I don’t take issue with what Jesus said. Goodness no. He is my master. I do take issue with how his message is used. I suspect that the message concerning the widow giving her two small coins to the temple treasury, is used to beat people up until they give more. Give until it hurts and the like. There just may be a couple of things to keep in mind here. Right before our passage Jesus rebuked the scribes for their pretentious prayers and their devouring of widow’s houses. They put on a show of being pious so that they could take advantage of the vulnerable. Well, ‘pon my word, people don’t change much, do they? Years ago, my dad was told to give to a mission. He was told that if he had faith in God, he would give with a credit card; since he didn’t have the money to give. I wonder if they used the widow as an example of this pious usury. Well, my dad was not convinced. Besides, my parents didn’t have a credit card. So, Hah!
As you may have guessed, our passage, Luke 21:1-4, is about the widow’s gift to the temple treasury. Jesus looks up and sees the rich putting in their gifts. There were other people giving, of course, but that does not concern Luke here. It is the wealthy that Jesus singled out. So, lets talk about them. They are presenting gifts. The word “gift” most likely implies a non-obligatory gift. This is beyond the temple tax. This was a gift. We are not exactly sure where this treasury was. It was obviously in a part of the temple that allowed women. I mean, you’re going to want to make sure everyone can give. In all seriousness, this is right and good. Women should have just as much of a right to give as men. Josephus locates the treasury in the inner court, which would have excluded women. One Jewish source refers to a series of thirteen chests which were labeled according to the kind of contribution. The temple most likely relied heavily on the gifts of the rich. I wonder if that gave them more say in what happened it the temple. Ah, but I wax skeptical. In verse 1 the word rich is at the end of the sentence for emphasis.
Then Jesus saw a poor widow put in two lepta. A lepta was the least valuable coin. It is at the end of the sentence for emphasis. First, Luke emphasizes the wealthy. Then he emphasizes the incredibly small amount this widow put in. The word “poor” here means “needy.” This woman was destitute; barely existing. Notice the contrast here. See the difference in clothing. See the difference in how people treat them. I wonder if anyone else noticed this poor widow. She may be used to going through life without being seen. Nobody fawns over her giving. Do the eyes of others slide away from seeing her? That seems likely doesn’t it. It happens in every society. A friend of mine lived in Dubai for a time. He said that most people ignore what is the necessary poor. The poor who will do the work that the wealthy refuse to do. There job is to do their work without being noticed. No complaining because that will get you noticed. Just do you job and be unseen. Because the picture of Dubai that is desired is one of wealth and opulence.
Jesus spoke into this temple situation. His words are not original. There are plenty of examples in Greek writings. You can even find them in the teachings of Buddha. The giving out of need has more value. Even though others have acknowledged these truths, they are still not the mainstream view, are they? Universities are much more excited over their wealthy alumni, than the pittance that the poor may toss their way. Prove me wrong. This happens in churches as well. I know of a couple of women who give from poverty. The amount cannot compare to the giving of some others. But the dedication; the giving heart; the determination to honor God no matter what – Well, that is a much greater gift. And there is another truth here as well. The poor rarely give as a means of gaining control. Ah, but some wealthy do my friends. Some are not even aware they are doing it. Some give to look good. One of the points here is that they are giving, not because they love God more than their money. They are giving because it looks all pious. Some of these big givers may even be the very ones who were devouring widow’s houses. Say a long prayer here; give a huge gift there. And everyone greets you with respect. And that is what is being paid for.
So, this is about giving because of love; giving out of gratitude; giving because God means more to you than money, more than control, more than the respect of others. As poor as my parents were, they were also the most generous people I’ve known. My mom still complains that she can no longer give. And yet, she still finds a way. Why? Because she loves God. And that is the biggest gift. Please don’t use this passage to beat people over the head. But do use it to encourage hearts to be in love with God. Grace.