Hidden among the more well-known gospel events between the Triumphant Entry (Palm Sunday) and Jesus’ death (Good Friday) are a few precious gems which, even if we may recall their existence, we may not realise just exactly when they happened: only a few days before Jesus’ crucifixion. The few verses referred to as ‘The Widow’s Offering’ are one such treasure.
According to the gospel writers Mark & Luke, Jesus spent much of his final week in the temple courtyards and precincts, famously overturning the money-changers’ tables as he declared they had turned his Father’s ‘house of prayer’ into a ‘den of thieves.’
Interestingly, many of his interactions & observations that week involved the topic of money. You may like to take a little time to read either Mark Ch11-13; or Luke vs19:28-21:38
Make a note specifically about these events:
Jesus overturns the money-changers’ tables
his authority is called into question by the ruling teachers and leaders of the day
Jesus tells the parable of the tenants, who killed to unlawfully claim an inheritance
the Pharisees began an argument about paying taxes to Caesar
And then, right before Jesus brings the disciples’ attention to the widow and her tiny offering, he warns the people listening to
'Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the market-places and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets.’ [Luke20:46]
It is in such complete contrast to their show of pomp and self-importance that Jesus spots a poor widow – poor literally, one who has only two coins to her name – putting into the temple offering ‘all she had to live on.’
Have you ever seen a widow’s mite? I’ve actually held one – a genuine Roman artefact! These tiny, crudely struck bronze coins known as Lepta (sg. Lepton) were the low-quality bronze coins minted by the Hasmonean Dynasty in the 1st century BCE. They were the smallest, almost worthless, Jewish coins still in circulation at the time of Jesus.
An insignificant coin, given by an insignificant woman, who probably felt sad and ashamed that she could not give more, and yet they and she are both immortalised by Jesus’ words: ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others.’
Why did Jesus notice her? What point was he making in drawing his disciples’ attention to her meagre offering? We may never know this side of heaven, but there have been countless sermons and podcasts about her. I often wonder: did Jesus go over and speak to her? Did he give her a few coins of his own, a portion of food, or take one of the women in his company with him and tell the widow, ‘go with ~~ she will make dinner for you today’?
I wonder what her reaction would have been? Would she be horrified at being noticed by such an important Rabbi (teacher) or would she have been lovingly overwhelmed by his gentle touch, soft voice and compassionate demeanour? Jesus never put the poor down, he never made them feel less of themselves. Jesus was - and is - always about building up a person’s ability and confidence in themselves.
I wonder how you would have felt that day? Would you indeed have been like the widow – giving your last £10, £100, £1000? - or would you have been more like the pompous windbag, making a show of dropping a mere hour or two’s pay in the collection plate? The surprising thing – and yet also unsurprising of course – is that Jesus loved them both equally, died for them both equally, died for each of us equally, just a few days later.
In this season of Lent, perhaps you have chosen to give something up, to make a sacrifice of a favourite food, TV programme or alcoholic beverage … perhaps you have decided to do something extra, like more exercise, more foodbank donations, more quality family time?
So let me challenge you (and me): are you giving out of your wealth (surplus) or out of your poverty? Why is that? How does it make you feel? And what is Jesus’ response towards you?
I guarantee his response will be compassionate.
Jesus will never put you down or try to make you feel less of yourself. To him, all our offerings are precious and valued, cherished and recognised for what they are.
But sometimes what they are, is not all that they could be. Sometimes out of fear, lack of trust, or because of past experiences, we hold back just a little bit. We think maybe God won’t notice (he will) or he won’t mind (he doesn’t … and he does).
God’s desire for us is to live life to the full; to be able to give fully to Him, trust fully in Him and receive fully from Him all the blessings he has for each one of us.
So maybe it’s time this Easter to take our lead from that humble widow of centuries past, and commit all that we have and all that we are to Jesus. After all, I’m sure Jesus looked on that widow with love, gentle pride, compassion and humility in the light of her oh-so-generous sacrifice because it was for kindly souls like hers – as well as the pompous fools who thought they knew better – that Jesus was heading towards the cross to die for. 'For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.’ [Romans3:23]