Widows 1, Scribes nil

In the story of the widow's mite, Mk 12:38-44, Jesus provides us with an illustration of the type of people we should and should not imitate:

In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues,
and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation."

He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.
Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.

 Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,

"Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood." Mk 12:38-44

According to the The New Jerome Biblical Commentary, p.622, the scribes were the interpreters of the Old Testament law, in other words the ancient Jewish version of lawyers.

Scribes typically served as trustees of widows' estates. Their fee for such a service was a share of the funds in the estate.  So as to improve their chances of getting appointed to such a position (and thus devour the houses of widows), the scribes strove to improve their reputation of piety.  They would do this by wearing long robes designed to enhance their prestige and honor, seek out places of honor and publicly demonstrate their holiness . Jesus is warning against such behavior:

Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext recite lengthy prayers.

It should be noted that the scribes will receive a just reward for their actions.

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The second part of the reading contrasts the conduct of the scribes with that of the widow. The two copper coins (lepta) were the smallest coins in circulation.  Jesus' observes that "this poor woman put in more than all the others contribution." He then goes on to explain that the widow made a real sacrifice to support the Temple, whereas the rich simply gave out of their surplus: For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood. [bold added].

The 19th Century Catholic mystic, Ven. Anne Catherine Emmerich, in her private revelation The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations, gives further details as to what occurred in the Temple:

In the center of the hall, or rather, nearer to the entrance,  stood the money box, an angular pillar, about half the height of a man, in which were three funnel-shaped openings to receive the money offerings, and at its foot was a little door. The box was covered with a red cloth over which hung a white transparent one. To the left was the seat for the priest who maintained order, and a table upon which could be laid doves and other objects brought as offerings. To the right and left of the entrance stood the seats for the women and the men, respectively. The rear of the hall was cut off by a grating, behind which the alter had been put up when Mary presented the Child Jesus in the Temple.

Jesus today took the seat by the money box. It was an offering day for all that desired to purify themselves for the Paschal feast. The Pharisees, on coming later, were greatly put out at finding Jesus there, but they declined His offer to yield to them His place. The Apostles stood near Him, two and two. The men came first to the money box, then the women, and after making their offering, they went out by another door to the left. The crowd stood without awaiting their turn, only five being allowed to enter at a time. Jesus sat there three hours.

Toward midday, as a general thing, the offerings ended, but Jesus remained much longer, to the discontent of the Pharisees. This was the hall in which He had acquitted the woman taken in adultery. The Temple was like three churches, one behind the other, each standing under an immense arch. In the first was the circular lecture hall. The place of offering in which Jesus was, lay to the right of this hall, a little toward the Sanctuary. A long corridor led to it. The last offering was made by a poor, timid widow. No one could see how much the offering was, but Jesus knew what she had given and He told His disciples that she had given more than all the rest, for she had put into the money box all that she had left to buy herself food for that day. He sent her word to wait for Him near the house of John Mark. The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations, Vol. 4, pp. 28-30.

The importance of the widow's offering cannot be underestimated.  In the Eastern rite of the Roman Catholic Church, for instance, it is mentioned in the Divine Liturgy of St. Mark, the ancient, traditional main Liturgy of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria. The widow's offering is on par with other great sacrifices made to God:

As You accepted the sacrifice of our father Abraham, the incense of Zacharias, the alms of Cornelius, and the widow's two mites, accept also the thank-offerings of these, and give them for the things of time the things of eternity, and for the things of earth the things of heaven.

St. John Chrysostom, one of the four Doctors of the Church coming from the  Eastern (Greek speaking) Roman empire,  reminded us why we ourselves need to imitate the widow in her sacrifice:

For what is required is that we give, not much or little, but not less than is in our power. Think we on him with the five talents, and on him with the two.  Think we on her who cast in those two mites. Think we on the widow in Elijah's days. She who threw in those two mites said not, What harm if I keep the one mite for myself, and give the other? But gave her whole living. But you, in the midst of so great plenty, art morepenurious than she. Let us then not be careless of our own salvation, but apply ourselves to almsgiving. Homily 1 on Colossians