Don’t misread Jesus comment on the widow’s offering

This Sunday, the lectionary invites us to ponder Mark 12:38-44. The English Standard Version supplies the text with the headings “Beware of the Scribes” and “The Widow’s Offering.”

If you’ve read or heard the passages before, you’ll remember them. Because both passages draw emotional responses from us. The first passage is offensive to scribes. The second passage makes us sit up.

In the gospels, we see that Jesus often spoke about scribes.

The word “scribe” is used 64 times in the New Testament, of which 60 uses are in the gospels. The word is used 25 times in the Old Testament, of which 15 uses are in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.

In the Old Testament, scribes are often described positively. But Jesus described them negatively. Why the difference?

In the Old Testament era, leadership was first by “judges” and later by kings.[1] Both served as generals – like the Prophet and caliphs of Islam, although the judges and kings didn’t go beyond “the Promised Land.”

Jesus introduced a new way of exercising authority. He undermined, subverted and shamed the rulers of his day. He did this by teaching, and example. For example, by washing the feet of his disciples.

Jesus also proclaimed the end of faith centred around animal sacrifices in the Jerusalem Temple.

The Temple was constructed by Solomon, the third king of the Israelites. He constructed it about 1,000 years before Jesus was born. It stood for about 400 years. Then it was destroyed by an invading army.

70 years later, a second Temple was constructed on the site.[2] The construction is often described as a “reconstruction.” It was a low-budget, pale shadow of the first Temple.

The construction program was led by Ezra and Nehemiah. They were both trusted aides of the king of Persia. Ezra, a scribe, was the religious leader. Nehemiah was the civil leader. The king of Persia appointed Zerubbabel as governor. Zerubbabel was of the line of David but was not called “king”.[3]

In the time of Jesus, in relation to religious activities, the role of scribes was to protect, to copy and to teach the scriptures. Jesus clashed with many scribes over what they taught, how they dressed, how they expected to be treated, and what they did.

In AD 70, after a long siege, the Romans destroyed the Temple.[4]

The gospels were written soon before, or after the Temple was destroyed. The gospel authors presented Christian faith as the successor of Jewish faith, but without Temple sacrifices.

The scribes resisted this understanding of Christianity. Therefore, the gospel authors stressed the negative things Jesus said about scribes.

We must not conclude that all scribes were bad. But we must recognize that most people “in religious garb” were corrupt. Their focus was no longer God. Their focus was their own position and privilege.

Also, as I said earlier, the scribes upheld a faith centred on earth in a Temple which was completely destroyed in the year 70 AD.

We must bear that in mind when we consider the second part of the reading. The second part is a remark Jesus made about a widow who gave her last two, tiny coins to the rich Temple.

Jesus compared what she gave with what others gave. He said:

… this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on. (Mark 12:43-44)

The next verse records Jesus predicting the Temple’s destruction (Mark 13:1-2).

Why does Mark sandwich this account of the widow’s gift to the Temple between accounts of scribes and the destruction of the Temple?

I do not doubt that Jesus praised her for her sacrificial giving. But why praise her for giving to the Temple whose purpose was ending? The Temple which was about to be destroyed? The Temple controlled by a committee called the Sanhedrin, many of whose members were scribes?

I think Jesus was pointing out the power the scribes exerted over the people – to the extent that a powerless, desperately poor woman gave up her last remaining wealth to their care. Positively, I think Jesus means us to think of her giving as sacrificial. And negatively, as misdirected.

Giving is an important part of Christian discipleship. But it’s important to give wisely. This means that before we give to others, we must ensure that we have enough to meet our own needs and the needs of those we’ve committed to support. And that we give to genuinely worthy causes.

There are many preachers who urge people to “give like the widow.” They often amplify their urging by quoting passages such as 2 Corinthians 9:7-15 to which the ESV helpfully supplies the title “The Cheerful Giver.”

God certainly loves a cheerful giver. But he also expects us to provide for ourselves and for those who depend on us. For example, Paul writes to Timothy, in a section about widows:

Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8)

God expects us to live sacrificially, but not foolishly. He expects us to live responsibly, both for ourselves and for our neighbours.

If you’re poor, it’s okay if you don’t give. The day will come when you’ll be able to give. Cheerfully and generously.

Peace be with you.

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[1] The last judge was prophet Samuel. The first king was Saul. The last king during the First Temple era was Zedekiah.

[2] Going by Jeremiah 29:10, For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfil to you my promise and bring you back to this place.

[3] Matthew 1:12.

[4] By this time, the Temple was a majestic building, having been rebuilt and refurnished by (the evil) Herod the Great.