The Widow at the Treasury (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Revision Note
Exam code: 8062
41 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41–44)
The temple in Jerusalem
The Temple in Jerusalem was the centre of Jewish worship
For Jews, the Temple was the most important building in the world
It was originally built by King Solomon to house the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the Ten Commandments
Jews therefore believed that God resided in the Temple
Throughout history, people had always given money and possessions to the Temple, and therefore, it was a place of great wealth
It was customary for visitors to the Temple to make an offering when they visited
Jesus and the widow at the treasury
Jesus was at the Temple with the disciples
He sat across from the treasury of the Temple and watched many rich people put in large sums of money
Then a poor widow came along and put in two small copper coins
Jesus used this event to teach the disciples about giving
Jesus taught that the woman gave more than the rich, saying:
“For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:44)
Jesus was praising the woman’s faith and commitment, explaining that she was not just giving spare change as the others did; she gave all she had to live on
The woman also did not give to be noticed but simply out of her love for God
This was similar to the faith and commitment the disciples had shown in giving up everything to follow Jesus
It is a contrast to the rich young man, who went away sad because he could not do what this widow had done
Christianity today and generosity
Once again, Jesus sets the example of reaching out to those disregarded by society. It would have been easy to notice the huge donations of the rich people, but Jesus singled out the widow for praise
The message for Christians today is to be generous like the woman
However, it is a call to go further than just donating spare change
The widow sacrificing all she had to live on has parallels to Jesus being prepared to sacrifice his life to save humanity from sin
Christians are called to try to follow the example of the widow and make sacrifices to help others
It is not about how much they give
What matters is how much sacrifice it takes
Worked Example
Why did Jesus say the widow’s offering was greater than that of the rich people?
A. Because her coins were worth more in God’s eyes
B. Because she gave everything she had, showing total faith and commitment
C. Because the rich people gave nothing at all
D. Because widows were required by law to give more than others
[1 mark]
Answer:
B. Because she gave everything she had, showing total faith and commitment
The widow’s gift was small in monetary value but great in sacrifice, as she gave all she had to live on.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
When answering exam questions, always think about whether you can apply other teachings you have studied. This shows a deeper understanding and helps you get higher marks.
For example, if the question is about the widow at the treasury, you could also refer to the story of the rich young man (Mark 10:17–27), who failed to give up his wealth. Linking the widow’s generosity to his reluctance to give makes your answer stronger because it shows that you can apply different parts of Mark’s Gospel to the same theme (here: wealth, sacrifice and faith).
Unlock more, it's free!
Did this page help you?
