The Widow's Offering
Prayer for Understanding
O God, as we turn to listen for your Word, send Your Spirit among us. Open our ears to Your truth. Open our minds to Your challenge, and move our hearts to live out that challenge in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Word made flesh. Amen
Last week, we met a scribe, a teacher of the law who asked Jesus, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
In response, Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. And Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”
Jesus commended the scribe for understanding that loving God and others is more important than strictly following the detailed Mosaic law. He even told the scribe, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
But not all scribes were like this individual who understood the Greatest Commandment. Today, we reencounter the scribes, but this time Jesus harshly confronts them.
While teaching the crowd in the temple courts, Jesus warned them, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets!”
As we learned, the scribes were the lawyers and the “Bible Scholars” of their time. They were entrusted with preserving, learning, and teaching the Word of God.
However, Jesus told the crowd to beware of them because they wore their long robes to show off and attract adoration, and they demanded recognition and honour from others.
They loved to be called “Rabbi,” “Wise Teacher,” and “Exalted One,” and they enjoyed the best seats in the synagogue and at feasts, expecting the perks of privilege.
Jesus also rebuked the scribes because they devoured widows’ houses. Throughout the Bible, God expresses particular concern for widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor.
He calls His people to defend those living on the margins of society who are in need of special care and protection.
God’s call is not just for individuals but for the whole society, reminding us of our responsibility to show empathy and support to the powerless, the voiceless, and the oppressed. Yet, here Jesus says that the teachers of the law devour widows.
What does it mean that the scribes "devoured widows' houses"? It means they greedily cheated widows out of their property.
In ancient times, widows had little to no power in the courts. Often, a husband would appoint a Jewish legal expert — a scribe or Pharisee — in his will to act as the executor of his widow’s estate.
Alternatively, a widow might hire a scribe to manage her legal affairs, hoping he would protect her interests.
This arrangement gave the executor significant authority over the widow’s finances and assets. It was all too easy for a corrupt scribe to manipulate the situation, using his legal expertise to deceive the widow and gradually take over her property. While appearing to protect her estate, he could cunningly drain her of her resources.
"Devouring" could also refer to the heavy demands for tithes and offerings, which the widows were often pressured to give, even when it left them destitute.
Instead of fulfilling their spiritual responsibilities with integrity, these scribes exploited, oppressed, and neglected God’s most vulnerable people.
Moreover, Jesus condemned the teachers of the law for their lengthy, showy prayers. He wasn't criticizing the act of praying for a long time but rather the motive behind it.
These prayers were not sincere conversations with God but exaggerated displays meant to impress others.
Then, Jesus sat down opposite the place where offerings were collected and watched as the crowd brought their money to the temple treasury.
Many rich people came and threw in large sums. But then, a poor widow approached and dropped in two small copper coins, worth just a penny.
According to the Mishnah, a collection of exegetical material that embodies the oral tradition of Jewish law and forms the first part of the Talmud, the temple had thirteen trumpet-shaped chests.
These chests served various purposes: one each for the current and previous censuses (Ex 30:13), four designated for sacrifices, one for the mercy seat, and six for freewill offerings.
When Jesus says that hypocrites "sound a trumpet" when they give (Matt 6:2), He is likely referring to the noise a handful of coins makes as it clatters into one of these trumpet-shaped chests, drawing attention to the giver.
The copper coins the widow offered were Greek lepta. Together, her two coins equal a "penny," worth roughly a dollar in today's terms, just enough to buy a handful of flour.
Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, “‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’”
What is Jesus trying to teach His disciples? And what does He want to teach us? Is He telling us to give everything we have to God?
Did Jesus gather His disciples around to witness the widow’s offering so they would learn to give all their possessions to God as well?
I could stand here today and say, “Look at the poor widow. She didn’t have enough, but out of her poverty, she gave all she had to God - her last two lepta, which could have bought her dinner.
So, you too should give sacrificially, and in return, God will bless you abundantly. Your children will be blessed; your spouse will be healed; and you will experience prosperity.”
But that’s not the point. The Bible doesn’t tell us anything about the widow’s attitude. We don’t know if she gave willingly or joyfully. And Jesus doesn’t explicitly praise her for the sacrificial act of giving.
So, what is Jesus telling us?
The widow represents one of the most marginalized groups in ancient society. Widows had no voice, no protection, and were meant to be cared for and supported by the community.
The fact that she is called a “poor widow” highlights a failure of society. She shouldn’t have been left in such a vulnerable state.
Those wealthy people, who gave large sums loudly and visibly, were supposed to be the ones caring for the widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor.
It’s possible that this widow was taught or even commanded by religious leaders to give, despite having nothing left after her last two coins.
