The Widow’s Offering (Luke 21:1–4)
Introduction
Jesus had just finished rebuking the scribes for their hypocrisy, their hunger for status, and their exploitation of the vulnerable (Luke 20:45–47). Now, he turns his attention to a striking contrast. In the temple courts, where the wealthy parade their generosity, a poor widow quietly makes an offering. It’s a moment so small that most would overlook it—but Jesus doesn’t. Instead, he highlights it as a profound example of true devotion.
The widow’s offering is not just about money. It’s about faith, trust, and the kind of heart God values. This passage challenges our assumptions about generosity and calls us to a deeper level of commitment.
Verse by Verse Breakdown of Luke 21:1–4 and Commentary
Luke 21:1–2
“He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.” (Luke 21:1–2, NRSV)
Jesus is still in the temple courts, where offerings were collected in trumpet-shaped receptacles. The wealthy come forward, making their donations in a way that would have been seen and heard by others. Their gifts were substantial, but Jesus’ attention is drawn elsewhere—to a widow who places two small copper coins into the collection.
In a preaching illustration, I had a metal bucket. I wanted to juxtapose the sound of the offerings. At first I exemplified the “rich” offering by pouring a lot of coins in the metal bucket. The sound reverberated through the room. Then, in a show of contrast, I put in 2 pennies. Hardly any sound. The congregation sat in silence, marveling at the distinction.
These coins, known as leptas, were the smallest in circulation. A single lepta was worth about 1/128th of a day’s wage. By worldly standards, her offering was insignificant. But Jesus saw what others missed: the depth of her sacrifice. (I created a currency conversion table that helps us grasp the money and measurements in the bible. You can visit it here.)
This scene echoes themes throughout the Gospel. Jesus consistently elevates the overlooked—the poor, the powerless, the outcast—revealing that God’s kingdom values are upside down from the world’s.
Luke 21:3
“He said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.’” (Luke 21:3, NRSV)
By human accounting, the wealthy donors had given far more. But Jesus measures generosity differently. He doesn’t look at the total amount but at what it cost the giver. The rich gave out of their surplus—they still had plenty left. The widow gave from her poverty.
This is a radical statement. Jesus is redefining what true giving looks like. The world applauds big donations, but God sees the heart behind the gift. A small sacrifice can be worth more than a large contribution when it comes from a place of trust and devotion.
Jesus does not necessarily praise the system that led to this widow’s situation. He had just condemned the religious leaders for devouring widows’ houses (Luke 20:47), so it is possible he is lamenting rather than celebrating this moment. If the temple authorities were truly honoring God, would this widow have been left with nothing? This raises a deeper question about systems of giving that demand the poor give even their last coin while the wealthy give only from their surplus.
Luke 21:4
“For all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:4, NRSV)
Jesus reveals the depth of the widow’s offering—she didn’t just give a portion; she gave everything. These two coins were all she had to live on. Her gift was not just generous; it was an act of total dependence on God.
This level of trust is what makes her offering so powerful. The rich donors remained secure in their wealth. The widow surrendered her security, placing her future in God’s hands.
Jesus does not say what happens to her next. There’s no miracle story where she suddenly receives a hundredfold return. And that’s the point. Faithful giving isn’t about guaranteed returns; it’s about trusting God no matter the outcome.
Luke 21:1–4 Meaning for Today
This passage challenges the way we think about giving. Too often, we measure generosity by the size of the gift. But Jesus makes it clear: God values the heart behind the giving more than the amount.
It’s not about wealth; it’s about trust.
The widow’s offering was significant because it was sacrificial. True generosity isn’t about the size of our bank account—it’s about how much we trust God with what we have.God sees what others overlook.
The world notices big donors, major benefactors, and named buildings. But Jesus sees the quiet faithfulness of those who give in secret, who serve without recognition, who sacrifice in ways that only God notices.Giving is an act of worship.
The widow’s offering wasn’t just a donation; it was an act of faith. She placed her trust in God rather than in financial security. That’s the kind of faith Jesus calls His followers to.We are called to trust, not just to give.
This passage isn’t just about money. It’s about surrender. The widow gave all she had to live on, embodying the very trust that Jesus calls His disciples to have.
Jesus often spoke about the dangers of wealth—not because money itself is evil, but because it can so easily become our security. The widow’s offering confronts us with a question: Where is our security? In our resources, or in God?
FAQ
1. Why did Jesus praise the widow’s offering?
Jesus praised the widow not because of the amount she gave but because of her faith and sacrifice. Unlike the wealthy donors who gave from their surplus, she gave everything she had, demonstrating total trust in God.
2. What were the two small copper coins she gave?
The widow gave two leptas, the smallest coins in circulation at the time. They were worth very little—together, they equaled about 1/64th of a denarius, which was a day’s wage for a laborer.
3. Does this passage mean we should give away all our money?
Jesus is not commanding everyone to give away all they have, but He is calling for a heart that trusts God completely. The widow’s story is about faith, not just finances. It challenges us to examine whether we are trusting in wealth or in God.
4. How does this passage apply to modern giving?
It reminds us that true generosity is not measured by dollar amounts but by sacrifice and trust. Whether we have much or little, God values our giving when it comes from a sincere heart of worship.
5. Does God promise to bless us financially if we give sacrificially?
There’s no indication in this passage that the widow received a financial reward. Jesus' point is not about getting something in return but about trusting God fully. While Scripture teaches that God provides for His people, our giving should come from faith, not a desire for material blessing.
The widow’s offering is a powerful picture of faith in action. It calls us to rethink what generosity really means and to trust God more deeply in every area of our lives. Are we giving out of our abundance, or out of our trust?
