The story is simple and powerful. The rich were throwing in large sums of money to the offering. The widow only put in two copper coins worth less than a penny. Jesus pointed out that she had put in more than all the others. This is God’s viewpoint.
When my son was young there was a clever retelling of this story in a little book called “A Penny is Everything,” by Walter Wangerin Jr. It told of a spoiled rich boy who decided to take seven rich gifts to the temple because he was feeling very generous. On the way he gave a penny to a beggar boy who was trying to help his widowed mother. At the temple the rich boy proudly throws in his seven rich offerings. The beggar boy and his mom come and give the penny at which the rich boy laughs because it is so little. Then a voice says, “You’re wrong, my friend.”
The voice turns out to belong to Jesus. When the rich boy complains that he put in more Jesus says one of my favorite lines from any children’s book. “You add it up; see what you get; What’s all plus all? It’s closes to heaven. But one plus two plus two plus two is seven, friend; it’s only seven.”
Why are Mark and Luke the only ones to tell us this story? Is it because it isn’t very important? Beware, more isn’t always more important. When something is unique... well, it stands out.
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