This event took place just days before Passover, when Jerusalem was filled with visitors. In the temple courts were priests, elders, teachers of the law, legalistic Pharisees, and literal-minded Sadducees, all eager to display their ideas about righteousness and their devotion to the Mosaic law.
Yet they completely missed what God desired: to love their neighbours and care for the vulnerable. This kind of blind religious zeal and systemic injustice persists today.
Who are the marginalized in our society? They include the poor, the homeless, the mentally ill, Indigenous communities, refugees, foreign workers, the 2SLGBTQI+ community, children in group homes, those struggling with addiction, people with disabilities, and many others.
The reality is that we often can’t fully understand what they go through because, to be honest, most of us enjoy a level of privilege in our society.
What about on a global scale? Who are the tribes, groups, or nations that need our support and care?
Whether we realize it or not, Canada is one of the most blessed countries in the world. We are surrounded by pristine natural beauty and vast landscapes.
We enjoy a safe, stable, and peaceful environment, high-quality education, and a welcoming atmosphere.
We don’t face war, tribal conflict, dictatorship, or religious persecution. We live in a truly blessed and privileged country, one that has long played a role on the global stage.
For instance, did you know that the first overseas war the Canadian military participated in was the South African War, also known as the Boer War, from 1899 to 1902?
Since then, Canadian forces have fought in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and have taken part in peacekeeping and support missions in places like Congo, Cambodia, Somalia, Cyprus, Rwanda, Haiti, Afghanistan, Syria, and more.
As a member of the United Nations, Canada continues to collaborate with global partners — in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific, Central and South America, and Asia — to address challenges and promote security and peace worldwide.
Today, on Remembrance Sunday, we honour and remember all those who have stood up and fought for peace under our proud Canadian flag.
Adam Oake, the 34 year-old Toronto native, sold all his treasured Toronto Maple Leafs memorabilia to buy a plane ticket to Ukraine. Watching the news of Russia’s invasion in February 2022, he felt an undeniable call to action, despite having no personal ties to Ukraine.
"Seeing how many innocent people were being brutalized, I couldn’t stay home knowing I could do something to help," Adam said.
He began volunteering as an aid worker with the international NGO, Paracrew Humanitarian Aid.
With no prior military training, he eventually joined Ukraine’s 25th Airborne Brigade and served as a drone operator on the front lines.
Just two weeks ago, Russia’s Federal Security Service released a haunting video showing the bodies of four men, a cache of weapons, and Canadian flags draped beside one of the fallen. One of those men was Adam Oake.
Adam, who had been willing to sacrifice his life to help Ukraine win its fight for peace and freedom, is no longer with us.
Adam Oake’s story is just one of many. Countless men and women have left behind their families, friends, and homes, sacrificing everything so that we might live in a peaceful land.
Many service members, along with their families, have given their lives or significant parts of themselves out of a commitment to peace, justice, and the welfare of others.
They weren’t extraordinary people with superhuman powers. They had only a bit of skill, a measure of knowledge, or simply the courage to stand for a greater good — without seeking praise or public recognition. Yet, whatever they had, they gave wholeheartedly.
And for that, I am deeply grateful — for them and for Canada, our country. Because we do not let the needy suffer alone. We stand together, committed to a world where justice and peace prevail.
The teachers of the law, Pharisees, Sadducees, priests, and elders failed in their duty. They neglected those who desperately needed care and support.
Instead, they studied and memorized God’s Word for show, gave offerings for the sake of recognition, and abused their power while ignoring the marginalized. Jesus warned that "they will receive the greater condemnation."
So what shall we do? God calls us to a higher purpose: to love our neighbours as Jesus loves us. Jesus laid down His life for us, demonstrating the ultimate act of love.
While we may not all be able to serve on the front lines in places like Lebanon or Ukraine, we are called to do our part, right here, in the name of Jesus Christ.
On this Remembrance Day, the courage of the myriad Canadian service members compels us to take action.
Let us open our eyes to the needs around us: the lonely neighbour, the struggling family, the marginalized and forgotten.
Let us open our hands and hearts, sharing what we have to spread God’s love and peace. Let us commit to living in hope, working together to experience the Kingdom of God breaking into our world here and now.
May we be instruments of that hope, embodying Christ’s love in every act of kindness, moment of care, and opportunity to bring God’s light into the darkness.
The time to act is now. Let us be the hands and feet of Jesus, transforming our communities with His love.
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, on this Remembrance Sunday, we honour the countless men and women who gave everything, sacrificing their lives for the sake of others. Remember their names, O God, and hold them close.
We also remember the ultimate sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who died on the Cross to bring salvation to the world.
As those who bear His name, empower us to be beacons of peace, justice, and hope in our families, neighbourhoods, communities, and beyond.
We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.