Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury

 

 Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, "How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?  For David himself said by the Holy Spirit:  'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool."'  Therefore David himself calls Him 'Lord'; how is He then his Son?"  And the common people heard Him gladly. 

 

Then He said to them in His teaching, "Beware the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces,  the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers.  These will receive greater condemnation."

 

Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury.  And many who were rich put in much.  Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans.  So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."

 

- Mark 12:35–44 

 

Yesterday we read that one of the scribes came, and having heard Jesus and the religious authorities reasoning together in the temple, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?"  Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is one.  And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.'  This is the first commandment.  And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'  There is no other commandment greater than these."  So the scribe said to Him, "Well said, Teacher.  You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He.  And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."  Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."  But after that no one dared question Him. 

 

  Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, "How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?  For David himself said by the Holy Spirit:  'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool."'  Therefore David himself calls Him 'Lord'; how is He then his Son?"  And the common people heard Him gladly.  Jesus asks this question to lead the people to the only logical conclusion:  that He is God incarnate.  He quotes from Psalm 110.  My study Bible explains that they supposed the Messiah to be a mere man, and therefore the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David.  But David, as king of Israel, could not and would not address anyone as "Lord" except God.  But here in this psalm, David refers to the Messiah as "Lord."  So, therefore, the Messiah must be God.  My study Bible remarks that the only possible conclusion is that the Messiah is a descendant of David only according to the flesh, but is at the same time also truly divine, and sharing His Lordship with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.  

 

 Then He said to them in His teaching, "Beware the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces,  the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers.  These will receive greater condemnation."  Here Jesus urges the people to beware the scribes because of their hypocrisy, and says that such hypocrisy will receive greater condemnation.  In St. Matthew's Gospel, a very extensive critique (and condemnation) of the scribes and Pharisees is reported in chapter 23.  

 

 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury.  And many who were rich put in much.  Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans.  So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."  My study Bible comments that, according to patristic commentary, the Lord accounts the value of a gift not by how much is given, but by how much is kept back.  So, this poor widow is counted to have given a very great gift, as she kept nothing for herself.  Those who give out of their abundance but keep plenty for themselves, my study Bible says, are counted by God to have given very little.  In the conversion of Cornelius, we learn that God takes note of our giving (Acts 10:4).  According to some estimates, a modern (US) equivalent to the widow's two mites might be about approximately $2.00; in a cash economy and for a dependent person without income this amount becomes quite believable.  

 

 What does it mean to give?  In yesterday's reading (see above), we were given the two great commandments.  The first commandment teaches, "Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is one.  And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength."  The second adds, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."  Jesus grouped these two together as the greatest commandments, which sum up all the law and the prophets.  Loving one's neighbor as oneself is often seen as manifested in the practice of charity, and acts of charity can take on many forms and many expressions.  When we think of giving, we most often think of money, as in the case with the poor widow giving all she had to the treasury of the temple.  But perhaps we should expand our concepts of giving to include the many other things that we can give in life.  We can give of our time.  We can give of our care, and kindness to others.  We can do many works which are charitable even if not nominally called that:  a good word to someone, letting someone know you think of them, paying attention where attention is needed.  Sometimes just spending time sitting with someone is a charitable act.  In this sense, if we should truly fulfill the first and greatest commandment Jesus gives to us, then possibly we might just find out what it is to give our all.  For if we really deeply love God in all the dimensions of focus in the commandment, then we might find that we give our whole lives to this spirit of giving, depending upon the need and where we are called should we live truly prayerful lives mindful of God.  We can practice giving our lives to God, and seeking that direction for God's will for us at any given time, whether we are at work, at home, no matter where we are and what we are doing.  This is a kind of fullness of giving that's not obvious to the world but incorporates the spirit of giving nevertheless, of being "all in" and deepening our faith in the process even as we practice giving in this way.  Expressing love is so often the process of giving, even giving when we don't know or think we have much else to give at all.  Anyone who has cared for a loved one -- even a pet that needs care -- knows this.  We find that we can give so much more than we thought we could when we're motivated by love.  This extends to our world, the care and stewardship of the creation which God has given us and put us in charge of properly cultivating and guiding it.  Genesis 2:15 reads, "Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it."  The whole of the Bible is filled with verses about proper stewardship of our world and what we do with this gift of resources we're given.  This poor widow in today's reading gives us a sense that even when we don't think we have much to offer, there is always something we have to give if we are "all in."  If we love God, we find resources we didn't know we have.  More importantly, if we have a full abundance of things we can give, we can "hand them over" in prayer to God to find the right role for our stewardship and giving.  St. James writes, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (James 1:17).  Thus, all that we have, every blessing comes to us from God in the first place; we may practice the fullness of giving in returning all to God for God's blessing and guidance in how to use it and live God's will for creation.  In the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, there are repeated prayers that combine a commemoration of the Virgin Mary as an icon of the fruitfulness possible through faith, together with the prayer, "with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God."   We entrust ourselves to the Lord, and find fulfillment in so doing, giving ourselves to Christ's direction and guidance as Mediator for all things.  Let us find our gifts and live His teaching together with the poor widow He commends so highly in today's reading.

