Slices
Prepare
‘All to Jesus I surrender / All to him I freely give; / I will ever love and trust him, / In his presence daily live.’* Say or sing these words with your hands open to symbolise surrender.
*Judson W Van DeVenter (1855–1939), ‘I
Bible passage
Warning against the teachers of the law
45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46 ‘Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the market-places and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets. 47 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.’
The widow’s offering
21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 ‘Truly I tell you,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.’
Explore
Have you ever been with someone who makes controversial statements embarrassingly loudly? I wonder whether Jesus was doing that here. Was he speaking loudly enough for the passing teachers of the law to hear his criticism of their prideful strutting, or for the poor widow to hear his praise? We have no way of knowing, but it seems likely. Jesus wanted to teach his disciples, but also to give the teachers the chance to recognise their sins and repent.
We don’t know what happened to the widow after this incident, but in giving all she had, she demonstrated her faith in God’s provision. The poorest among us often have the greatest awareness of their reliance on God.
The learned teachers, by contrast, were putting their faith in their own abilities, manipulating others in order to fill their coffers and caring about their own security more than God’s work.
Where do you think you sit on the spectrum? Are you more like the poor widow, giving her all to the Lord? Or like the teachers, seeking honour and ensuring you get what you’re owed?
Respond
Most of us are much more like the teachers of the law than the widow. Ask God to show you where you are clinging to position, possessions or power instead of surrendering it all to him.
Deeper Bible study
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.’1
Fresh from responding to the challenges set by the religious authorities (vs 1–44), Jesus turned his attention to the disciples. He warned them about teachers of the Law. They were concerned with their outward appearance, trying to win approval from people, yet they were hypocritical in their religious behaviour. Instead of demonstrating care, concern and compassion for the needy, they took away the houses of widows, the most defenceless people of the day. Because of this despicable act, Jesus declared that they would be judged (v 47). The teachers of the Law become the example the disciples should avoid. Instead, they are to follow the attitude of the widow who came into the Temple and gave to God two copper coins, the smallest currency of the day.
The lesson we should take from the story of the widow is that what matters is not the amount one gives but the amount that one keeps for oneself. The rich gave out of their abundance and they still had much left for themselves. However, the widow gave all she had. That was real sacrifice. She became an example of one who was rich towards God, who sought first the kingdom of God and who was willing to give up everything in her devotion to God.2
The world we live in encourages us to pay attention to our outward appearance. The fashion industry, cosmetic and beauty products, aesthetic and cosmetic surgery are all billion-dollar business. While we take care of how we present ourselves to the world, let us care also how we appear before God and how we live our lives. Let us learn from the widow how we may seek the kingdom of God and guard our hearts from external piety that could only earn us the praises from people.
‘The Lord does not look at the things human beings look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’3
1 Ps 139:23 2 See Luke 12:21–34 3 1 Sam 16:7, TNIV
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Deuteronomy 25,26; Romans 6
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray that volunteers and youth workers will reconnect with Local Mission Partner Bridgebuilder, for the Guardians of Ancora clubs to be received well in the schools and for a greater connection in secondary schools across Milton Keynes.
