Jesus sat in the temple teaching the people
He turned to his followers and said:
“Be careful of religious leaders
Who walk with heads held high
Wearing rich fancy clothing
That make them look important.”
Full flowing robes, expensive fabric
To show off their wealthy leisure lifestyle.
People forced to show them respect
They sat in front row seats
In church and at distinguished events
And said long prayers in public.
They cheated widows out of their money
Make them feel guilty and pressured
To give beyond what they can afford
Defenceless, vulnerable women.
Jesus looked up and saw those leaders
Give money so people could see them
Then he saw a poor widow
Drop in two copper coins
And slip away unnoticed.
Jesus said “This widow gave only two coins
But she has given God more
Than all those wealthy leaders
Who give only what they don’t need.”
Widows were very poor, the poorest class of all
Forced to give more than she can afford
Her money for food and shelter.
She gave a full day’s pay
Why did she give so much?
Why was she so poor
Yet, surrounded by such wealth?
Two coins was the smallest donation
Demanded by the rich leaders
Some of it would line their pockets
To pay for their life of excess.
The widow gave her gift to God
In thanks for all that he had done
For her people throughout history
So, her gift was acceptable.
She gave money to help maintain
God’s temple where they could pray
For the temple had once been destroyed
For over 100 years.
God had commanded the leaders
Way back through Moses
To care for the widows, orphaned and poor
Within their community.
Remember Ruth a despised foreigner?
If Boaz had not offered her protection
She and Naomi would have died of starvation.
Now, what Jesus saw was no care at all
For widows, orphaned, sick and the poor
The leaders had not obeyed God’s Law
Passed down through Moses generations before.
He said, “God will one day punish those leaders.”
Then, the temple was destroyed after 70 years
God’s love was revealed in the New Testament
Then, worldwide Christian charity spread.
Jesus said in Matthew 25:
“When I was hungry you gave me some food
When I was thirsty you gave me a drink
When I was a stranger you invited me in.
When I was naked you clothed me
When I was sick you visited me
When I was in prison you came to me.”
God judges our heart, our attitude.
When Jesus was tired and thirsty
The divorced woman gave him a drink
When He was unwanted in his home town
Mary and Martha fed and housed him.
Naked Jesus died, nailed to a cross
Two friends took him down and wrapped Him in cloth
They buried him in a donated tomb
They helped their friend Jesus as best they could.
Christian charity we see in our community
People give without getting a return
Giving money or time or sharing what they can
To help someone less fortunate then themselves.
Luke 20:45-47, Luke 21:1-4
2 Corinthians 8:12-15
Holy Bible: Easy-to-Read Version. 1987 World Bible Translation Centre
The Gospel According to St. Luke An Introduction and Commentary by Rev. Leon Morris 1974. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries
The Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians An Introduction and Commentary. R.V.G. Tasker Tyndale New Testament Commentaries
All the Women of the Bible.1967. Herbert Lockyer Zonderva