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Luke 20:27-44
GOD OF THE LIVING - Nov 12, 2023 -
Luke 20:19-26
GIVE BACK TO GOD WHAT IS GOD’S - Nov 11, 2023 -
Luke 20:1-18
THE PARABLE OF THE TENANTS - Sep 30, 2023 -
Luke 20:45-21:4
JESUS PRAISES A WIDOW'S DEVOTION - Jul 19, 2020 -
Luke 20:27-44
HE IS THE GOD OF THE LIVING - Jul 18, 2020 -
Luke 20:20-26
GIVE TO GOD WHAT IS GOD'S - Jul 17, 2020 -
Luke 20:1-19
THE REJECTED STONE IS THE CORNERSTONE - Jul 16, 2020 -
Luke 20:45-21:4
WHAT IS PLEASING TO THE LORD? - Sep 18, 2017 -
Luke 20:27-44
THE REALITY OF THE RESURRECTION - Sep 17, 2017 -
Luke 20:19-26
GIVE TO GOD WHAT IS GOD'S - Sep 16, 2017 -
Luke 20:1-18
JESUS' AUTHORITY IS FROM GOD - Sep 15, 2017 -
Luke 20:1-8
BY WHAT AUTHORITY? - Jan 01, 2000 -
Luke 20:9-19
THE PARABLE OF THE TENANTS - Jan 01, 2000 -
Luke 20:20-26
CAESAR'S THINGS; GOD'S THINGS - Jan 01, 2000 -
Luke 20:27-40
GOD OF THE LIVING - Jan 01, 2000 -
Luke 20:41-47
CHRIST IS LORD - Jan 01, 2000
THE WIDOW’S OFFERING
Key verse: 21:4
NIV
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 marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.(A) 47 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
The Widow’s Offering(B)
21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.(C) 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.”(D)
Cross references
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Beware of the Scribes
45 (A)And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and (B)the places of honor at feasts, 47 (C)who devour widows' houses and (D)for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
The Widow's Offering
21 (E)Jesus[a] looked up and saw the rich (F)putting their gifts into (G)the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two (H)small copper coins.[b] 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, (I)this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her (J)poverty put in all (K)she had to live on.”
Footnotes
Cross references
- Luke 20:45 : For ver. 45, 46, see Matt. 23:1, 2, 5-7; Mark 12:38, 39; [ch. 11:43]
- Luke 20:46 : ch. 14:7, 8
- Luke 20:47 : [ch. 11:39; 16:14]
- Luke 20:47 : [Matt. 6:5, 7]
- Luke 21:1 : For ver. 1-4, see Mark 12:41-44
- Luke 21:1 : 2 Kgs. 12:9
- Luke 21:1 : John 8:20 (Gk.)
- Luke 21:2 : ch. 12:59
- Luke 21:3 : [2 Cor. 8:2, 12]
- Luke 21:4 : [Phil. 4:11]
- Luke 21:4 : ch. 8:43
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
The teachers of the law looked pious, but they were hypocritical. They went to the marketplaces to show off their fancy robes and to be greeted by people; they wanted to be treated as VIPs at banquets or in the synagogues. They did not seek God and his glory; rather they used God’s name to seek human glory and people’s recognition. They used religion as a cloak for taking advantage of weak people for their material gain. Jesus said that this kind of people will be punished most severely. Jesus wants us to live in the sight of God, seeking God’s glory.
As Jesus was standing in the temple, he saw some rich people putting a large amount of money into the treasury of the temple out of their wealth. But a poor widow put in two very small copper coins, which were the smallest unit of coinage in Jewish currency and were of very little value. But she put in all she had to live on out of poverty. It was worth more than money. She did not calculate or offer leftovers, but gave everything she had, proportionally more than the rich. Jesus saw her sacrificial heart and faith. In Jesus’ eyes, her gift was the most expensive of all, for she gave God her heart and trusted him for her future. This was her faith.
Prayer: Lord, help me to seek you and your glory and give cheerfully for those who are in need out of love. Grant me eyes to see beautiful acts of love and faith in others.
One Word: Jesus valued a widow’s gift to God.