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The Widow's Two Mites
October 29, 2011

During Jesus' ministry, he was often a participant in debate regarding the popular teachings of the day. These teachings were shaped by the Pharisees, those who interpreted and instructed regarding the law, and the scribes, those who understood the wording of the law. It was during one of these debates with scribes, that Jesus illustrated a viewpoint that had meaning as it occurred, and has meaning today. In the narrative, Jesus was questioned about his beliefs regarding a variety of topics, and in the end, Jesus used the debate to focus attention to the outward appearance of the scribes instead of the intent of their hearts. At the time scribes and Pharisees were the spiritual mouth pieces of the day. When they spoke, people listened. And Jesus listened too, but Jesus was able to hear the hypocrisy in their message. While they taught about the law, they never taught about the intent of the law. They never talked about the results the law was intended to bring about. So it was during this debate that Jesus warned those who blindly listened to the scribes to beware of those who liked to walk in long robes, who reveled in being publicly greeted. He warned of those who when they came into a religious celebration wanted to be seen. He warned of these people and while all heard him, few understood his message. It seems like few understand his message today. He warned that those who became rich off of the misery of those who were the most needy would suffer the greatest damnation. He warned his followers not to be like the scribes who had all of the outward appearances of being rich, but who became rich by devouring widows property. He compared these type of rich men to the poor widow, who was only able to give a little to the treasury. Jesus taught that the widows gift was of greater value than the rich man's gift. While the rich man's gift may have been of greater monetary value, the amount of money given by the widow was more personally significant. In the end, what Jesus taught was that the intent of one's heart meant more than the thickness of one's wallet.

Luke 20:45-Luke 21:4
Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples, Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation. And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

So we have this example in the gospel of Luke and there are many ways we can look at this. One important way for us to look at this teaching is in the context of how it was taught. This teaching may seem pretty straight forward, but if we want to have the greatest understanding of the meaning, we need to look at the context. And the context of this teaching is given by what comes next. This teaching leads into a prophecy of the end time. There are some who believe the end time will happen soon. I'm not for setting dates, as some have recently done. No one can really know the exact time of the return of Jesus. This has led some to pursue ideas regarding the date of Jesus coming. If we can't know the exact time, these people think, perhaps we can narrow it to a few hours.

Matthew 24:42
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Perhaps these people should be concerned with what precedes the return of Jesus. And what precedes Jesus is a time of great trouble, where all that is great and magnificent about religion is brought to nothing. In the time immediately before the return of Jesus, the institutions of religious greatness are reduced to nothing, and it is the substance of truth that survives. You see, immediately after the story of the widow's two mites is a story about the destruction of the temple. The physical manifestation of this prophecy has occurred when the temple was destroyed by the Romans in the decades following the life of Jesus. The spiritual application of this principle is eternal. When we value the form of religion over the substance of religion, God will reduce will reduce our beliefs to nothing, because when we believe religion is about form rather than substance what we believe is wrong. When we believe and obey the truth is when we God can build us up and defend us. This is also an eternal spiritual application from the verses in Luke, in addition to the prophecy we yet expect.

Luke 21:5-28
And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls. And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

The story about the widow's two mites is a story about how God values personal sacrifice and commitment. This story is also an example for us to value the substance of faith over the form of faith. When our faith is in line with the teaching of the Bible, we will focus on doing right by God's law rather than merely being worried about appearing to be right. When we do right by God's law, we will respect those who have a lower financial standard of living as equal in Christ. We will not live a life of religious superiority should we be financially blessed, knowing that verses like this show that financial prosperity does not always mean religious greatness. Sometimes the financially blessed are religiously great, but sometimes the financially great have achieved their status through deceit, and in the end religious deceit will not be left standing.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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