Knowing The Word in Luke 21:1-4

The Widow's Offering

21:1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Comments

The setting of this account was the Court of the Women where thirteen trumpet-shaped boxes for collection of monies were placed. Each box had an inscription indicating the use of the gifts. Luke implied the rich put in generous gifts. In Greek “poor widow” is one word and indicated her destitute state. First-century widows had few options for earning income. This widow’s offering of two leptas—the only Jewish coin mentioned in the New Testament—were of little value. Jesus commented that she gave far more than the rich, giving out of her poverty while they gave out of their abundance.

Application

Does the following statement ring true to you: “What matters is not the amount that you give but the amount you keep for yourself”? How do you decide what to give back to God, considering that everything you have is from him?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I want to have the heart of the widow who gave out of her poverty rather than out of her abundance. Mold my heart to be like hers.