LANGUAGE:
What About The Widow’s Mite?
(Mark 12:38-44)
I would like for you to take your Bibles and turn with me to Mark’s Gospel, chap 12, vs 38-44. In case some of you might be wondering, we started studying Mark’s Gospel back on March 7, 2020, and here we are in 2022 just wrapping up chap 12. Granted, we have had a number of breaks with Christmas’, Easters, and pandemics, etc.
As we wrap up chap 12, just know that we have only 4 chaps left, and we just might get to chap. 16 by Easter. That would be Sunday, April 17th. And in case you are wondering, that makes Easter roughly 14 weeks away. And I might add, Christmas 2022 is roughly 50 weeks out.
As we close off chap 12, we need to keep in mind that the focus is still on the Kingdom of God spoken in Mark chap 1 that Jesus is God’s Son sent to rescue us from the Kingdom of Darkness (Col 1:13), and the course of this world (Eph. 2:1-3), and our own sinfulness (Jn 3:16) by serving and sacrificing His own life (Mk 10:45).
Much of Mark’s Jesus’ story carry’s stunning accounts, like the Widow’s Mite that we are looking at today.
Our Scripture reading comes in vs 38-44 (GW) so follow along as we read the Word that God has for us today.
38As Jesus taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes! They like to walk around in long robes, to be greeted in the marketplaces, 39and to have the front seats in synagogues and the places of honor at dinners. 40They rob widows by taking their houses and then say long prayers to make themselves look good. The scribes will receive the most severe punishment.”
41As Jesus sat facing the temple offering box, he watched how ⌊much⌋ money people put into it. Many rich people put in large amounts. 42A poor widow dropped in two small coins, worth less than a cent. 43He called his disciples and said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: This poor widow has given more than all the others. 44All of them have given what they could spare. But she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on.”
Since chap 11, vs27, Jesus has been in the temple area arguing with the chief priests, Scribes, elders, Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians all seeking to trap Him politically and theologically. Emotions are running high. And things are about to really go downhill from here, with Jesus’ crucifixion on the horizon.
As Jesus wraps up His temple discourse, He gives His disciples a stark warning, followed by a vivid object lesson. In Luke’s account Jesus is speaking specifically to the disciples’ vs the crowd, although they are listening in. Basically Jesus is telling His disciples, “I want you to be ‘fully’ aware of certain attitude dangers as they pertain to status and wealth. He then focuses in on the status wealth strut portrayed by choice of clothing, seating arrangements, greed-full behavior, and fake spirituality. In Matthew 23 Jesus really cuts loose, pointing out that they do all their deeds to be noticed by men. And in doing so they shut off the kingdom of heaven from people . . . (vs1-13).
Let’s bow in prayer to our God: Father, help us, we pray, by the Holy Spirit to understand what we read and then to respond accordingly to what we discover—to respond appropriately to what we discover. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Let’s take a closer look at what’s before us. The passage is divided into two sections. The first section comes in vs38-40, and the second comes in vs41-44.
The first section hangs on the imperative ‘Beware’, vs38, where Jesus tells His disciples, Beware of the scribes.[i] As one commentator sums it up: Jesus’ condemnation of the scribes is primarily concerned with their preoccupation with the mere appearance of godliness. The extent of their faith runs no deeper than religious displays: flowing robes, respectful greetings, seats of honor in the synagogue and at banquets.[ii] In addition, Jesus highlights their abusive behavior, devouring widow's houses.
Now keep in mind Mark 1:17 where Jesus called these 12 men to follow Him. The point is, one day they will be leaders, and Jesus doesn’t want them to mimic the leadership of the day. The critical issue is that these Scribes were powerful teacher/leader roll-models, and it would be easy for the disciples to succumb to and mimic their lifestyle. So when Jesus said ‘beware’, He was warning them of the Scribe’s superficial piety and social injustices
In these verses Jesus highlights two horrific lifestyle characteristics that mark their superficial piety.
Jesus describes the prideful strut in Vs38-40, “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, -- and ‘seek out the’ chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets . . . and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers.
You know what the prideful strut is? It’s that strut that comes when you think you are at the top of your game. Today’s athletes and celebrities are notorious for displaying the prideful strut—the waving their arms, throwing the ball down, acting in a haughty arrogant superior manner; The prideful strut is claiming, owning and celebrating and wanting people to take note of your fierce uniqueness, that you are an achiever above the rest.[iii]
When we mimic people at the top of their game, we tend to recreate our own image, making us into something we are not .[iv] Interestingly, in a 2021 study published by BMC Psychology, it was concluded that individuals who are obsessed with famous people tend to perform poorly on cognitive ability tests when compared to those who show less interest in celebrity news and gossip. The findings of the study suggest that it might be wise to carefully monitor one’s feelings for one’s favorite celebrity/athletes. [v]
Paul wrote to the Corinthians Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals. Become sober–minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. (1 Corinthians 15:33–34) When we focus on the wrong crowd, wrong behavior, wrong beliefs, and wrong standards begin to shape us. It is impossible to be obsessed with Hollywood celebrities and athletes without being contaminated by their ideas and their habits. So the Psalmist prays in Psalm 12:7–8 (NASB95)Preserve us from this generation forever. For the wicked strut about on every side, exalting vileness among the sons of men.
