Truly, I say to you (Good News Translation “I tell you”) translates a strong emphatic statement similar in impact to “For truly, I say to you” of verse 18.

Penny is the rendering of most translations. The name of the coin in Greek represents a Latin loan word. According to Mark 12.42, this coin has the value of the two coins given by the widow. The Lukan parable (12.59) uses the name of one of the coins given by the widow in Mark 12.42.

Many translations will use the least valuable coin or piece of money used in their country today. However, the expression last penny means “all that must be paid before you can be set free.” Some translations have thought this referred to paying off the debt you owed your accuser, but it is more likely that it means “paid off all the money the judge fined you (or, said you must pay).”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .