A Biblical look at the Widow's Offering

Teaching scripture out of context is a grave sin practiced by men and women in the name of God causing harm to the spiritual lives of many. This article will help you see how easy it is to use Scripture out of context and help you become a contender for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3).

The "name it and claim it" religion or what is sometimes referred to as the "health and wealth" preaching is self-centered and uses the moral sins of greed and pride to attract a large crowd.

Yet, the Apostle Paul said, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs" (1 Tim 6:10 ESV). The writer of Hebrews reiterates this same message, "Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Heb 13:5 ESV).

One passage of scripture that is often pulled out of context and used to shame people into giving is found in the Gospel of Luke chapter 21. Luke writes," Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, 'Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on" (Luke 21:1-4 ESV). When this verse is pulled out of context, it is used to shame people into giving more. It goes like this: Jesus said the widow gave more than everyone else because her offering was sacrificial. It was all she had! Then the lesson is turned around to the present day and the hearers are told that they should follow the widow's example. Sometimes the verse is pulled out of context to show that Jesus was watching how the people gave, and our attitude should be right when we give.

The process of teaching error is pulling just a couple of verses out of context and immediately trying to make application to the present day.

Now let's look at what Jesus was actually teaching in this passage. The Bible is not written in a secret code with hidden messages. It is easy to see the context of what is written when it is read in its entirety.

Look at what Jesus said prior to the offering plate being passed, "And in the hearing of all the people, he said to his disciples, "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, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation" (Luke 20:45-47 ESV). Jesus was rebuking the scribes for wearing long robes and displaying their wealth while "devouring widows' houses".

God wants His people to care for the widows.

The Psalmist said that God is the protector of the widows, "Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the LORD; exult before him! Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation" (Psalms 68:4-5 ESV). In the New Testament church, it was the responsibility of the church to make sure that the needs of the widows were being met if their families weren't able to do it (1 Tim 5). James wrote, " Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world" (Jas 1:27 ESV). In Bible times, widows had no life insurance, no pension, and no social security. When their husbands died, they were literally at the mercy of their families, friends, and the church. This is why on the cross Jesus asked John to take care of his mother Mary. "When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son! Then he said to the disciple, Behold, your mother! And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home" (John 19:26-27 ESV).

The religious leaders of Jesus' day were motivated by Greed and instead of caring for the widows they were taking advantage of the poor.

After Jesus watched the offering and the widow women gave all that she had He predicted the destruction of the Temple. Jesus said that there would not be one stone upon another. The Temple was the place of worship, the place of sacrifice, an awesome structure that took years to build. Yet, God had a better way! Jesus pointed out the sin of the religious leaders and showed vividly how they were taking advantage of the poor and the widows in order to be high and lifted up. Then Jesus prophesied the destruction of the temple along with the religious system that was in existence during His ministry.

In context, what Jesus is teaching through the object lesson of the widow's offering is very simple.

• God can see the heart of everyone, rich and poor.

• God cares for the widows and the poor.

• He can see greed and pride.

• Ultimately one day God will bring justice and make every right wrong.

• We should examine our own hearts and see if we are in the wrong.

The true lesson taught in Luke 21 is about so much more than a widow woman giving all that she had. It is about the religious leaders requiring that she give all that she had. It's about the greed in their hearts and how they will stand accountable before a Holy and righteous God who is able to bring even the Temple to ruins.

When you hear the wealth and health preaching being sold by televangelists, don't take it at face value. Read the Scripture for yourself and see what the context is actually saying. Remember the marching orders of the reformation, "Sola scriptura" (by scripture alone). The Scripture is the sole infallible source of our faith and practice!