In v40 Jesus singles out one particular sinister activity that reveals the horrendous nature of their hypocrisy: They devour widows’ houses followed by superficial long prayers.[vi] The Greek word translated “devour” ( κατεσθίω ), has the idea of “consuming completely, plundering, or obtaining by extortion.[vii] It is not known how this was done in Jesus’ day. It could have been by financial mismanagement of widow holdings, it could have been by sponging on widows hospitality until all resources were used up, or it could have been by just plain robbing them.[viii] The point is, by devouring widow’s houses, the widows became penniless, which is the point of the object lesson to follow.
In an article entitled My Spouse Has Died, What Now?, the loss of a spouse is one of the most stressful events of anyone’s life. It’s a time of great vulnerability. A time when grief impacts us emotionally, physically, and cognitively. These scribes understood the impact of the loss of a spouse, and took advantage.
That leads to Jesus’ stark condemnation at the end of v40—these people will receive greater condemnation. -- As Kent Hughs sums it up, Jesus was clear as to those who persisted with a phony, proud, profit-making social injustice lifestyle—“Such men will be punished most severely”.[ix]
By the way, notice the words, “Such men will be punished most severely. Not only are their degrees of rewards for righteous behavior, there are degrees of suffering in hell. -- The point is, behavior has its rewards. So James 3:1 (NASB95) Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. --
This becomes the context of the Widow’s Mite. Because she follows so closely Jesus’ condemnation of the Scribe’s devouring houses of widows, she becomes a vivid picture of the injustices of the day. The widow’s livelihood had been devoured by wealthy religious teachers just like some TV evangelists do today.[x]
V42, Mark points out the depth of this woman’s poverty by noting that she was a poor widow. By doing so, he draws a stark contrast between her and those who exploited her.
41As Jesus sat facing the temple offering box, he watched how ⌊much⌋ money people put into it. Many rich people put in large amounts. Historians tell us that the treasury area contained thirteen brass treasure chests called trumpets. These chests were shaped like horns, large at the top and narrow at the bottom.[xi] The tendency was to throw your coins in (paper money won’t do) into the horn opening, and the coins would circle around and make a great deal of noise as they ran the circular shape, spinning along the funnel. Because it was Passover, the crowds are huge. Facing the temple collect boxes, Jesus became fascinated by the rich people passing-by, who were throwing in large sums of money.
When suddenly, v42 A poor widow ‘stepped into the line’ and dropped in two small coins, worth less than a cent. She undoubtedly approached the trumpets quietly, almost in stealth mood, head bowed, hoping to draw no attention to herself as she places her coins into the hoppers. In comparison to the clamor of the wades the rich threw in, the silence of her offering spoke loudly to the offering watchers. It was clear to the offering watchers that she was a poverty stricken widow, most likely homeless. She had two small copper coins, worth perhaps a penny to us.
Don’t miss this . . . Jesus’ turns her offering into a rebuke of the religious establishment. Instead of taking care of widows as laid out in Deuteronomy and Leviticus, the Scribes were devouring their holdings.[xii] Jesus was caught up by what He saw, V43 called His disciples and said to them, “I guarantee this truth: This poor widow has given more than all the others. 44All of them have given what they could spare. But she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on.”
Notice what Jesus said—they (the rich) all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.” Alistar Begg raises the question: how can a lady who puts in the equivalent of two cents be putting in more than people who are making a substantial greater contribution? That’s an excellent question.[xiii]
I think the answer is obvious. The rich gave freely out of their left overs, and they were still rich. This lady gave all she had, there were no left overs. She didn’t give one and keep one; she gave two with nothing left in her hand. She put all she had to live on. Think about that for a moment when you walk by the little black box as you come into the service. How’s your giving?
Let’s pause at this point and reflect on is before us.
When we take into account the overall context of the Widow’s Mite, the focus is not so much on what the she did, but on how messed up the religious system of the day had become. The Widow’s Mite is a picture of Ezekiel’s words in Ezekiel 22:29 (NASB95) “The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery, and they have wronged the poor and needy and have oppressed the sojourner without justice. The injustices of the day were shutting people out of the Kingdom of Heaven.
