Without faith, she wouldn't have offered her last penny, believing God would care for her better than she could care for herself. Her gesture was a sign of complete abandonment to God. But Jesus, with eyes thatpenetrated both her circumstances and her heart, recognized the astonishing nature of her gift. No one else would have noticed the woman. They all gave out of their wealth but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-all she had to live on.' Quickly, he called to his disciples, 'I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. He watched as a widow deposited two small copper coins, less than a day's wages. The place was crowded with people dropping their offerings in one of the thirteen trumpet-shaped receptacles that hung on the walls. Stung by his words, the teachers of the law began to plot how they could break the law by murdering him at their first opportunity.ĭays later, after warning his disciples to watch out for the teachers of the law who preyed on widows for their money, Jesus sat opposite the temple treasury, in the Court of the Women.

'I tell you,' he replied, 'if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.' Some of the Pharisees, scandalized that Jesus was being hailed as Messiah, demanded, 'Teacher, rebuke your disciples!' A large crowd had gathered, carpeting the road with palm branches and shouting: 'Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest.' The previous Sunday, Jesus had created a sensation as he rode down the Mount of Olives and into Jerusalem, mounted on a donkey. With Passover approaching, the temple was packed with worshipers from all over Israel. Key Scriptures: Mark 12:41-44 Luke 21:1-4 Her Story Her joy: To surrender herself to God completely, trusting him to act on her behalf. Her sorrow: To be alone, without a husband to provide for her. He may have called attention to her as a case in point. Just after warning his disciples to watch out for the teachers of the law, who devour widows' houses, Jesus caught sight of her in the temple. Her character: Though extremely poor, she is one of the most greathearted people in the Bible.

Two copper coins