The Road Devotional | Lent 2024

As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

In these verses, we see Jesus comparing the offerings of two very different folks: the rich and a poor widow. There is more than one interpretation of what Jesus is attempting to draw out by contrasting these two offerings. One possibility is that Jesus is decrying a religious system that sets up religious obligation above the common needs of people, especially a poor widow. While this is a commendable interpretation, I think that the most common reading is more likely.  Jesus wants us to understand that the value of an offering is not measured by its worldly value, but in the true sacrifice that’s involved in making that offering.

Q. What does sacrificial living look like for you? Does it exist? Do you give out of obligation or out of celebration? When you make an offering, is it sacrificial or ritual?

Though small in monetary value, it represents her entire livelihood, giving out of her poverty, and demonstrating a profound trust in God’s provision. Reflect on the depth of her sacrifice and what it reveals about the posture of her heart. Jesus shifts the focus from the quantity of the gift to the heart behind it. Consider how this challenges societal norms that often prioritize the visible and grandiose.

Q. How can we adopt Jesus' perspective in valuing the sincerity and sacrificial nature of giving?

God, teach us the true essence of giving through the example of the widow in the temple. May our hearts be attuned to the sincerity and sacrificial nature of her offering, recognizing that true giving extends beyond monetary value. Grant us the courage to give from the depths of our hearts, trusting in Your provision and acknowledging that everything we have belongs to You.

Amen.