As we reflect over what we have just read, how is this meant to shape our lives? I think there are at least five takeaway truths that are meant to shape our thinking.
We dare not miss this truth. God is merciful and gracious, but the Gospel tells us that there’s coming a time when God’s mercy ends. Jesus tells the disciples condemnation is coming sooner than they know.
Noah preached for 120 years and then came the flood that destroyed everyone except Noah’s family. Peter picks up on that in 2 Peter 3:9–10 (NASB95) 9The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up . . . and after this comes the judgment . . . followed by forever torment for all who refuse to accept Jesus as their savior. It was a shame that people of Noah’s time squandered God’s time of patience.[xiv]
I don’t know when the darkness falls for you as an individual. I don’t know when the darkness falls for us as a culture, as a nation. I don’t know when the final darkness falls in divine judgment on the world, but I know that God’s mercy doesn’t last forever. Hear the word of the Lord, today is the day of repentance and asking Jesus’ for cleaning of sins.
The Scribes were not careful. In trumpeting their successes, they smothered their spirituality. One of my mentors capsulated this thought so well, that I thought I would pass it on to you. God searches our hearts, and he knows us. He knows our portfolio. He knows our bank balance. He knows what we have. We may impress other people by the extent of whatever it is we choose to do, but there’s no way we really impress God.[xv]
In the story Jesus sees people giving their offerings at the temple. He sees wealthy people giving large amounts, but then He sees a widow give two small copper coins, worth less than a penny. Jesus tells his disciples that out of all the givers, the widow actually gave the MOST. The wealthy folks gave out of their surplus, or what was left over. They gave what they didn’t need. But the widow gave ALL SHE HAD.
This widow gives up all that she has to live on, believing that Jehovah God would care for her according to his word according in Exodus 22:22–24, Pas 68:5, 146:9. She shows radical trust in God to provide for her and gives what her surplus to God.[xvi] That leads me to ask, How’s my God trust? Do I trust God enough to give all that I have? Do I trust God enough to give ALL OF ME?
By any standards, the amount that was given by the widow was so vastly different from what others were able to do that it would appear to be completely irrelevant. But not so! Vs43-44, 43Jesus said, “The truth is, this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. 44All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.”
Romans 10:17 (NASB95) says, faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. This morning we have heard the Word of Christ. He is calling us to observe the faith of the widow, who, in her devotion to God makes her offering out of her poverty and yet puts “more into the treasury than all the others” (12:43). The quality of her faith stands in sharp contrast to the false spirituality of the scribes who are more concerned with appearances than godliness. By what measure do we gauge our giving? The size of our resources? Or the size of our faith?
Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Where is your heart? Where is My heart?
Jesus took special notice of the self-denying liberality of this vulnerable widow. Her gift and sacrifice stand out as an example of the true commitment required of Jesus followers. He may not be asking us to give all we have; and that’s not point of the object lesson. But we are called to have a generous heart attitude like this widow and not the deceitful heart attitude of the Pharisees.[xvii]
In 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 we read that the Macedonian churches were struggling. Yet in the midst of severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. They excelled in their giving beyond Paul’s expectations because they first gave of themselves to the Lord. Their heart belonged first to God.
Where is your heart?
Let’s close in prayer: Heavenly Father forgive us our greed, our hypocrisy, and our selfish ambition. Guide our minds eyes, help us to focus on You, and exclusively You. I wonder, have I ever—have I ever—have I ever really sacrificed in order to give to You? How much of me do You really want? Father, help us to take seriously Your demands and commands. Look upon us in Your mercy. May we open our hands and let the pennies flow freely.
[i] Cf.,
http://www.trueteachingsjesus.com/2018/06/beware-of-the-scribes.html See also Mark 8:15 (NASB95) And He was giving orders to them, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” Mark 10:18 (NASB95) 18And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. Matthew 23:1–13 (NASB95) 1Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, 2saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; 3therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. 4“They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. 5“But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. 6“They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. 8“But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9“Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10“Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 11“But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12“Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. 13“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.
[ii] Geoffrey Smith, A Closer Look At The Widow’s Offering (Mark 12:41-44), https://www.apuritansmind.com/stewardship/ smithgeoffreywidowsmite/
[iii] Aussie punter Mason Fletcher stuns America with ‘billionaire strut’ in college football game. https://www.foxsports.com. au/us-sports/aussie-punter-mason-fletcher-stuns-america-with-billionaire-strut-in-college-football-game/news-story/d3f14aa546ec50a58bb6de489a063a17. His team may have lost but Australian youngster Mason Fletcher gained a whole new legion of fans with his performance in one of the biggest college football games in America. The 21-year-old is the son of AFL legend Dustin Fletcher, who played 400 games for Essendon and was best known for his wiry physique and tendency to unleash long bombs and torpedoes. And Mason has clearly inherited that ability, which he showed off while playing for underdogs Cincinnati against Alabama in the Cotton Bowl — the College Football Playoff game. In the second quarter, Fletcher unleashed a monster 54-yard punt that trapped Alabama inside their 10-yard line. He was pumped up and celebrated by swinging his arms in the style of the “billionaire strut” made famous by UFC star Conor McGregor.
