THE LAST WEEK OF JESUS' PUBLIC MINISTRY AND HIS CRUCIFIXION

-Jesus Observes the Widow Who Gave Two Mites

-Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4

-Following His strong denunciation of the Jewish leaders, “Jesus sat down opposite the

 place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money in the

 temple treasury” (Mark 12:41, NIV).

-“He was tired.  The nervous strain of the previous hour had been terrific.  Even now, the

 enemies doubtless were plotting His death in the court above, a few paces distant.  Even in

 the midst of these circumstances, Jesus watched the stream of humanity passing by and

 drew from this slight incident of the widow’s contribution a lesson which has become

 proverbial in all subsequent times” (Shepard, pg 510).

-“On this occasion, the Savior positioned himself at a certain station and “beheld” the Hebrews

passing by, dropping their gifts into the coffers. The verb that reflects the Lord’s gaze is one

that gives attention to the examination of details, with more than passing interest. And the

imperfect tense format suggests a sustained study of the matter” (Jackson, www.christiancourier.com/

articles/read/a_tribute_to_a_nameless_widow).  In the same article, Wayne Jackson also

explains that the adjective “poor” which is used to describe the widow “…is the word for

absolute destitution.”

-From a strictly human/worldly viewpoint, it wouldn’t seem that this widow had contributed

 much - only two mites (copper coins valued at less than one cent).   Her contribution would 

 seem small in comparison to the contributions of the rich who “cast in much” (Mark 12:41).

 However, through the superior perspective of the Son of God, her contribution was very

 significant and much appreciated by our Savior.

            -“We are disposed to measure the value of actions quantitatively rather than qualitatively.

             Moreover, we are better judges of actions than of motives, and can see the outward conduct

             much clearer than the inward character.  God, therefore, in His word, constantly teaches us

             that he looks rather upon the inward than the outward.  In this case the value of the woman’s

             gift was measured, not by quantity, but by its quality; in quantity it was two mites, in quality

             it was the gift of all she had.  From considering the corrupt characters of the Pharisees,

             Jesus must have turned with pleasure to look upon the beautiful heart of the devout widow”

             (McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 612).

-There is no indication that the widow realized that her actions were being observed by our Lord.

 However, due to the object lesson that Jesus presented, we continue to learn from her good deed

 and example even though we are separated from that day by approximately 2,000 years. 

            -We are told very little about this widow yet have reason to hold her in high regard.  I’m glad

             that, following such a difficult time within a long and trying day for our Savior, that this

                         physically poor but spiritually rich widow demonstrated such good character.  Undoubtedly,

                         this was a source of comfort and encouragement for our Lord.