The Widow’s Mite
- The Holocaust (and particularly Auschwitz) - "The darker side of human nature"
- Rise of anti-semitism
- Rise of prejudice against certain groups
- Many think that the elderly have become a burden on society
- This widow was a vulnerable and poor person in her society
Who was she?
- No welfare state
- She had no wealthy relatives
- Just a poor widow (not even told her name)
- Old Testament law gave protection for widows (Leviticus) but still these widows were neglected by the religious
- She was not regarded to society
- Example of the little Indian baby - no love, compassion or worth
- James 2:1-13 - Show no favouritism
What did she do?
- Jesus was resting and observing the people in the temple
- How did Jesus know exactly how much people contributed?
- Jesus saw the widow's contribution and made a statement to His disciples
- "Assuredly, I say to you that ?this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, ?her whole livelihood."
- Ex 23:15
- This woman put it more than a (10%) tithe, she put in 100%
- Two mites - one quadran
- Eight quadrans or one denarii was a days wage
- Giving an eight of a days wage
- She put in her all of her worth, maybe living hand to mouth
- She put in more proportionally that all of the others
- The others had given much but they still had plenty of money left
- She must have though about it before hand
- It must have been an act of faith - giving believing God will provide for her
- It was a free act, a free will offering of love
What can we learn from this passage?
- Not what we give but what is left over afterwards
- How much self denial is present in our giving?
- We should not judge people by how much they give
- We do not know what their situations are like
- God loves a cheerful giver
- The little that this widow gave did not escape the Lord Jesus
- God looks upon the heart and the motives
- The rich put it much for a show but the widow gave quietly - give in secret
- Much thankfulness was given to God for this situation
- The situation was recorded in the Scriptures and likely much talked about
- Her situation has been an inspiration to others
- It was an act of faith
- She trusted God to provide for her
- 2 Cor 8 - The Macedonian church gave beyond its means
- Proverbs 11:24-25
- She gave to benefit God's work
- God looks at the intention
- We must discriminate where we give our money
- Perhaps a reminder to Jesus that He would become poor so that we could become rich
- That He would give everything for us
- That He would spill His blood so that we might be forgiven
If you are not a believer, given all of your life to Jesus