[iv] Kiara Goodwine, Ethical Considerations of Deepfakes, https://www.prindlepost.org/2020/12/ethical-considerations-of-deepfakes/
[v] Joshua Espinoza, People Are Sounding Off on Study That Says Those Who Worship Celebrities May Be Less Intelligent. https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/study-says-people-who-worship-celebrities-may-be-less-intelligent-reactions/
[vi] Geoffrey Smith, A Closer Look At The Widow’s Offering (Mark 12:41-44), https://www.apuritansmind.com/stewardship/ smithgeoffreywidowsmite/
[vii] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000). See 2 Cor. 11:20, Matt. 23:14; Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47.
[viii] Geoffrey Smith, A Closer Look At The Widow’s Offering (Mark 12:41-44), https://www.apuritansmind.com/stewardship/ smithgeoffreywidowsmite/ Scholarly opinion is divided. Leon Morris suggests that some of the scribes “encouraged impressionable widows to make gifts beyond their means,” an explanation that fits into the context of gift-giving to teachers, who were forbidden to charge for their teaching. T. W. Manson is more specific, believing that this practice referred to the mismanagement of the property of widows who had dedicated themselves to the service of the temple. J. D. M. Derrett sees it as a practice of lawyers who were entrusted with the oversight of properties. Though a lawyer was entitled to remuneration for his service, some paid themselves their expenses “at a lavish rate” from the estates in their care. Joachim Jeremias disagrees with this explanation and suggests his own: The practice of devouring of houses “is much more likely to refer to the scribes’ habit of sponging on the hospitality of people of limited means.” William Lane also adopts this view. But though we do not have access to the details of the practice in the Marcan text (or its parallel in Luke), it seems that the sense of the passage is that the devouring of widows’ houses is a serious breach of trust and a terrible crime—much worse than merely “sponging on hospitality.” Cf., Paul Penley, The Widow’s Mite: Good or Bad Example of Giving. https://growingingrace.net/?p=2086. The original purpose of the tithe was to care for the poor not rob them under the auspices of religious devotion. In Deuteronomy 26:12, God’s people were commanded every third year to give their tithe to the poor, both widows and impoverished Levitical priests. James 1:27 makes it clear: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before our Lord and Father is to care for orphans and widows in their distress.” Jesus doesn’t add more stress to those in poverty by asking for a donation. He believes in exactly what God mandated in Deuteronomy 15:11, “Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, ‘Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land’” (cf. Isa. 25:4; 58:7; Psa. 41:1; 72:4, 12; Prov. 19:17; 21:13; 28:27; 31:9).
[ix] R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior, vol. 2, Preaching the Word (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1989), 126.
[x] Cf., Paul Penley, The Widow’s Mite: Good or Bad Example of Giving. https://growingingrace.net/?p=2086. The question we must ask about the context is: Why does the Gospel of Mark place the story of Jesus watching Temple treasury donations (Mark 12:41-44) between his condemnation of Jewish religious leaders (Mark 12:38-40) and his prediction of the Temple’s demolition (Mark 13)? When you read the story in this context, you find verbal connections between the widow’s gift to the Temple and Jesus’ predictions of judgment. Jesus is not talking about generosity or self-sacrificial love before or after the story of the widow. He is talking about how corrupt the religious leaders are who control the Temple and how the Temple is going to be completely destroyed in a future act of divine judgment.
[xi] Ibid., 128–129. According to the Mishnah, each of the chests bore inscriptions designating what the offerings were for: “‘New Shekel dues,’ ‘Old Shekel dues,’ ‘Bird offerings,’ ‘Young birds for the whole offering,’ ‘Wood,’ ‘Frankincense,’ ‘Gold for the Mercy-seat,’ and, on six of them ‘Freewill-offerings.’
[xii] Exodus 22:22–24 (NASB95) 22“You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. 23“If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; 24and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless. Deuteronomy 10:18 (NASB95) 18“He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. Deuteronomy 14:29 (NASB95)
29“The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
[xiii] Alistar Begg, Beware and Be Aware (Mark 12:38-44) https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/beware-and-be-aware/
[xiv] Genesis 6:3 (NASB95) 3Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”
[xv] Ibid.
[xvi] David E. Garland, Mark, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 481.
[xvii] Bruce B. Barton, Mark, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1994), 366.