Mark 12:41-44 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.… I. THE GIVER: a widow, and a poor widow. The widow alone understands widowhood; it must be felt to be known. God knows its grief. Sorrow often makes people selfish, but this benevolent donor was a widow, and she was poor. Perhaps a young widow whose husband had been cut off before he could provide for his own house. Poverty, like rain, comes from several quarters, and is not easy to be borne, whether the wind that brings it blow from east or west, from south or north. With poverty we generally associate getting, not giving. This poor widow was pious and generous; the tree is known by its fruit. II. THE GIFT. Money was her gift; hard to get, hard to hold, hard to part with; the severest test of religious integrity. The commercial value is small, but the value to her is great. Wealth called it small, commerce called it small, religious custom reckoned it small; but in relation to the means and heart of the donor, and in the judgment of God, the gift was exceeding great. III. THE PLACE, OR SCENE OF THE GIFT. It was bestowed in the temple of God, deposited in one of the thirteen boxes in the women's court. It is meet and right that we give where we receive. IV. And what, fourthly, was THE OBJECT OF THIS GIFT? These two mites were given as a free-will offering to the support of the temple, its institutions and its services, and the offering them with this intent constituted this "certain poor widow" a contributor to all that he temple yielded — to all it offered to heaven, and to all it gave to the children of men. The incense and the light and the fire and the shewbread and the daily sacrifices were, in part, this woman's oblation. She helped to clothe the priests in their holy garments, to supply the altars with oblations, and to preserve the order, decency, and beauty of the house of God. Say not, she gave only two mites. This voluntary offering, although commercially so small, as really contributed to support the temple, as the immense revenue derived from tithes and other appointed contributions. Jehovah received these two mites, and the world was by this offering made a debtor. V. THE SPIRIT OF THE OFFERING. Was it gratitude for benefits received? She may have valued more highly the benefit of God's sanctuary, since she became a mourning widow, than while she was a rejoicing wife. She had there heard words of consolation which had healed her wounded heart (Psalm 68:5; Psalm 146:9). What impulse opened her hand? Was it the force of hallowed and pleasant association? Her fathers worshipped there. She could say, "Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house" (Psalm 26:8). The spirit of the offering was the spirit of true piety and of real godliness. VI. THE DIVINE RECOGNITION OF THE GIFT. Jesus Christ saw the gift, estimated, approved, and commended the giver. He did not speak to her, but of her, in an undertone to the disciples. "No person takes any account of what I do," some disciples are heard to complain. Thy fellow servants may fail to recognize, but the Master never fails. Jesus is in a position to see, and He is disposed to observe. Everything that is human is interesting to Him, and all that is right is attractive. Some people only see faults. Jesus approves all that He can approve. He gives the testimony of a good conscience. VII. LOOK AT THE FACT THAT JESUS CHRIST CALLS ATTENTION TO THIS GIFT. 1. That the greatness of a gift depends upon the possessions of the individual after the gift has been made. 2. That grief need not hinder giving. The child of sorrow doubly needs the returns which acts of piety and charity invariably bring. 3. And shall we not be taught by this incident to learn well-doing from each other? The Head Teacher bids His disciples learn from this certain poor woman. He makes her a kind of object lesson. 4. Let us learn to act as under our Great Master's eye. He sees us. He speaks of you, it may be to His angels and glorified saints. And what can He say of you? (S. Martin.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. |
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