Mark 12:38-44

As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

The last two sections in this chapter. Both are well known, but we often don't link them together, because we often read such small sections at a time.

The first teaching is "Watch out for the teachers of the law." Jesus criticizes them for:

• Seeking status and public recognition. They liked wearing long robes; they wanted to be greeted in the marketplaces in specific ways; they liked having places of honour at banquets and in the synagogues.
• We could put up with that, but they went way beyond that, they exploited vulnerable people by devouring "widows' houses".
• And they made a big deal out of their long, ostentatious prayers purely for show. They probably prayed in the King James English! 

Jesus says they will face a "greater condemnation".

And while he is talking, he sat down opposite the temple treasury and watched as people gave their money:

• He saw the wealthy(ier) people throw in large sums out of their abundance (surplus wealth).
• And he saw a poor widow come and put in two small copper coins (known as mites, worth a few cents or a tiny fraction of a denarius).

Jesus calls his disciples together and points this out to them. And tells them that the poor widow has actually put in more than all the others combined. While the rich gave out of what they didn't really need, she gave out of her poverty—putting in everything she had to live on.

And unlike the teachers of the law, she did it without drawing attention to herself.

Be like the widow not the teachers of the law.

• Don't make a big show of your spirituality. 
• Give, not just out of your abundance, but out of faithfulness and generosity.