 

 

 

 

They all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had

Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, "How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? For David himself said by the Holy Spirit:

'The LORD said to my Lord,

"Sit at My right hand,

Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."'

"Therefore David himself calls Him 'Lord'; how is He then his Son?" And the common people heard Him gladly.

Then He said to them in His teaching, "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."

Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which makes a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury, for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."

- Mark 12:35-44

In yesterday's reading, Jesus was asked by one of the scribes, "Which is the greatest commandment?" Jesus answered, repeating, "'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.'" This is the first great commandment, He said, but then He also added a second, which is "like it:" "'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" The scribe told Jesus that He had answered well, that "there is only one God, and to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." Jesus told him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." See There is no other commandment greater than these.

In today's reading, Jesus continues teaching in the temple. He has already been questioned by Pharisees and Herodians, by Sadducees, and a scribe. Today He takes on the scribes as a group or class of people - and it is Jesus who does the questioning.

Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, "How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool."' Therefore David himself calls Him 'Lord'; how is He then his Son?" And the common people heard Him gladly. My study bible says here, "The tables are turned: Jesus' interrogators are interrogated by Him. In the presence of the common people Jesus questions the scribes, and they are unable to answer (Matt. 22:46). The answer, of course, is that David calls Him 'Lord' in His divinity, yet Jesus is also David's Son in His humanity." In the best tradition of the Middle and Near East, Jesus poses a riddle. It is another type of parable, something that must be "opened" through spiritual sight. What is really telling about this passage is Mark's note that "the common people heard Him gladly." Jesus is anything but common - as this "riddle" teaches us about Him. And yet it is they who delight in Him, turning the tables on the scribes who are the experts in the Law. And in the next section, we find out why they delight in that.

Then He said to them in His teaching, "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation." Although the scribe in yesterday's reading seemed to be sincere and true, and Jesus' personal response to him was rather favorable, as a class they are different. Jesus characterizes them here as quite haughty. The best seats in the synagogues were at the front, facing the congregation. The best places at feasts were the "places of honor," the couches at the host's table. So the scribes' delight in such elevation is contrary to Jesus' teaching to His own disciples about humility and service. My study bible says, "Jesus exposes His opponents publicly, warning Beware of the scribes. By now they hate Him. Their plans have gone awry. Though expert in the Law, they have failed to answer Jesus' questions. Mark reports only briefly on Jesus' extended critique of the Jewish leaders." For the scribes, He levels His greatest condemnation -- they are hypocrites. Their love of place includes the "devouring of widows' houses" and the "pretense of long prayers." Here is not just a critique of the scribes long gone, but a lesson for all of us who are His followers today.

Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which makes a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury, for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood." This is another great teaching on humility and rank: on the 'love of place' and on the value of money and gifts. It teaches us once again, also, of the "knower of hearts." Jesus knows the great sacrifice this woman makes out of her love of God. Her place is therefore elevated in God's eyes, beyond all those whose pomp and rank is visible in their hypocrisy. My study bible says, "As Jesus observes the temple treasury, a poor widow donates two mites, the least valuable coins. Jesus' deity is again manifest as He knows she put in all that she had. It is not the amount that counts with God, but the degree of sacrifice out of what a person possesses. Many who give the least give the most; some who give the most, give the least in proportion to their abundance. God takes note of our giving (Acts 10:4)."

Jesus' teachings on rank and humility encompass a broad range of subjects in terms of the leadership of the church, how the "little ones" are to be received and treated, His love of children and His desire for disciples to receive the kingdom "as a little child," and teachings on wealth or the love of money. But in today's readings, we have lessons aimed directly at those who serve the church, who would be religious leadership in God's service. While one scribe has answered well in yesterday's reading, concerning the great commandment of love, as a class they are not liked, and Jesus' criticism is truly scathing. They are hypocrites, who devour widows' houses - the poor and weak of the society. Their love of place and rank destroys all their wisdom and knowledge; if you cannot put it into practice, this law of love discussed in yesterday's reading, then you are far away from God. Indeed, this great critique leveled by Jesus is His most vehement. I have known great benefactors of churches who are themselves greedy men, taking money that wasn't theirs, who loved the pride of place more than all else as a motivation for their gifts of money that wasn't theirs to begin with. If our churches are not aware of these teachings for themselves, then we have lost the whole point. The "knower of hearts" is the One whom we worship, and these lessons are for all of us today who would serve in His church. Let us therefore take them to heart. A very important teaching that goes along with today's reading is Jesus' teaching on giving to those who cannot return - and giving in a hidden way. There is a powerful exchange that is provided by God when our giving is not received with fanfare, and when it benefits those who cannot in some way pay us back themselves - poor guests invited to a table, and the prayers to "our Father in the secret place." So the poor widow is known "in secret" for her "hidden" great giving. Let us take it to heart and remember our love for rank and place, and how it is also connected to a false and misleading love of wealth. What do you do in secret that your Father who is in the secret place will see and reward?