Luke 21:4
 
Luke 21:4
(KJB) For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
(1611 KJB) For all these haue of their abundance cast in vnto the offerings of God, but shee of her penurie hath cast in all the liuing that she had.
(1587 Geneva Bible) For they all haue of their superfluitie cast into the offerings of God: but she of her penurie hath cast in all the liuing that she had.
(1526 Tyndale) For they all have of their superfluyte added vnto the offerynge of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the substaunce that she had.
 
Counterfeit Versions
(CSB) For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
(NIV) All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
(NASV) for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on."
(THE MESSAGE) All these others made offerings that they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford—she gave her all!"
(AMP) For they all gave out of their abundance (their surplus); but she has contributed out of her lack and her want, putting in all that she had on which to live.
(NLT) For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”
(ESV) For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
(CEV) Everyone else gave what they didn't need. But she is very poor and gave everything she had."
(NCV) They gave only what they did not need. This woman is very poor, but she gave all she had to live on."
(1901 ASV) for all these did of their superfluity cast in unto the gifts; but she of her want did cast in all the living that she had
(HCSB) For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on."
(RSV) for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had."
(NAB-Roman Catholic) for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood."
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) For all these dropped in gifts out of their surplus, but this [woman] out of her want dropped in all the means of living she had.”
 
Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
apanteV gar outoi ek tou perisseuontoV autoiV ebalon eiV ta dwra tou qeou auth de ek tou usterhmatoV authV apanta ton bion on eicen ebalen
 
Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
panteV gar outoi ek tou perisseuontoV autoiV ebalon eiV ta dwra auth de ek tou usterhmatoV authV panta ton bion on eicen ebalen
 
Corrupted Manuscripts
This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century
L 019 - Seventh century
X 033 - Tenth century
 
Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse
Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century
D 05 - Bezae Cantabrigiensis - Fifth century
K 017 - Ninth century
Q 026 - Fifth century
W 032 - Fourth/fifth century
Gamma 036 - Ninth or Tenth century
Delta 037 - Ninth century
Theta 038 - Ninth century
13 (Minuscule) - Eighth century
33 (Minuscule) - Ninth Century
700 - (Minuscule) Eleventh century
　
Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions
Omit “of God”
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Tregelles, Samuel - 1857 (in brackets or margin)
Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
Weiss, Bernhard - 1894
Westcott and Hort - 1881
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
 
Affected Teaching
The modern versions omit the most important reason that Christians give. We give unto the Lord. The Widow gave her two mites and Jesus took notice of it. The rich were putting in out of their abundance. As rich folks, they knew that their needs were supplied for so they gave from their surplus. The Widow gave out of her poverty probably not knowing where her next meal was coming from. The Widow had a good understanding of who God was and she did not fear giving her money unto God. When the modern versions leave out “cast in unto the offerings of God,” they omit the reason that Christians give. In our day, there are many organizations seeking the funds of the Christian. As Christians, it is our responsibility to discern what organizations we want to donate to. Just because an organization claims to be Christian does not necessarily mean they are. As Christians, this verse is giving us insight that we are to make sure that when we give, it is given unto a reputable Christian organization or it does not even have to be an organization but it can be a person too. I got hoodwinked some years ago. A fellow came to our church and he was dressed like a homeless person, yet he was a regular attendee. So I thought that he really had needs so I slipped him a few shekels. Later on, I came to find out he worked for the railroad and made a big salary plus I saw him smoking. This man should not have taken the money but human nature being what it is, he took it. Never again would I give to a person until I knew they were really in need. I was not going to subsidize the tobacco companies, we have the government for that. The principle is that Christian giving is to be focused upon the Lord and His ministry, not our feelings based on guilt manipulating mailings that we all receive. Once again the King James Bible keeps our mind focused on the Lord and when our minds are focused on the Lord, our giving will also be focused.

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