Passion week, day 3: The widow's mite part 2; The Lord's final appeal to the house of Israel. Matt 22, John 12

Day three of the Passion week:

 

While walking along on Solomon’s porch His authority is questioned:

 

Matt 21:23-27

 

Question of tribute to Caesar: Was Jesus a nationalist?

Matt 22:15-22

 

Mark 12:13-17

 

We now move on to the best part of Christ’s day - when He observed the widow giving the temple minimum.

 

 

The widow’s mite:

 

Luke 21:1-4

 

Mark 12:41-44

 

2 Cor 9:6-15

Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. 7 Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 9 as it is written,

"He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor,

His righteousness abides forever."

10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. 13 Because of the proof given by this ministry they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, 14 while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

 

The widow sees the indescribable gift and so gave of herself and her finances. It is obvious here that mental attitude is important and not amount.

 

So our Lord, weary with the contention, had left those to whom He had spoken in the Porches, and, while the crowd wrangled about His Words or His Person, had ascended the flight of steps which led from ‘the Terrace’ into the Temple-building.

 

From these steps - whether those leading up to the ‘Beautiful Gate,’ or one of the side gates - He could gain full view into ‘The Court of the Women,’ into which they opened.

 

On these steps, or within the gate (for in no other place was it lawful), He sat Him down, watching the multitude. The time of Sacrifice was past, and those who still lingered had remained for private devotion, for private sacrifices, or to pay their vows and offerings.

 

Under the colonnades, which surrounded ‘the Court of the Women,’ but still left in the middle room for more than 15,000 worshippers, provision was made for the treasury, the place of receiving offerings into 13 trumpet shaped boxes.

 

As they passed to this or that treasury-box, it must have been a study of deep interest, especially on that day, to watch the givers. Some might come with appearance of self-righteousness, some even with ostentation, some as cheerfully performing a happy duty. ‘Many that were rich cast in much’ - the Lord said, very much, for such was the tendency that a law had to be enacted, forbidding the gift of the Temple of more than a certain proportion of one’s possessions. And the amount of such contributions may be inferred by recalling the circumstances, that, at the time of Pompey and Crassus, the Temple-Treasury, after having lavishly defrayed every possible expenditure, contained in money nearly half a million, and precious vessels to the value of nearly two millions sterling.³⁶

36. Jos. Ant. xvi. 4. 4; 7. 1.

 

And as Jesus so sat on these steps, looking out on the ever-shifting panorama, His gaze was riveted by a solitary figure. The simple words of Mark sketch a story of singular power that evokes the emotion. ‘It was one pauper widow.’ We can see her coming alone, as if ashamed to mingle with the crowd of rich givers; ashamed to have her offering seen; ashamed, perhaps, to bring it; a ‘widow,’ in the garb of a desolate mourner; her condition, appearance, and bearing that of a ‘pauper.’

 

He observed her closely and read her truly. She held in her hand only the smallest coins, ‘two Perutahs,’ and it should be known that it was not lawful to contribute a less amount.

 

Together these two Perutahs made a guadrans, which was the ninety-sixth part of a denar, itself of the value of about one cent.

 

But it was as the Lord said, “all she had,” perhaps all that she had been able to save out of her scanty housekeeping; more probably, all that she had to live upon for that day.

 

And of this she now made humble offering unto God. He doesn’t speak to her words of encouragement, for she walked by faith; He offered not promise of return, for her reward was in heaven.

 

 

 

 

Matt 6:2-4

"When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 "But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing 4 that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

 

She has no clue that anyone has seen it. She probably would have been embarrassed to know that the Lord had seen her. Her actions speak loudly of her love for Him. “Here Lord, you have given me all that you have, I wish to reflect my love of you and your gift and give you all that I have for today.”

 

But to all time has it remained in the Church, like the perfume of Mary’s alabaster that filled the house, this deed of self-denying sacrifice. More, far more, than the great gifts of their ‘superfluity,’ which the rich cast in, was, and is to all time, the gift of absolute self-surrender and sacrifice, tremblingly offered by the solitary mourner.

 

And though He spoke not to her, yet she must rejoice in her heart because in this happy day, a day of richness of her soul, she was privileged and able to offer up her whole living unto God.

 

And so, the principle stands that every sacrifice for God is all the more blessed, when we don’t know its blessed impact on the world.

 

This widow would have no clue that this day’s actions would be known throughout the whole world for the rest of human history through the inspiration of the scriptures.

 

The temple treasury contains millions and her two copper coins would seemingly add nothing practical to it, but the treasury of her heart is far wealthier than all the money in those 13 boxes.

 

The Saviour and the widow would not meet and speak on the earth, but in a tryst (a planed clandestine meeting of lovers) in heaven.

 

Greeks seek to speak to Jesus:

 

John 12:20-26

Now there were certain Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; 21 these therefore came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." 22 Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came, and they told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 "He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal. 26 "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant also be; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

 

John 12:27-36

"Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 "Father, glorify Thy name." There came therefore a voice out of heaven: "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." 29 The multitude therefore, who stood by and heard it, were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, "An angel has spoken to Him." 30 Jesus answered and said, "This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. 31 "Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world shall be cast out. 32 "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself."  33 But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die. 34 The multitude therefore answered Him, "We have heard out of the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this Son of Man?" 35 Jesus therefore said to them, "For a little while longer the light is among you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness may not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. 36 "While you have the light, believe in the light, in order that you may become sons of light."

 

We have already studied this in detail.

 

This is the Lord’s last appeal to Israel. But as was prophesied by Isaiah, they would not believe.

 

ISA 53:1

Who has believed our message?

And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

 

ISA 6:8-10

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

9 And He said, "Go, and tell this people:

'Keep on listening, but do not perceive;

Keep on looking, but do not understand.'

10 "Render the hearts of this people insensitive,,

Their ears dull,

And their eyes dim,

Lest they see with their eyes,

Hear with their ears,,

Understand with their hearts,

And return and be healed."

 

He had come into the world with the word of salvation and not the sword of judgment. And as for His enemies, He left that issue open until after the cross and after human history when the true issue of Him would appear to them again in final judgment of the last day.

 

Though His appeal would be finished with these Greeks and His report, though not believed, would be completed, the arguments and ignorant, childish, schemes of His enemies would not end.

 

This was a long day indeed for our Lord.