two lepta (google image)

I am fascinated by Jesus’ great reversals, i.e., the last shall be first, the greatest among you must be servant of all, and his declaration that “this poor widow” has given more money to the Temple treasure than all the rich together (Mark 12:43).

JESUS WATCHED: Mark 12:41-42

Mark records an out-of-the-ordinary episode in Jesus’ fast-paced life and ministry (as recorded in Mark’s Gospel). Mark reports that Jesus sat and watched as the crowd put money into the 13 shofar-shaped containers along the wall of the Court of the Women. Jesus observed people giving to God, even though he already had blasted the Temple leaders for turning his Father’s house of prayer into “a cave for terrorists.”  “Den of robbers” just doesn’t capture the horrific cultural tension. Some money given to the Temple was being siphoned off and funnelled to Jewish loyalists (zealots) who killed Romans and traitors. The rich made a noisy racket as they cast their many coins into the metal offering boxes.

Jesus observed a poor widow unremarkably giving her last two leptas–the smallest Greek coins. Her coins barely made a sound as they clinked into the offering box. And no one would have objected if she had given only one of them. Yet, she gave both and, so, according to Jesus, “she gave all she had to live on.” How she got coins we don’t know, but we do know it was unusual for widows to have coins. She had no one to support her. She was one of the poorest of the poor in Jewish society.

JESUS TAUGHT: Mark 12:43-44

What is remarkable here? Jesus shouted to his disciples (the Twelve), “Peter, James, John, did you see that?! Matthew, Judas, Philip–all of you, look! Look at her!” Jesus, pointing out the poor widow, said, “Underline this in your thinking. Put this in BOLD font. Verily, I say to you, this poor widow has put more money into the Temple treasury than all the rich together. My disciples, whenever you teach about kingdom giving, remember this poor widow. Wherever you go to fulfill the kingdom commission never forget this poor widow. She is your model of kingdom discipleship in the aspect of giving.”

What?! Has Jesus gone batty? Has he been sitting too long in the hot Judean sun? Can’t he count? “Philip, get your calculator and teach Jesus some basic Temple economics.”

It’s a kingdom reality: “Humans look on the outward appearance; God looks at the heart.” For Jesus, you can tithe your money, but you can’t tithe your love. The poor widow “loved God with all her heart, soul, mind and strength.” Our radical God deserves radical love. Jesus the radical pastor desires nothing less than we sell out totally to him. A tithe can be a comfortable way for rich people to keep most of their money for themselves. When Jesus has our heart, soul, mind and strength, we can give our tithes and offerings and Jesus isn’t going to be concerned that we’ll waste the rest on ourselves.

Jesus watches us. He knows the books. He knows our checkbooks, our bank accounts. The economics of heaven are economics of the heart. We cannot serve both God and Money. 

NOTE: For a different understanding of this episode, see this thoughtful post by Sean over at Primal Subversion.
 

Popularity: 17% [?]