Mark 12:44

Mark 12:44. For. The worth of a gift is to be determined not by its intrinsic value, but by what it costs the giver. The measure of that cost is what is left, not what is given.

Her whole living (or ‘life'). All at her disposal for her present subsistence. She could not have owned much else, since she is said to be a ‘poor widow.' She could not have hoped for ‘glory of men'(Matthew 6:2), but she received praise from One who spake as never man spake. We are here taught, not simply to give, but how to measure the cost of gifts. Since Christ alone can bless contributions for the extension of His kingdom, this incident shows that the success He has accorded has been on account of the gifts which involved self-denial, these being the only valuable ones in His sight.