Kingdom Principle: How does our theology effect the way we live. If we believe that God is all and that the life to come is ultimate, would this not be seen in the measure of our sacrifice for his kingdom? The widow is commended because she gave all for the kingdom of God.
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Who Jesus _________________________________
Luke 20:45–46 (ESV) — 45 And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes…
Jesus condemns the Scribes for their behavior but commends the widow for hers. Jesus condemns the pursuit of wealth, status, popularity, and recognition as a means to puff up, or exalt one’s self.
Luke 20:46 (ESV) — 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 the places of honor at feasts,
The Scribes pursued notoriety because it made them feel important, not in order that they might use their notoriety for the benefit of others. Should a man’s worth be measured by the extent of his following? Or should it be measured by the purity of his heart?
2 Timothy 4:3–4 (ESV) — 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
Our judgment should not be based on how polished one is, or how “impressive” one looks, or how big their following, but in how sacrificial they are.
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Who Jesus ______________________________
Luke 21:1–4 (ESV) — 1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, 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 poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Jesus commends the widow for her un-impressive (at least by the world’s standards) offering.
Mark 12:41 (ESV) — 41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.
Lepta were small copper coins, the smallest currency available, whose value was one-eighth of a penny (BAGD 472; BAA 958). Ellis (1974: 239) computes the value as one one-hundredth of a denarius, thus one one-hundredth of the average daily wage—a very small sum indeed!
Our offering, in Jesus’ eyes, is not measured by the amount given, it is measured by the amount left over. The smaller the amount left over, the larger the amount given.
It is the generosity of her heart that he commends her for, not the amount of her gift.
2 Corinthians 8:1–5 (ESV) — 1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
The real question we must ask ourselves this morning is not how much we are giving to the kingdom of God, it is how much we are leaving behind. The question we should be asking is this; is what I am giving in proportion to what God has blessed me with?
Questions to Consider
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How does the giving your time, talents, and money display the extent of your hope in the world to come?
