Luke 21:3
And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus’s emphasis isn't just on the widow's generosity, but on her entirety – she gave all she had, her whole living. This means God’s true measure of giving isn't the amount, but the sacrifice and complete surrender of heart behind it.
Jesus is teaching in the temple courts, watching people bring their offerings to a collection box. He observes the wealthy giving large sums from their abundance, but then He points out a poor widow who gives everything she has, just two small coins. He calls His disciples to witness this moment, highlighting that her humble offering is more valuable in God's eyes than all the riches given by others.
We often judge generosity by the dollar amount. But what if God has a completely different scale?
Jesus points to a poor widow who gave just two small coins. While rich people gave much larger sums, Jesus declared she gave more. Why?
The Divine Perspective
God’s evaluation isn't based on quantity, but on the proportion of what's given compared to what's left. The rich gave from their abundance – perhaps barely noticing the amount. This widow, however, gave everything she had. Her offering wasn't just a little from a lot; it was all she possessed. This shows that God looks at the sacrifice and the heart behind the gift, not just the dollar value.
This woman was 'poor' and gave 'all' she had. What does that say about her trust in God?
This widow's act wasn't just generous; it was an act of profound faith. She had only two small coins, likely her entire livelihood for the day or week. Giving them away meant facing a day, or perhaps longer, without food or basic necessities.
Trusting the Provider
By giving everything, she demonstrated radical trust in God as her ultimate provider. She believed that giving to God was more important than holding onto her last bit of security. This challenges us: are we willing to risk our own 'last two coins' for God’s purposes, trusting He will care for us?
This powerful moment took place at the Jerusalem Temple, a central hub of Jewish worship and national identity. Jesus used the setting and the contrasting actions of the wealthy and the poor widow to teach a profound lesson about the true value of sacrifice, revealing God's perspective on giving, which prioritizes devotion over quantity.
c. 20-30 AD— this verse
Jesus teaches at the Temple
Jesus spent significant time teaching and ministering at the Jerusalem Temple during his public ministry.
c. 30 AD
Jesus predicts Temple destruction
Jesus foretold the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, a pivotal moment in Jewish history and a core part of his eschatological teachings.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' final week in Jerusalem
This event occurred during Jesus' final week in Jerusalem, leading up to his crucifixion.
c. 30 AD
The Treasury in the Temple
The Jerusalem Temple contained a treasury (corban) where worshippers offered gifts, as described in the Gospels.
This passage echoes the principle that the value of a gift is measured by what one has, not by what one doesn't have, directly paralleling the widow's offering. It highlights that a willing heart and genuine desire to give are paramount in God's eyes.
1 Samuel 16:7Just as God looks at the heart and not outward appearances when choosing David, here Jesus looks past the quantity of the widow's donation to the depth of her devotion. It underscores that God's assessment of our actions is internal and motive-driven.
Mark 12:41-44This passage presents the same event from a parallel Gospel account, reinforcing the teaching about the widow's extraordinary faith and sacrificial giving. It provides a slightly different perspective on the context and Jesus' interaction with His disciples.
Philippians 4:18Paul's expression of gratitude for the Philippians' gift, calling it a 'fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God,' mirrors how Jesus values the widow's seemingly small gift. It shows that our offerings, regardless of size, can be deeply pleasing to God when given from a sincere heart.
vincentLuke 21:3: "And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:"
This poor widowSee on Mark 12:43.
bengelLuke 21:3: "And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:"
[3. Ἀληθῶς , of a truth, in real fact ) Luke very frequently coincides with Mark; but Mark loves Hebrew modes of expression more than Luke does. Luke employs the Greek ἀληθῶς more frequently than the Hebrew ἀμήν . So the rest of the Evangelists are liberal in their employment of the term Rabbi , which Luke never uses. As Paul was the Apostle of the Gentiles; so Luke, the companion of Paul,…
Jesus’s emphasis isn't just on the widow's generosity, but on her entirety – she gave all she had, her whole living. This means God’s true measure of giving isn't the amount, but the sacrifice and complete surrender of heart behind it.
Jesus is teaching in the temple courts, watching people bring their offerings to a collection box. He observes the wealthy giving large sums from their abundance, but then He points out a poor widow who gives everything she has, just two small coins. He calls His disciples to witness this moment, highlighting that her humble offering is more valuable in God's eyes than all the riches given by others.
Jesus is teaching in the temple courts, watching people bring their offerings to a collection box. He observes the wealthy giving large sums from their abundance, but then He points out a poor widow who gives everything she has, just two small coins. He calls His disciples to witness this moment, highlighting that her humble offering is more valuable in God's eyes than all the riches given by others.
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"And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them." — Jesus’s emphasis isn't just on the widow's generosity, but on her entirety – she gave all she had, her whole living. This means God’s true measure of giving isn't the amount, but the sacrifice an…
