A farthing is a small sum, and the Gospels use it three times. Jesus asks, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?” and says that “one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.” He also warns of a debt that must be paid, “the uttermost farthing.” And in Mark a poor widow throws in “two mites, which make a farthing.” In each scene the smallest amount carries weight. Begin with Matthew 10:29.
3 verses
Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
Matthew George Easton, 1897
(1.) Matt. 10:29; Luke 12:6. Greek assarion, i.e., a small as, which was a Roman coin equal to a tenth of a denarius or drachma, nearly equal to a halfpenny of our money.
(2.) Matt. 5:26; Mark 12:42 (Gr. kodrantes), the quadrant, the fourth of an as, equal to two lepta, mites. The lepton (mite) was the very smallest copper coin.
William Smith, 1884
Two names of coins in the New Testament are rendered in the Authorized Version by this word:
(1.) Quadrans , (Matthew 5:26; Mark 12:42) a coin current in the time of our Lord, equivalent to three-eights of a cent;
(2.) The assarion , equal to one cent and a half, (Matthew 10:29; Luke 12:6)