Farthing
Small Coins with Big Lessons
The word "farthing" appears in older English translations of the New Testament to render two different Greek coins: the assarion and the kodrantes (Latin quadrans). Though both were coins of very small value, Jesus used them in teachings that carry profound spiritual weight. These tiny denominations helped His audience grasp truths about God's providence and the seriousness of unresolved conflict.
The Two Coins Behind the Word
The assarion was a Roman copper coin worth roughly one-tenth of a denarius (a day's wage for a laborer). It appears in Matthew 10:29 and Luke 12:6, where Jesus discusses the price of sparrows. Modern translations typically render this as "penny" rather than "farthing."
The kodrantes, from the Latin quadrans, was even smaller, worth about one-fourth of an assarion. This was among the smallest coins in circulation in the Roman Empire. It appears in Matthew 5:26 and Mark 12:42. In Mark's passage, it is used to explain the value of the widow's two small copper coins (lepta), which together made up one kodrantes.
Not One Sparrow Falls
In one of His most comforting teachings, Jesus told His disciples not to fear those who could kill the body. He pointed to sparrows sold in the marketplace: two for an assarion (Matthew 10:29), or five for two assaria (Luke 12:6). Despite their negligible market value, Jesus declared that not a single sparrow falls to the ground apart from the Father's will. "So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:31).
By choosing the smallest coin His listeners could imagine, Jesus magnified the scope of God's attentive care. If God notices the fate of a bird worth half a penny, how much more does He attend to His children?
Pay the Last Farthing
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus used the kodrantes to warn about the urgency of reconciliation. He taught that anyone with a grievance against a brother should settle the matter quickly, before it escalates to a judge and then to prison. "Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny" (Matthew 5:26). The choice of the smallest possible coin emphasizes the thoroughness of the reckoning: every last fraction must be accounted for.
This teaching underscores both the seriousness of broken relationships and the grace available through prompt reconciliation. Jesus was not merely offering legal advice but revealing a spiritual principle about the importance of forgiveness and making things right.
The Widow's Offering
The kodrantes also provides context for understanding the widow's offering in Mark 12:42. Mark explains to his Roman audience that the two lepta she gave were worth one kodrantes, the smallest Roman coin. Jesus declared that this impoverished widow had given more than all the wealthy donors, because she gave everything she had to live on (Mark 12:43-44). The farthing thus becomes a symbol of radical generosity and complete trust in God.
Biblical Context
The farthing appears in four New Testament passages: Matthew 5:26 (settling accounts), Matthew 10:29 and Luke 12:6 (God's care for sparrows), and Mark 12:42 (the widow's offering). In each case, the small coin serves as a concrete illustration of spiritual truth, helping Jesus' audience grasp abstract concepts through familiar, everyday objects.
Theological Significance
The farthing teaches that nothing is too small for God's attention. God's providence extends to the most insignificant creatures, His justice accounts for the smallest debts, and His regard for sacrificial giving values heart over amount. These passages collectively reveal a God who operates in the details and who values faithfulness in small things.
Historical Background
Roman coinage in first-century Palestine included a range of denominations. The denarius was the standard silver coin worth a day's labor. The assarion was a copper coin worth one-tenth to one-sixteenth of a denarius. The quadrans (kodrantes) was worth one-fourth of an assarion, making it one of the smallest coins in use. Archaeological excavations throughout the Roman Empire have recovered numerous examples of these small copper coins, confirming their widespread circulation.