Rachel Workman: 41 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. 42 But a poor widow came
and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling
his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put
more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave
out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had
to live on.” It's a beautiful reminder that we, in our times of poverty,
which can be those times when we are walking through the valley of the shadow
of death, need to give all we have to God. Give him all of our worries and our
devotion and we too will end up with a treasure.
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John Burnett:
41 And
He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing
how the people were putting [a]money
into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in
two [b]small
copper coins, which amount to a [c]cent. 43 Calling His disciples to Him, He
said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than
all [d]the
contributors to the treasury;44 for
they all put in out of their [e]surplus,
but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, [f]all
she had to live on.” Giving to the church is the best sign of someone who has
a true faith. This verse isn’t telling us to give all we have but to give
with the right attitude and an amount that shows we are trusting that what God
has given us is enough. 10% is the consensus number but I contend that
the Holy Spirit will lead us to give the right amount and it is our
responsibility to follow His lead in faith. The widow was storing up her
riches in heaven and her penny may have been the best investment ever made.
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Pat Bell: 41 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. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling
his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow
has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Would I be willing to give it all? In my heart I say yes, but I wonder if virtuous thoughts would stand up?
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Tomorrow's reading for Mark 13:1-8
13 As
Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher!
What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”
2 “Do
you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be
left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
3 As
Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James,
John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will
these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be
fulfilled?”
5 Jesus
said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will
come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. 7 When
you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must
happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise
against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in
various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
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