38 In his teaching, Jesus said to the people, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces, 39 and the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts: 40 those who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

41 Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much. 42 A poor widow came, and she cast in two small brass coins,* which equal a quadrans coin.† 43 He called his disciples to himself, and said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury, 44 for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.”

Mark 12:38-44 - World English Bible

In Mark 12, Jesus wrestled with the religious leaders in different controversies. Now, he commented on their leadership style: arrogant and predatory. Certainly, the selfishness he portrayed in 12:38-40 was a caricature of the scribes in general, but there were enough of these men with such self-absorption to maintain this view. It was a case of "one rotten apple spoiling the entire barrel."

Jesus turned to the offering of a poor widow as a counter example. People lined up at Temple collection baskets several times a day to contribute to the Treasury, a fund dedicated to the needy in Jerusalem. (Rich patrons like King Herod paid for building improvements and upkeep of the Temple, so the Treasury could be used for charitable outreach.) While the rich gave out of their surplus (sometimes in a show of generosity to build up their reputations), the needy widow gave what she had to live on for the the day: two coins ("lepta" in Greek)worth about as much as the smallest denomination the Empire issued at the time ("quadras" worth 3/8 cent). The Lord commented on her charity; she gave everything so that someone else as poor or even poorer could live. The selfishness of the scribes stood in stark contrast to the selflessness of the widow.

When have you been selfish? Selfless?