The Widow and the Temple

Contrast of The Widow

dd

Luke 9:51–24:53 Luke 21:2

Ellis (1974: 239) computes the value as one one-hundredth of a denarius, thus one one-hundredth of the average daily wage—a very small sum indeed

Very Small 1/100 of a daily wage (denarius)

Mark 12.42

Luke 9:51–24:53 Luke 21:4

all those who preceded her donated their gifts out of an excess

They gave there excess

all of her life

A similar use of βίος occurs in 8:43. The term has a slightly different force in 15:12, 30, where it means “inheritance”; 11 Darrell L. Bock, Luke: 9:51–24:53, vol. 2, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1996).

Luke 15:12 ESV

12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.

Luke 15:30 ESV

30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’

Example of the Widow

Luke 21:4 ESV

4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Luke 21:4 KJV

4 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.

Marshall (1978: 752) rightly points out that the widow’s heart is very different from the preying tactics of others (20:47).

Luke 20:47 ESV

47 who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

She is just like Simeon and Anna (luke 2)

This contrast shows Luke’s readers that sometimes those who appear to be blessed are not. In this first-century Jewish setting, the “common person” is in better touch with God than the “religious person.”11 Darrell L. Bock, Luke: 9:51–24:53, vol. 2, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1996), 1647.

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

Fulfillment of the Widow

Give Unto Caesar

John 4:19–24 ESV

19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

She is just like Simeon and Anna

Example of the Widow for Us