A Glimpse of Reality Concerning the Poor Widow’s Gift

Van Gray, PhD

Van Gray has worked in business management for forty-one years, owned a business for seventeen years, and holds a BS in geology and MS in business. He currently serves MABTS as chief development officer. He and his wife, Ginger, live in Cordova, Tennessee, and attend Crossroads Baptist Church in Eads, Tennessee, where he serves as a deacon and a member of the missions team. They have two daughters, one who lives in New York City and one who lives in Cambodia.

The existence of Mid-America Seminary and College has always been dependent on the generous giving of our precious donors, as God motivates each individual or organization to give. Our donors are, indeed, precious to us (Ruth 2:12) even with gifts as small as $5 per month. Without the generous and sacrificial financial support of our donors, we simply would not be able to equip Biblical leaders with a passion for the Gospel. These funds are carefully applied to pay operating expenses and to underwrite over half the full expense of education for each student. These students have responded by averaging sixty-five professions of faith, each week, for the last fifty years (one hundred sixty-nine thousand total, so far). As we celebrate our first fifty years of equipping Biblical leaders with a commitment to the Gospel, we realize that each donor has a legitimate interest in knowing that their investments in Mid-America will result in many being saved. Our donors have paid all the expenses for fifty years with a passion that is born of their love for the gospel and their confidence that every cent will be stewarded as a gift from the LORD Himself. Now, let’s take a look at how Jesus evaluated a very small gift.

In John 11:13, the disciples thought Jesus was saying that Lazarus was simply sleeping. In verse 14, Jesus “spoke plainly” that Lazarus was dead. In Matthew 13, Jesus told the parable of the sower, causing the disciples to ask why He spoke in parables. Jesus responded (v. 11), “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.” “Therefore I speak to them in parables…”(v. 13). The meaning of the parable was intentionally hidden to the people, but was not to be hidden to the disciples. Jesus then explained the mystery of the parable to them (vs 18–23). Similarly, in Matthew 13:36, the disciples asked Jesus to explain “the parable of the tares of the field” (vs 24–30). And He answered them beginning in verse 37. Jesus was acting in recognition of their grant “to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.”

In Luke 21:1–4, and in the parallel passage of Mark 12:41–44 (both passages follow), we are told of the poor widow’s gift of two small copper coins, her entire income. Although her gift was very modest, Jesus said this poor widow “put in more than all of them,” “put in all that she had to live on” (Luke 21:3–4) and that she “put in all that she owned, all she had to live on” (Mark 12:44)!

“And He sat down opposite the treasury and began observing how the multitude were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. And calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, ‘Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on’. “

-Mark 12:41–44

“And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw a certain poor widow putting in two small copper coins. And He said, ‘Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on.’ “

-Luke 21:1–4

The scriptures are silent about her actual circumstances. We can only speculate. However, we do know that God Himself is a husband to her and is her protector. While the context of the following passage is God speaking to Jerusalem, the point should not be missed that a facet of God’s character is revealed here. What a special relationship it is!

“Fear not for you will not be put to shame; Neither feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced; But you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the LORD of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth.”

-Is 54:4–5

”He supports the fatherless and the widow”

God, Himself, will be “a judge for the widow”

”And let your widows trust in Me.”

-Ps 146:9b

-Ps 68:5

-Jeremiah 49:11b

“Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion for God loves a cheerful giver.”

-2 Cor 9:7

She has trusted Him thus far and has cheerfully given all she has, relying upon Him for all her needs and all her provision. She has learned to trust Him, commonly expressed as a maxim, “You cannot out-give God!” In return, God has elevated the impact of her modest gift to exceed all the others given that day.

“Give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For whatever measure you deal out to others, it will be dealt to you in return.”

-Luke 6:38

”‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until there is no more need.’”

-Malachi 3:10

“And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren in Judea.”

-Acts 11:29

“In every thing I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the LORD Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give that to receive.’”

-Acts 20:35

The poor widow of the Luke and Mark passages above apparently understood these principles and acted on them, trusting God for all her needs, present, and future. We can confidently conclude that she was blessed for her faith and for her giving. Jesus Himself has honored her by recording her example in His Word for all future believers’ benefit and instruction. Acting again in recognition of their grant to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, Jesus then called His disciples to tell them His evaluation of what the poor widow had just done. I’m sure they were startled to hear that she had given more than all the others with her two small coins. Jesus was providing a glimpse of true reality; how He, the LORD, evaluated her gift. Jesus' observation reveals a mystery of the kingdom of God, confirming that God evaluates behavior by internal motives not outward appearances, because He looks on the heart and not as men see things.

“And do not lean on your own understanding.”

-Proverbs 3:5b

“…for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

-1 Samuel 16:7b

This story is often referenced as “the widow’s mite.” It could also be accurately referenced as “the widow’s might,” as her gift was revealed to have greater impact than all the others in the LORD’s sight. This may come as quite a surprise that the size of the gift has little, if any, bearing on the impact. As Adrian Rogers was fond of saying, “The heart of the matter is a matter of the heart.” Does God want our hearts knit to His? I think so. Therefore, we should look closely at what else the scriptures have to say about giving.

In his letters, Paul offers additional insight:

At the judgement the LORD will “disclose the motives of men’s hearts…”

-1 Cor 4:5

“On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.”

-1 Cor 16:2

“…in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability they gave of their own accord, begging us with much entreaty for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the LORD and to us by the will of God. Consequently, we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well. But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also. I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also. For you know the grace of our LORD Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. And I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. But now finish doing it also; that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a man has, not according to what he does not have For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality—at this present time your abundance being a supply for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want, that there may be equality; as it is written, ‘He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack’.” (Italics mine)

-2 Cor 8:2–15

“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written, ‘He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, His righteousness abides forever’. Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. Because of the proof given by this ministry they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (Italics mine)

-2 Cor 9: 6–15

This echoes Christ’s sacrificial gift that we might become rich. This also echoes the poor widow’s gift. Therefore, we must not hesitate to give because we cannot give a large amount. Note that in 2 Cor. 8:10 & 11 we are informed that the sequence is to desire to do it, then to begin to do it, then to finish doing it: Desire to give, Do give, and Finish giving your heart’s plan to give. Also, God promises to link your harvest to the gift: He will multiply your harvest of righteousness and will be enriched to meet every need considered by your liberality! We give. He multiplies. The recipient prays for the giver, glorifying God for the giver…..another mystery of the kingdom of God is revealed!

“So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

-Galatians 6:10

“Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need.”

-Ephesians 4:28

“And let our people also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, that they may not be unfruitful.”

-Titus 3:14

In these references, Paul is clearly teaching that we are to be prepared to meet needs, pressing needs, of those around us, especially those of “the household of faith.” We have thought about the glimpses of the reality associated with giving, the real connection with God’s view of how giving works, how His provision is apportioned for His purposes, and how we are favored with direct participation. But what of the roles of the supporter and the one who receives the support, on the “front lines,” as they are often described? Does scripture directly address this relationship, or provide hints or glimpses of it?

“Then David said, ‘You must not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us, who has kept us and delivered into our hand the band that came against us. And who will listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike.’ And so it has been from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.” -1 Sam 30:23–25

“Calling a bird of prey from the East, the man of My purpose from a far country.” -Is 46:11

Combined, these two references:

1. Reveal that those who are “merely” supporters (who “stay with the baggage”) share equally with those who fight the battles (on the “front lines”). Each role is dependent on the other.

2. Recognize that God can call a man from anywhere to fulfill His purposes, either as a supporter or as a warrior on the “front lines” of His purpose

The “glimpse,” or mystery, of the kingdom of God establishes reality from God’s perspective. Gifts according to our ability are evaluated by our hearts motivation to make the gift. While God is pleased to use our gifts, He is FAR more interested in our hearts, that they are knitted to His heart. When our gifts are motivated by obedience to His Word and a sincere desire to give for His purpose(s), God will mightily leverage our gifts, FAR beyond its face value, just as He did with the poor widow’s gift. Giving is always between the believer and the LORD. Consider this when you desire to give. Consider this when you give. Consider this when you finish the gift. If so, you can know that God is pleased. “See that you abound in this gracious work also.”

We never ask for money, though the needs are always great. We depend on the LORD to meet our needs by moving the hearts of donors, new and old, to give. These gifts are often from sources we could never imagine, and in the timing that is God’s alone. Jesus Himself gave us insight on how such gifts are viewed from Heaven, illustrated by the widow’s gift. As a result of these words from Jesus Himself, we realize that we are unable to correctly assess the size of a gift, whether large or small: it is a mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven that determines the true value.

Note: All scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960,1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, by the Lockman Foundation.