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The term "mite" refers to a small coin of minimal value used during the time of Jesus, often associated with the biblical account of the "Widow's Offering" or "Widow's Mite." This account is found in the Synoptic Gospels, specifically inMark 12:41-44 andLuke 21:1-4. The mite is emblematic of humble, sacrificial giving and is often used to illustrate the principle that the value of a gift is not determined by its monetary worth but by the spirit in which it is given.

Historical Context

In the first-century Judean economy, the mite was known as the "lepton," the smallest and least valuable coin in circulation. The lepton was made of copper or bronze and was worth a fraction of a denarius, the standard daily wage for a laborer. Despite its insignificance in terms of economic value, the mite holds profound spiritual significance in the teachings of Jesus.

Biblical Account

In the Gospel of Mark, the account of the widow's offering is presented as follows:

"Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and watched the crowd putting money into it. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius. Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, 'Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.'" (Mark 12:41-44)

Similarly, in the Gospel of Luke, the narrative is recounted:

"Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 'Truly I tell you,' He said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others. For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.'" (Luke 21:1-4)

Theological Significance

The account of the widow's mite is a powerful illustration of the values of the Kingdom of God, where the heart and intention behind an offering are of greater importance than the amount given. Jesus highlights the widow's act of giving as an example of true devotion and faith, contrasting it with the contributions of the wealthy, who gave out of their abundance without personal sacrifice.

This narrative underscores the biblical principle that God values the sincerity and sacrifice of the giver more than the size of the gift. It serves as a reminder that in God's economy, the worth of an offering is measured by the love and faithfulness with which it is given, rather than its monetary value.

Cultural and Spiritual Lessons

The widow's mite has become a symbol of selfless giving and trust in God's provision. It challenges believers to examine their own attitudes toward giving and to consider the motivations behind their generosity. The account encourages Christians to give sacrificially and with a pure heart, trusting that God sees and honors even the smallest acts of faithfulness.

In Christian teaching, the widow's mite is often used to inspire believers to contribute to the work of the church and to support those in need, regardless of their financial capacity. It serves as a timeless reminder that God honors the humble and the faithful, and that true wealth is found in spiritual richness rather than material abundance.Contraction of minute, from the Latin minutum, the translation of the Greek word lepton, the very smallest bronze of copper coin (Luke 12:59;21:2). Two mites made one quadrans, i.e., the fourth part of a Roman as, which was in value nearly a halfpenny. (seeFARTHING.)1. (n.) A minute object, creature or amount; a small arachnid, of the order Acarina, of which there are many species; as, the cheese mite, sugar mite, harvest mite, etc. See Acarina.

2. (n.) A small coin formerly circulated in England, rated at about a third of a farthing. The name is also applied to a small coin used in Palestine in the time of Christ.

3. (n.) A small weight; one twentieth of a grain.

4. (n.) Anything very small; a minute object; a very little quantity or particle.

MITE

mit (lepton): The smallest copper or bronze coin current among the Jews. They were first struck by the Maccabean princes with Hebrew legends, and afterward by the Herods and the Roman procurators with Greek legends. The "widow's mite" mentioned inMark 12:42 andLuke 21:2 was probably of the first kind, since those with Greek legends were regarded as unlawful in the temple service. According to Mark, the lepton was only half a kodrantes (Latin quadrans), which would indicate a value of about one-fourth of a cent or half an English farthing.

SeeMONEY.

H. Porter

3016. leptos -- peeled, fine, thin, small, light
...mite. Neuter of a derivative of the same as lepis; something scaled (light), ie
A small coin --mite. see GREEK lepis. (lepta) -- 2 Occurrences....

The Widow'sMite
... Strong Meat for Hungry Souls: The Gospel of St. Mark CHAPTER 12:41-44 THE
WIDOW'SMITE. "And He sat down over against the treasury...

The Widow'sMite. (Luke, xxi. , 1-4; Mark, xii. , 41-44. )
... CHAPTER I. FROM THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY TO THE LAST SUPPER. Section 252. The
Widow'sMite. (Luke, xxi., 1-4; Mark, xii., 41-44.). Christ...

First Day. Compassion.
... The feeblest expression of Christian pity and love, though it be but the widow's
mite, or the cup of cold water, or the kindly look and word when there is...

January the Twenty-Fifth First, My Brother!
... song. This is why the widow'smite goes shining through the years. The... Lord?
Themite had intimate associations with the Cross. And...

The New Temple and Its Worship
... God accepts small offerings,' and gives amite while he keeps talents, might
as well keep hismite too; for certainly God will not have it....

"Attracted by the Influence"
... Tamil children usually hang their dolls up by their limbs to a nail in the wall,
or stow them away on a shelf, but thismite has imagination and much sympathy....

The Home Scene.
... Some are called as Levites to temple service; others to give the uncostly cup of
cold water, or the widow'smite; others to manifest the meek, gentle, unselfish...

Woes on the Pharisees
... Their large donations had deprived them of no comfort, or even luxury; they had
required no sacrifice, and could not be compared in value with the widow'smite...

The Cry of the Heathen
... We must have it that the man who is rich must give richly. We know the widow'smite
is precious, but the widow'smite has been an enormously great loss to us....

On the Danger of Increasing Riches
... beneficent Lord! Rather, the more he entrusts you with, be so much the more
careful to employ everymite as he hath appointed. 13. Ye...

Mite (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) A minute object, creature or amount; a small arachnid, of the order Acarina,
of which there are many species; as, the cheesemite, sugarmite, harvest...

Itch (11 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) An eruption of small, isolated, acuminated vesicles, produced by the entrance
of a parasiticmite (the Sarcoptes scabei), and attended with itching....

Miter (9 Occurrences)

Farthing (5 Occurrences)
... kodrantes), the quadrant, the fourth of an as, equal to two lepta, mites. The lepton
(mite) was the very smallest copper coin. Noah Webster's Dictionary....

Dram
... sixteenth part of an ounce, or 27.34375 grains. 2. (n.) A minute quantity;
amite. 3. (n.) As much spirituous liquor as is usually...

Misuses (2 Occurrences)

Bit (46 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) A part of anything, such as may be bitten off or taken into the mouth; a
morsel; a bite. Hence: A small piece of anything; a little; amite....

Speck (6 Occurrences)
... decay in fruit. 3. (n.) A very small thing; a particle; amite; as, specks
of dust; he has not a speck of money. 4. (n.) A small...

Thence (152 Occurrences)
... things; (ASV). Luke 12:59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou
hast paid the very lastmite. (KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT). Luke...

Depart (211 Occurrences)
... (Root in KJV WEY DBY WBS). Luke 12:59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart
thence, till thou hast paid the very lastmite. (KJV WBS)....

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