Title: The Poor Widow’s Offerings

Scripture Reading: Mark 12:41-44
^“Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. ⁴² Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. ⁴³ So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; ⁴⁴ for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”

Main idea: Giving is investing with God. We get a return that will last eternally (Matt 6:19-21; Luke 6:38).

Jesus’ notices what we give (Mark 12:41)
The temple treasury where 13 shofar chests were located for the various offerings. Seven boxes in which worshipers could deposit their temple tax and six boxes for freewill offerings. Jesus watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Into the trumpet-like boxes in the temple, the more you gave, the bigger the noise you would make, and of course the greater the attention you would draw. After denouncing the counterfeit piety of the scribes who “devour the houses of widows” (Mark 12:40), Jesus now shows his disciples an example of true piety, on the part of a widow.

Jesus “saw how the people put money into the treasury.” The rich, the powerful, and the influential gave a lot because they had a lot. Jesus noticed that many rich people were dropping in large amounts. Well, those with large holdings should give large sums. There was nothing wrong with that. The Bible makes mention of several rich men who can hardly be thought of as having ever donated large amounts to any good cause (1 Sam. 25:2, 3, 10, 11; Luke 12:16–19; Luke 16:19–21). Nevertheless, as Jesus saw it, it was not the amount of the gift that mattered most but the heart of the giver. The rich had drawn attention to themselves with their noisy donations, but Jesus’ attention is drawn to this poor widow. Jesus was not as interested in what people gave as He was in how they gave. In a sense, he has been doing this ever since, is still doing it (Acts 5:1-11; 2 Cor. 9:6, 7; Heb. 4:13).

Widow’s sacrificial giving (12:42)
Widows had no inheritance rights in ancient Israel, and usually had to rely on their children, male relatives for survival. Though often oppressed by the rich and powerful, they are promised protection and vindication by God (Ps 68:6; Ps 72:4; Jer 49:11). When Jesus raised the only son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-15), he was restoring her only protector and perhaps her only source of income. Jesus observes how this widow donates to the house of God two copper coins (Greek-lepta), the smallest Jewish coins in circulation. The writer Mark explains for his Roman readers that two lepta are equivalent to one quadrans, the smallest Roman coin. Our Lord always has time for the individual. He hears the cry of the blind beggar Bartimaeus when no one else does (Mark10:46-52). Now He sees the sacrificial gift of a poor widow when no one else sees a thing.

The widow gave two mites suggests that she did not spare even what she could justifiably have kept for herself. As a poor person, she was only required to give one of the coins. She gave them both, Jesus used her as an example. The point to be emphasized is that this poor widow gave most generously, spontaneously. She gave “in faith.” It is for this reason that Jesus praises her so lavishly. In contrast to the loud clattering of the rich people’s offerings, a poor widow came with a freewill offering for the temple (that is, she was not paying a required tax, but rather giving a gift). Her offering stand as an example of the true commitment required of all Jesus’ followers. We may not be asked to give all we have; Jesus was not making that point in this example. But we must have the generous heart attitude of this widow and not the deceitful heart attitude of the Pharisees. Our Lord notices every act of service coming from a sincere heart. “With such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16).

Jesus’ notices why we give (Mark 12:43)
Jesus calls his disciples to himself makes a solemn declaration: this poor widow put in more than all the other givers. Jesus knew that she gave all she had! And even though it was little in man’s eyes, it was a lot in God’s eyes! As regards monetary value, she gave very little. But the Lord estimates giving by our motive, our means, and by how much we have left. This is a great encouragement to those who have few material possessions, but a great desire to give to Him. Jesus explains: God measures the gifts given him on a basis totally different from human calculations. He looks at the inner motives of the heart (1 Sam 16:7; Luke 16:15). The rich had contributed from their surplus, did not represent a sacrifice but this widow contributed from her poverty. She had given not out of her surplus but out of her substance.

Her offering meant that she would have to rely on God even to provide her next meal. While the scribes serve as a warning to the crowd in general (mark 12:38), this widow is a model for all disciples. What this widow did was so important in the eyes of Jesus that he called his disciples, in order to rivet their attention upon it. This calling to himself of The Twelve disciples had happened before, that is, on very important occasions (Mark 3:13; 6:7; 8:1, 34; 10:42), and this was another. Jesus wanted the disciples to see this lesson in total surrender of self, commitment to God, and willingness to trust in his provision.

Giving is an act of worship (Mark 12:44)
This poor widows generosity parallels the self-emptying generosity of God himself, who did not hold back from us even his beloved Son (Mark 12:6). She is an example of “the poor” who are blessed by God (Matt 5:6; Luke 6:20) because their whole treasure is not in earthly possessions but in God. Jesus’ equates her gift to the house of God with a gift to God himself, a gift that outweighs all the others and causes him to marvel. These words of praise for a poor widow are the last words spoken by the Lord in the temple of the old covenant.

Though her gift was by far the smallest in value, it was the greatest in sacrifice. The value of a gift is not determined by its amount, but by the spirit in which it is given. A gift given grudgingly or for recognition loses its value. When you give, remember that gifts of any size are pleasing to God when they are given out of gratitude and a spirit of generosity. There is a parallel to the situation that Paul observed where the poorer Macedonians had made a contribution to the famine-stricken believers in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8:2). God cares not about the money but about the giver’s heart. The woman gives God all of her heart, soul, and substance. Jesus is about to make an even greater sacrifice. Giving is to be generous (2 Cor 8:2-3; Phil 4:14-20). As Christ has given to us, so should we give. When you give, look to the cross, and then give. Giving should demonstrate love, not law (2 Cor 8:8). Love and gratitude to God for who He is and what He has done is the fountain out of which giving is to flow.

Application
The widows’ action is praiseworthy because out of her poverty and without reservation she gave her whole living to God. But more lesson to be learned here. Her offering foreshadows the one Jesus is about to make: his very life. This poor widow becomes a type of him who, “though he was rich, yet for (our) sake became poor, so that by his poverty (we) might become rich” (II Cor 8:9). May God help us to be like this faithful woman, and to show Him our love as we give of our money, talents, energy, time, and heart in His Name. Did He not promise to provide for those who seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33)? Giving is an act of worship. We can stand with Abel, who “offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through faith” (Heb 11:4).

Let’s pray together
Heavenly Father, all blessings are from You. We’re simply stewards. We simply giving you back what it belongs to You. In Jesus Name Amen.