Luke 20:41-21:4
41 Then Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? 42 David himself declares in the Book of Psalms:
“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
43 until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.”’
44 David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”
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. 47 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 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.”
What Matters to God
God, as the Psalms often remind us, is the “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows” (Ps. 68:5). He sustains and defends those in need (Ps. 10:18; 146:9). Throughout scripture we see God’s deep care for the vulnerable. Whether it’s how it is reflected in the laws of Israel (i.e. Deut. 10:18) or in Jesus’ actions towards the marginalized, God demonstrates his love over and over again.
In fact, when it comes to what matters to God, the focus is often on us—his children. We matter to God: our hearts, our well-being, and our lives. Yet, somehow, many of us lose sight of this. We get distracted by other things—things that, while important, are not primary.
Jesus frequently confronted people about this misplaced focus. At times, he spoke quite strongly, which makes sense when the subject was something close to his heart. We see one such moment in Luke 20:41–21:4.
Before this exchange, Jesus had already been disputing with the teachers of the law throughout Luke 20. Here, at the end, he cuts to the heart of the matter, essentially telling them, “You are not seeing clearly. You're valuing all the wrong things!”
He begins with a theological question: How can the Messiah be both David’s son and his Lord?
The teachers affirmed that the Messiah would be the Son of David, yet David himself calls the Messiah “Lord.” Jesus asks them how both can be true. Have they truly considered who the Messiah will be? And what that will mean for them?
Before they can respond, Jesus addresses the crowd: Far from understanding the Messiah’s identity, these teachers don’t even grasp the basics of who God is or what matters to him. Be on your guard against them!
How so? Their lives reveal their ignorance of God’s heart. While God focuses on the substance of the lives of his people, the teachers are preoccupied with public honour and status. Meanwhile, while God is the defender of widows, the teachers are exploiting them. What a harsh contradiction! They are exploiting the vulnerable—the very people God commands them to protect. Widows, perhaps, most of all.
In the ancient world, widows were among the most vulnerable members of society. Without wealth, they had few rights, often couldn’t represent themselves legally, and typically couldn’t own property. Thus, their homes were at risk of being "devoured."
Jesus warns, Beware of these teachers! They don’t understand what matters to God.
Again, before they can respond, Jesus observes the temple treasury and uses the scene as a living illustration. Look at these people giving their gifts. What we tend to value is who gives the most. But is that what matters to God? Does wealth impress him? No!
Jesus sees a poor widow giving two small coins—everything she has. It is not the biggest gifts, the most wealth, or the impressive shows that matter to God. Jesus declares that her offering is the greatest. Why? Because her gift reflects a heart fully surrendered to God. That’s what matters.
Step by step, Jesus invites his listeners to reflect more deeply on who God is and what truly matters to him.
Let’s join Jesus on that journey. Consider these questions:
• Who is God?
• What matters to him?
A great place to start in asking about God’s identity is Psalm 146. Read it and consider these first two questions.
Then, ask yourself:
• Does my life reflect what matters to God?
• Do I value what he values?
Don’t answer these questions hypothetically or in your mind alone. Reflect on how you actually live. It’s easy to declare that family is important, but if our lives are too busy for them, does that really align with our claim? Like the Pharisees, we can get caught up in appearances and miss the substance.
Finally, ask the following:
• What can I learn from the Widow’s offering?
• What would it look like for me to be fully given over to God?
Author Bio
Andrew Demoline is a Christ-follower, husband, and father. Kristina and I have been married since 2004 and have four children: Hannah, Ethan, Nathanael, and Ellyana. He has served as the lead pastor of
Timbers Community Church in Prince George since 2018.
Luke and Acts taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®
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