The Widow’s Offering (Luke 21:1-4)

James Tissot "The Widow's Mite"

Right after Jesus’s warning about desiring leadership, power and prestige, Luke gives us the account of the widow’s offering. This is a well-known story in the gospels. Jesus and His disciples are in the temple observing the people as the contribute to the offering boxes. In Luke’s gospel, we get a more condensed version of the story with less commentary than in mark’s version. However, the intent is clear, coming on the heels of Jesus’s warning about prestige.

While the rich give their offerings, the widow shows up and gives 2 of the smallest coins available in those days. Jesus declares her gift to be a higher amount than any of the others because she gave what she could not afford, while they gave from their leftovers. The gifts of the rich are not bad. Her’s is just more.

Rather than give out of a desire to be seen as generous, or to have a greater influence on the things of God, we should give sacrificially to God’s work. That does not just mean monetary giving, and it does not just mean giving through the church. We should give of our money, time, ability, and resources, to further accomplishing good in the world in the name of Jesus.