THE POOR WIDOW

Dr. Richard J. Henderson November 8, 2009

click for printable version

Psalm 127 (responsive)
Mark 12:38-44

Introduction

Several years ago a prominent minister from our area was interviewed by Channel 4 news about some debate that was going on. I don't remember what the issue was, but I remember clearly how the pastor was dressed. As the news report shifted to the interview with this pastor, he sat behind his desk not only in his clergy robe but with his doctoral hood on as well. You know, it's the fancy silk and velvet panel that goes around your neck and hangs down your back. You usually only see them at graduation or in some other academic procession.

As I watched this I thought, either he walks around all day in this get-up or when the reporter came he went and put on his robe and doctoral hood for the interview.

I don't know; does that seem pretentious?

I

As Jesus is teaching his disciples, he warns them about the scribes. The scribes love to walk around in long robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplace. They want the best seats in the synagogue, they love the place of honor at banquets, and they say long prayers to impress people with how religious they are. Worst of all they devour widow's houses for their own profit.

It's pretty clear that the problem with the scribes is the size of their egos and their mercenary attitude.

When Jesus says they like the places of honor at banquets I wonder how the disciples James and John feel. Remember, a few weeks back we talked about how they asked Jesus to give them whatever they asked? And then when he asked what they wanted, they asked for the seats of honor (to his left and right) when Jesus came into his glory. Wouldn't they have heard Jesus' criticism of the scribes wanting places of honor as another reminder of how misguided their request had been? And this isn't the first time Jesus has brought up their request.

It isn't too hard to see the same attitude that Jesus is criticizing in our own day. We have heard about abuse of children by clergy which is horribly disturbing.

And we have dozens of religious figures on television who talk in pious language while they rake in millions of dollars and are driven around in limousines. The United States senate began an investigation of some super wealthy religious personalities to see if they were using religion to get out of paying taxes. As I recall, there were some questions about whether these people were using their private jets for personal or business use.

I was at a dinner with a very well known religious leader a few years back and it was embarrassing to see how the ministers and faculty elbowed their way to be able to be seated next to him. They were rude in trying to get a chair beside him. Or maybe I was just upset because they got the good seats and I didn't!

I was thinking, as I prepared this sermon, that I really shouldn't wear this long robe this morning! It makes a bad association.

And yet, how many of the things that Jesus criticizes do you and I hope for? Wouldn't you like to have the place of honor at a banquet, or wouldn't we like to be greeted with respect at the mall? Maybe Jesus is talking about the scribe in all of us.

II

Right after Jesus warns the disciples about the scribes he and his disciples stop outside the temple by the treasury box. Lots of wealthy people come by and put in large sums of money. They have plenty and they give out of their abundance. It doesn't hurt them much, if at all. Maybe they are thinking, "If I draw a lot of money out of one of my savings accounts and donate it maybe they'll name a hall in the temple after me. At least I should get my name on a brass plate somewhere." They donate a lot of money.

Then Jesus notices a poor woman come up to the box, and she puts in everything she has. It's only two small copper coins, but it is all she has in the world. Jesus emphasizes the extent of her gift by repeating how much she sacrificed. He says, "But she, out of her poverty, has put in everything she had - all she had to live on."

III

Jesus tells of the pomposity and greed of the scribes and then immediately points out a poor widow who gives everything she has. I don't think it's a coincidence that these two passages are found back to back. The poor widow stands out as profoundly different from the religious authorities that Jesus has been talking about.

The religious authorities are out to get all they can for themselves; the poor widow gives everything she has. The religious authorities are clamoring for honor, status, money and prestige; the poor widow gives her gift and almost no one notices it. The scribes want to be thought well of; the widow wants to be faithful. The religious authorities are proud and self-serving; the widow is humble.

The widow seems to be the opposite of the hypocritical scribes.

IV

But there is a serious problem here. We only have to look at the next paragraph to see what it is. Immediately after Jesus has commended to widow for giving her last pennies to the temple, Jesus tells his disciples that the temple will be torn down.

As they come out of the temple one of the disciples' comments to Jesus, Look at these huge stones. (The temple stones where 48 feet by 18 feet by 12 feet). Jesus answers, "not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."

The poor widow is giving her last two coins and the temple she is giving them to is going to be destroyed. The implication from Jesus' words about the scribes and the way he talks about the temple's destruction indicate that the widow is giving everything for something that is not worthy of her sacrifice. She is giving everything she has but what she is giving it for doesn't deserve her gift.

V

Jesus is the poor widow. As she gave everything, so did Jesus. She gave all she had for something that didn't deserve her sacrifice. Jesus gave himself for humanity that hadn't done anything to deserve his total sacrifice. She acted faithfully and with humility, and so did Jesus. If you look into the eyes of that widow, you see the reflection of Christ.

Conclusion

As Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem to face his arrest and crucifixion, he points out a poor widow who gives everything she has. In doing that Jesus foreshadows what is about to happen in his own life.

Amen

© Richard J. Henderson 2009