Ep. 93: The widow’s offering

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MARK 12:41-44, LUKE 21:1-4

From the bitter malice of his enemies and the predicted judgment upon them, we turn to the silent worship of she who gave her all. Truly here was one, who, in the simplicity of her humble worship, gave to the Lord what was his! Weary with the arguments, Jesus had climbed the flight of steps that led from ‘the Terrace’ into the Temple. From these steps. He could look into ‘the Court of the Women,’ into which they opened. He sat down on these steps. Under the colonnades which surrounded ‘the Court of the Women,’ provision was made for receiving religious and charitable offerings in trumpet-shaped boxes (Shopharoth).

His gaze was riveted by a solitary figure. It was a poor widow. We can see her coming alone, as if ashamed to mingle with the crowd of rich givers, ashamed to have her offering seen, ashamed, perhaps, to bring it. She looks like a desolate mourner. Her condition, appearance and bearing that of a ‘pauper.’ She held in her hand only the smallest coins, two Perutahs, and it should be known that it was not lawful to contribute anything less! But it was all her living, perhaps all that she had been able to save out of her scanty housekeeping. And of this, she now made a humble offering to God. He spoke no words of encouragement, for she walked by faith; he did not offer a promise of return, for her reward was in heaven. It must have been a happy day, a day of a rich feast in the heart when she gave up her whole living to God. And so, perhaps, every sacrifice is for God all the more blessed, when we know not of its blessedness.

This is an extract from the book, Jesus : Life and Times, available for £10 here (Finalist for Academic Book of the year at 2023 CRT awards)