Widow’s 2 mites:
I would like to thank John MacArthor for a sermon he recently gave. John’s teaching followed a wonderful article on tithing by Filmdavidb called “Facts on tithing. Both teaching concerned tithing, and the false teachings behind it. I thank God for this type of clarification by God’s Holy Spirit.
John’s teaching is a pure and wonderful example of how research and Biblical teachers should respond to the status-quo. When a message does not fit the context of what is being taught then we should all examine the Scriptures to find the correct answer.
I agree with John’s teaching. It fits the context of the passages involved. John laid the groundwork for this article and teaching. I felt a strong need to follow it up with this article for those who had not heard his explanation on the verses in question.
Johns message concerned,
Mark 12:-41-42, “there came a certain poor widow and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And He (Jesus) called unto Him His disciples, and saith unto them,” (Widow, is one who is bereaved of one’s husband, one who is widowed.)
Verily I say into you, that this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of HER WANT did cast in all that she had, even all her living,” meaning her wants, means, need, and poverty.
Luke 21:1-2-3, “He (Jesus) looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw also a certain poor window casting in thither two mites (small copper coins) And He said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor window hath cast in more than they all.”
“Of truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her PENURY hath cast in all the living that she had.” (Penury in Greek here, is an absolute, and of common usage. It speaking generally of a persons wants, needs and/or poverty.)
These verses say nothing about the giving of the rich men or the widow’s attitude, their love, devotion, whether they were selfish or unselfish, neither does Jesus say any thing about their giving the right amount, or not giving enough, nor doe’s He commend her. What we do know is the widow gave the highest percentage, and that her involvement in this religious system cost her everything.
Also, the disciples did not come forward and put all they possessed into the treasury. So was Jesus pleased with the widow and her giving? Scriptures remain silent on this.
Question, How would you feel if you saw a destitute person give all they had to a rich religious system, then return to their home with absolutely nothing? The commandments of God are very clear in that we are to feed and cloth the needy, and not take the little they have.
So, what’s the lesson? From reading most commentaries, it appears that no one is sure exactly what the lesson is. Doe’s this mean we have to take a vow of poverty? Are we to give until it hurts? Are we to deny ourselves of everything? I don’t believe this to be the lesson Jesus is attempting to teach.
What we do know, it was Passion Week. Their Messiah had been rejected, and from this point on Jesus had nothing further to say to the Jewish leaders, or the people. This would also be the last week of Jesus life:
We also know that the context of the verses has the theme of judgment woven through them, and that the Jewish religious system was soon going to be destroyed. Read about this in Luke 21:6 on. They speak of the destruction of Israel. So I ask, “What doe’s the widow’s giving (tithing) have to do with the context, which speaks of God’s judgment on a corrupt system, nation and people?
Jesus draws no conclusions, no lesson is put forth, no principle, and He defines nothing.
Let’s examine the context of the previous verses. Jesus said,
Mark 12:38-39-40, “Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces. And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.”
“Devour widows’ houses.” The Scribes through their traditions would take advantage of the helpless condition of these women, in order to obtain their possessions and property. This was easily done because of the confiding character of an older woman who is alone.”
So in the context of the passages discussed in Mark 12, Jesus speaks of older widow’s being taken advantage of.
Let’s talk about the traditions of these Scribes and Pharisees. Scribes were a group of learned men who made a systematic study of the law and it exposition. They were also called, “Lawyers.”
The Pharisees were a religious party, while Scribes held an office. Also the majority of the Scribes belonged to the Pharisee party which recognized the legal interpretations of the Scribes.
Traditions of men: These traditions were handed down by the Jewish fathers or elders which constituted the oral law, regarded by many of the Jews as being equal in authority with the law of Moses. The Pharisees intended to make these traditions of greater authority than the law of Moses.
Matthew 15:3-4-5-6, “Why do ye also transgress the commandments of God by your traditions? For God commanded, saying, Honor thy Father and mother and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye (the Pharisees) say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; and honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.”
So what was that all about?
Honor thy father and mother. Not only does the word honor mean respect and submission, but also to take care of your father and mother. The children were to help feed their parents, to support and enrich them. This is the sense of the Jewish law.
1. Deut.27:16, “Cursed be he That setteth light by (treats with contempt) his father or his mother.”
2. Ex.20:12, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”
Matt.15:5, the phrase, “It is a gift.” This conduct of some was to give their extra monies to the treasury. In this they enhanced the living of the Scribes and Pharisees. The lawyers would at times use fear to extract extra giving. They would speak of losing one’s salvation or at least to put it in question. Teaching like this can weigh heavy on anyone.
In giving extra, a giver was attempting to purchase his or her salvation. The Priests could be very persuasive. Any attempt to purchase salvation is to add by default something to the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and to set aside the blood covenant established and sealed by Him.
Jesus observed the rich men casting their gifts in the treasury. Jesus did not say this was good or bad, right or wrong, giving them no credit of taking away from what they had done.
He also observed a widow putting in her last two mites. Jesus did not say this was good or bad, only saying that she had cast in more than the rich because she gave all she had.
This gift left her with nothing. No means of feeding or supporting herself. So how, or who was to look after her personal necessities? Was the religious system responsible for this act? Was she being taken advantage of by the men she held in high esteem? What she did was give all she had to a religious system that devoured widow’s houses leaving them with nothing.
This was not a lesson on tithing as most men teach, but a lesson on caring for you parents, and the false teaching of religious leaders and many denominations on certain tithing propaganda. “Give more, and the Lord will bless you more.”
In this many neglect the necessities of their children, elderly parents, or others. These are the traditions of men, and not of God, for they take from the poor and add to their wealth.
I would like to add this. There are many religious systems today that do exactly what the Scribes and Pharisees did. There is also the false religion of anti-christ. Let’s look at the teaching, work, goals and results of the ACLU, Evolutionist, atheism, etc. These may not steal money from the poor, but what they do is steal are the souls of men,
I hope you enjoyed this article. Again I thank John MacArthor and others for laying the ground work for this article. Theirs was a brilliant piece of investigation and research.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com