The Widow's Mite
Page 1 of 1
The Widow's Mite
Mark 12:41-44; “And he sat down over against the treasury, and beheld how the multitude cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which make a quadrans. And he called to him his disciples, and said to them, Truly I say to you, This poor widow cast in more than all they that are casting into the treasury: for they all cast in of their superfluity; but she of her poverty cast in all that she had, even all her living.”
There are many things about this parable that stands out for me. First of all, she was a widow. In ancient times, when a woman’s husband died there was no inheritance. She was often left destitute. She could not inherit her husband’s assets. They often went to the next of kin. Women were not equal to men in the time of Yahshua. They were segregated in temple. They were not allowed to speak or teach in mixed company or to men. Their place was in child bearing and keeping the house.
The mention of this widow was a bold thing to say. A woman grasped the concept of Yahweh – which He would provide for her in her poverty. She trusted Him enough to sustain her. The others only gave of their wealth fulfilling the obligation of the law, being therefore religious. This widow humbled herself by giving this simple offering to Yahweh. The others were filled with pride in their fulfillment of the law. Let us look at another person. Matthew 19:16-24.
Here is the rich young man that did love Yahweh. He kept the law.
vs. 21; “Yahshua said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell that which you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. vs. 22: “But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sorrowful; for he was one that had great possessions.” The rich young man had the knowledge of the law. But his heart was divided. He was sad to think of giving up his earthly treasures for treasure in the heavens. He was not able to become perfect, to follow Yahshua.
The widow however was perfect! She gave from her heart. Yahshua saw this. Her trust was not in wealth or possessions. Her trust was in Yahweh. In a man’s world, being a woman, a widow, poor and destitute, she grasped the true concept of giving. This widow gave more than money. She gave out of love for Yahweh. She puts others first before herself. Her motives were pure. There is another woman I would like to look at. Ruth 1:1-18, vs. 16; “And Ruth said, Do not ask me to leave you, and to return from following after you; for where you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your Elohim my Elohim, vs. 17: “where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried: may Yahweh do so to me, and more also, if anything but death part you and me.”
Ruth abandoned herself to Yahweh. She trusted in Him to do as He willed. She devoted herself to Naomi, her people, her Elohim. Ruth gave of herself, of everything. And from this Yahweh directed and blessed her with a kinsman, Boaz. The union from these two is the lineage of the Messiah, Yahshua. Ruth’s heart was pure. Rather than return to her mother’s house and people to remarry, she committed herself to care for Naomi who had no one.
I find these three parables intertwined. They all were presented with a choice: To honor Yahweh with their life, being and substance. To be totally committed trusting in Divine Providence, or, they could take the easy way out of the rich young man. When invited to become perfect and follow Yahshua, he was sad. He was happy with the law, living it. But he could not sacrifice his life for the gospel. He liked his belief system being comfortable. We all have choices and so did Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5).
This married couple believed in Yahshua. They were a part of the community of the early church. In Acts 4:32; “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one of them said that anything of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things in common.”
Ananias and Sapphira had the appearance as members of this same community. They had an appearance of being of one heart and mind. Yet they sold a piece of property. They lied about the price keeping some of it for themselves. Peter rebuked Ananias for lying to Yahweh. When he heard the rebuke he dropped dead. A while later his wife came in and lied about the amount also that they sold the land for. Peter than rebuked her lying then she dropped dead. Their sin was deception to the body of believers in Yahshua. They were willing to accept the honor for their donation while knowingly lying foremost to the Holy Spirit and Yahweh in Heaven.
We all have choices to be honest and to do the right thing. 1 Peter 4:17; “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the House of Elohim: and if it begins first at us, what shall be the end of them that do not obey the good tidings of Yahweh?” Shalom ~ Cinda “Tikvah”
There are many things about this parable that stands out for me. First of all, she was a widow. In ancient times, when a woman’s husband died there was no inheritance. She was often left destitute. She could not inherit her husband’s assets. They often went to the next of kin. Women were not equal to men in the time of Yahshua. They were segregated in temple. They were not allowed to speak or teach in mixed company or to men. Their place was in child bearing and keeping the house.
The mention of this widow was a bold thing to say. A woman grasped the concept of Yahweh – which He would provide for her in her poverty. She trusted Him enough to sustain her. The others only gave of their wealth fulfilling the obligation of the law, being therefore religious. This widow humbled herself by giving this simple offering to Yahweh. The others were filled with pride in their fulfillment of the law. Let us look at another person. Matthew 19:16-24.
Here is the rich young man that did love Yahweh. He kept the law.
vs. 21; “Yahshua said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell that which you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. vs. 22: “But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sorrowful; for he was one that had great possessions.” The rich young man had the knowledge of the law. But his heart was divided. He was sad to think of giving up his earthly treasures for treasure in the heavens. He was not able to become perfect, to follow Yahshua.
The widow however was perfect! She gave from her heart. Yahshua saw this. Her trust was not in wealth or possessions. Her trust was in Yahweh. In a man’s world, being a woman, a widow, poor and destitute, she grasped the true concept of giving. This widow gave more than money. She gave out of love for Yahweh. She puts others first before herself. Her motives were pure. There is another woman I would like to look at. Ruth 1:1-18, vs. 16; “And Ruth said, Do not ask me to leave you, and to return from following after you; for where you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your Elohim my Elohim, vs. 17: “where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried: may Yahweh do so to me, and more also, if anything but death part you and me.”
Ruth abandoned herself to Yahweh. She trusted in Him to do as He willed. She devoted herself to Naomi, her people, her Elohim. Ruth gave of herself, of everything. And from this Yahweh directed and blessed her with a kinsman, Boaz. The union from these two is the lineage of the Messiah, Yahshua. Ruth’s heart was pure. Rather than return to her mother’s house and people to remarry, she committed herself to care for Naomi who had no one.
I find these three parables intertwined. They all were presented with a choice: To honor Yahweh with their life, being and substance. To be totally committed trusting in Divine Providence, or, they could take the easy way out of the rich young man. When invited to become perfect and follow Yahshua, he was sad. He was happy with the law, living it. But he could not sacrifice his life for the gospel. He liked his belief system being comfortable. We all have choices and so did Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5).
This married couple believed in Yahshua. They were a part of the community of the early church. In Acts 4:32; “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one of them said that anything of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things in common.”
Ananias and Sapphira had the appearance as members of this same community. They had an appearance of being of one heart and mind. Yet they sold a piece of property. They lied about the price keeping some of it for themselves. Peter rebuked Ananias for lying to Yahweh. When he heard the rebuke he dropped dead. A while later his wife came in and lied about the amount also that they sold the land for. Peter than rebuked her lying then she dropped dead. Their sin was deception to the body of believers in Yahshua. They were willing to accept the honor for their donation while knowingly lying foremost to the Holy Spirit and Yahweh in Heaven.
We all have choices to be honest and to do the right thing. 1 Peter 4:17; “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the House of Elohim: and if it begins first at us, what shall be the end of them that do not obey the good tidings of Yahweh?” Shalom ~ Cinda “Tikvah”
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum