WHAT IS PLEASING TO THE LORD?

Passage: Luke 20:45-21:4

Key verse: 21:3

NIV

Warning Against the Teachers of the Law

45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.(A) 47 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

The Widow’s Offering(B)

21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.(C) 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”(D)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Beware of the Scribes

45 (A)And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and (B)the places of honor at feasts, 47 (C)who devour widows' houses and (D)for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

The Widow's Offering

21 (E)Jesus[a] looked up and saw the rich (F)putting their gifts into (G)the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two (H)small copper coins.[b] 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, (I)this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her (J)poverty put in all (K)she had to live on.”

Footnotes
  1. Luke 21:1 Greek He
  2. Luke 21:2 Greek two lepta; a lepton was a Jewish bronze or copper coin worth about 1/128 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Beware! (2 :45-47) Jesus publicly condemned the self-promoting lifestyles of the teachers of the law. They set a horrible example and Jesus did not want his disciples or the people to imitate them. The teachers of the law dressed in pretentious robes and loved the flattery of others. They sought all the places of honor, but they weren't honorable at all. They took advantage of vulnerable widows and turned prayer into long, dramatic performances. This is not pleasing to God at all. Jesus said that those men would be punished most severely. 2. A far better example (21:1-4) The poor widow who quietly put two very small copper coins in the offering must have seemed very insignificant to anyone who saw her. Most people probably didn't even notice her, but Jesus did. He saw her and was very pleased. Her offering reflected her love and devotion to God. She gave everything she had, revealing her trust and dependence on Him. On the other hand, the rich gave their gifts out of their wealth. Their money made a big clank when it was dropped in the collection, but it didn't represent the same dependence and love as the widow's offering. In Jesus' eyes, the value of her offering was far above that of the rich. If we follow her example of giving, we can bring joy to Jesus as well.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to live in a way that pleases you.

One Word: Jesus saw the poor widow