Endeavoring Women of the Bible: The Widow's Offering
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This week we are talking about the kind of famous story of this widow who gives an offering. I’m not sure if you have heard this story before, but it is one I commonly hear in church. Specifically, when talking about tithing. I think this story is important for that, but also for so much more. I want to take a look into the heart behind this and the chapters surrounding it, so let’s take a look.
THE WIDOW’S OFFERING
Location: Corinth
Context: Jesus is telling parables and teaching in the temple courts
Passage: Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4
As I did a bit last week, I really am going to be looking at the context of the story today. If you are not familiar with it, it is located in Mark chapter 12 starting at verse 41. I’m actually going to start out by just reading through the narrative:
“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-all she had to live on."
So in this story we meet Jesus as he is teaching and is in the temple courts. To set the scene, and to explain the context, there are a couple of different boxes in the temple where money could be placed. There were some for taxes for males, and this box probably was in the court of the women.
If you have ever been to a church during offering, or been somewhere where there is a line for donations you can imagine what this might look like. I picture sounds of coins clinging, and people (who probably even looked rich) throwing in large amounts of money. You can then also imagine this, a widow coming and putting in maybe two coins in. It tells us that it was only worth a few cents.
It then tells us that Jesus turns to his disciples after this- telling them that she has put in more than anyone else. That most gave out of convenience and based on a number, but she gave everything she had.
Now, as I mentioned, I want to look at the context of this story because I think there lies so many implications. When we look at the passages surrounding this story we encounter a few different things.
“Give what to Caesar is Caesars”
Okay, quite a few verses before the widow’s story, in the first few verses of Mark 12, the Pharisees say to him: “you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”. And as much as the Bible doesn’t seem to talk about money, it actually really does. So what does Jesus respond? The rest of that passage says: “He asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”“Caesar’s,” they replied. Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
And I love this. Not only is it kinda sassy, but it to me helps reframe how we serve God and how we are to interact with the systems of the world. It can be hard to understand our work, our jobs, and our money in the context of Christianity. Some might think that we aren’t supposed to be part of government, or we should be against government. And while, that is a whole other messy issue, the reality is that God says that we are supposed to remember that, at the heart of it, that worldly stuff is exactly that: worldly stuff. We can be so concerned and tied to things like money, but that isn’t even his concern. Your heart is.“Watch out for teachers of the law”.
Even though the “Caesar passage” isn’t right next to the Widow’s story, this part of scripture is. The passage right before the Widow’s story reads: “As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.” This I believe is so important because it shows that he was just dealing with this idea of worship and works. He reminds us here that our actions on the outside, may not reflect our hearts. But God sees, and ultimately judges the heart.
Other passaages surrounding it, inclue Jesus describing the “greatest commandment” (loving others and loving God), and that parable of the tenants that emphasizes using our talents and treasures to the best of our abilities. Not just burying and hiding our talents but using them for the kingdom.
So keeping those passages in mind I think shows that Jesus uses all of these instances to, in every way, drill home this idea that God isn’t looking at outward actions. He judges what we are willing to give of ourselves. It is a continual reminder that God looks at things in a different light!
And a side note with all of this is, you may be asking: so what role do good works even play? Well here is the thing folks. If you heart is pure, guess what. Your actions can’t help but over pour that pureness! Our actions should be a reflection our heart. The fruits of the Spirit are a result of being filled so much by the Holy Spirit, that our actions just naturally are loving, kind, patient, etc. Our actions shouldn’t be an attempt to make a good heart. Our good heart results in action.
Okay, so what can we learn from this small passage?
Money:
Okay, so I said I didn’t want to just tie this story in with tithing, but it is so intertwined, and looking at surrounding passages, that I can’t help but emphasize it. God says over and over not to let money be a stronghold in your heart. He also says that we need to remember and give to Caesar what is Caesars… and simultaneously God what is God’s. Here is the thing, tithing is something that they talk about in the bible over and over. That we are to give our time, talents, and treasures to God. Tithing was something set up in the Old Testament, but we see it continued through the New Testament. In 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 Paul says: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”. My point with this is that giving is between you and God. The thing is, God knows your checkbook. But he also knows your heart. He wants you to trust and rely on Him. And in my experience, even when I try to avoid or outsmart God… He finds a way to bring me back to Him.
EMBARRASSMENT:
Kind of going along with tithing, I think about this story and think about probably the embarrassment Satan could have tempted this widow with. I know I have been in church and only had a $5 bill, or even some $1s and I have told myself… I’m not going to put that in! That is so embarrassing how small it is. But you know what, those same weeks I often would go home and forget to put money in later or online. And you know what, all the people in my row gave nothing that morning in the bucket. To me, and with this passage in mind, I think God wants us to show up. He isn’t embarrassed by you, and I think he calls us to go past the social embarrassments to serve him to the best of our ability.
Comparison
When looking at the passage, I asked myself: why did Jesus point out this instance? And frankly, I’m not sure exactly, but I do know that we see, throughout scripture, the disciples comparing each other over and over. “Who will be the greatest”. I think Jesus points out that the way the world sees things and measures success and wealth are different. We may look to the left and the right, comparing how much the person next to us gave, how much their outfit cost, how many followers or likes they get… but Jesus is emphasizing in this story that he looks at the heart. He doesn’t want us to give or serve based on other people’s efforts. But measuring our own heart and giving what we know is difficult for us.
God sees things differently:
I essentially said this before but the biggest, and most commonly emphasized is that God looks at our hearts. He doesn’t look at the number signs in front of our offering, but he sees through to the heart. And as Jesus was 100% God and 100% human, I believe he could see to her heart too. As we compare, and have embarrassment, I hope that this week you can be reminded that God only asks of you what he asks of you. What the world seems to be asking of you may be very different than what he is. And that has really outlined my year this year. But I hope and pray you can let that sink in too. That he doesn’t require much of you, and he doesn’t look at what other humans look at. He looks at and knows your heart.
FAITH
If I haven’t made it clear enough… the common theme I have found interwoven into these women stories is that many were women of faith. And ultimately they have taught that God is faithful. The widow gives us an example of a women who trusted God and gave her all… in faith.
When thinking of a word to describe the widow, picking one phrase, I would say that she was sincere. This is a word I absolutely love, and I use quite a bit! But I think sincerity and frankly purity is something beyond what people see, but in our hearts. I think this woman’s story reminds us that God sees in a deeper level. He looks past our actions, although they are important, to our true motivation and our hearts. This was a huge thing for me to learn throughout middleschool… but I think it is one that the widow’s story emphasizes. That God wants to change us and wants us to love from the inside out. That the actions and service must start in our heart by giving our all. I hope this week that you can analyze where your heart is at and strive to love not just in action… but giving your heart fully to God.
Lord, I pray for these endeavorers that this week you will meet them where you are. We praise you because you know us so fully and you see our hearts. We are sorry for the times that we put on a show or we give to impress others rather than truly serving you.
sources
Life Application Study Bible - NIV. Zondervan, 1997.
Fletcher, E. (2006). PRISCILLA-PRISCA, teacher, evangelist, friend of St Paul. Her life story. Retrieved July 2, 2019, from http://www.womeninthebible.net/women-bible-old-new-testaments/prisca-priscillachristian-woman/
