to make a living but works). Her status underscores the magnitude of her sacrifice.
• widow (Greek: Chēra)
  • Significance: In Jewish society, a widow was among the most vulnerable and often helpless members, without a husband's protection or financial support. God's Law frequently emphasized care for widows (Deut 24:19-21, Jas 1:27). Her very identity here reinforces her desperate economic situation.
• has put in (Greek: Beblēken - from ballō, "to cast," "to throw in")
  • Significance: Indicates a deliberate, active contribution, "cast" or "thrown" into the treasury chest. It's an intentional act, not accidental.
• more (Greek: Pleion - "more," "greater")
  • Significance: The key word, signifying a qualitative superiority, not just quantitative. It refers to a greater spiritual value and greater proportionate giving in God's sight, completely redefining the concept of "more" from a worldly perspective.
• than (Greek: Hyper - "above," "beyond," "on behalf of")
  • Significance: Functions as a comparative particle, explicitly setting up a comparison that declares the widow's act superior to others' giving.
• all of them (Greek: Pantōn autōn - "of all of them")
  • Significance: Refers to the collective group of rich individuals previously mentioned in Lk 21:1 who were observed casting in their abundant gifts. The contrast is sharp and absolute, including everyone else.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• Truly I tell you: This authoritative pronouncement highlights the gravity and profound truth of Jesus' teaching, inviting deep consideration from His disciples. It signals a divine judgment contrary to human assessment.
• this poor widow: Emphasizes her dire financial and social vulnerability. Her "poor" status (utterly destitute) as a "widow" underscores the radical nature of her action, setting her apart from others who could give from a place of comfort. Her act is extraordinary precisely because of her profound need.
• has put in more than all of them: This is the shocking and central paradox. It redefines what "more" truly means to God. It isn't about the quantity of money but the quality of the sacrifice—giving all from want rather than a portion from abundance. This statement directly challenges the worldly measure of wealth, generosity, and piety. It highlights that God values costly, proportionate sacrifice born of faith, over impressive but easy offerings.

Luke 21 3 Bonus section

The lepton (λεπτόν), the coin the widow gave, was the smallest Jewish copper coin, worth about one-eighth of a cent, or roughly 1/64 of a laborer's daily wage. The fact that she gave two lepta is significant; two was the minimum required for an offering (Mark 12:42 explicitly says "two mites"). This implies she gave everything, not holding back even one. This choice to give her very last instead of reserving it highlights profound, active faith and utter reliance on God for survival. It also draws a parallel to Jesus' own sacrifice, as He, though rich, for our sake became poor, so that we through His poverty might become rich (2 Cor 8:9), giving His all for humanity. The silent act of the widow also contrasts sharply with the potential ostentatious displays of the wealthy, suggesting that true spiritual acts often occur without fanfare or human recognition, valued only by God.

Luke 21 3 Commentary

Luke 21:3 encapsulates a core principle of God's economy, diametrically opposing the world's valuation system. While onlookers and likely the Temple officials would have been impressed by the large, resonant thuds of the rich casting in their considerable gifts, Jesus perceives true generosity through an entirely different lens. He focuses not on the amount given, but the proportion of what was given relative to the giver's total resources, and crucially, the heart from which it flowed. The wealthy gave out of their surplus, which cost them nothing of their security or lifestyle. The poor widow, however, gave "all that she had to live on" (implied from Mk 12:44 parallel), her bios or "life." Her two tiny coins represented her entire subsistence, a truly sacrificial act born of desperate trust in God's provision.

This teaches that genuine worship and dedication involve costly self-giving, which God weighs immeasurably higher than performative displays of affluence. The widow's quiet, almost invisible, act of profound faith exemplifies radical dependence on God, demonstrating that our giving reveals the true object of our security. It underscores that God sees and values every sincere, humble act of devotion, no matter how small or insignificant it appears to human eyes. This verse convicts against hypocrisy, encourages sacrificial giving, and reaffirms God's meticulous awareness of the heart's true posture before Him.

• Example for practical usage: Consider someone who has limited time and strength due to illness, but spends an hour praying diligently for others; their "giving" in prayer is considered "more" than a healthy person who easily devotes many hours, but perhaps without as much earnestness.
• Example for practical usage: A child who gives their only toy to a sibling in need may be seen as giving "more" in spirit than an adult who donates a large sum that they will hardly miss.