May 29, 2025 Morning Devotional

Morning Devotion: Read Luke - The Widow's Offering

Luke 21:1  And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. 2  And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. 3  And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: 4  For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

Jesus is in the temple of God, Luke 20:1. After His rebuke of the scribes and religious rulers and elders He turns His focus on one poor widow.

His gaze is over the whole lot of people coming and going and obviously over those who give to the Lord and His temple.

In the temple there were those who operated and served in the service of the temple. The same is true of the new testament church.

A tithe was to be brought to the temple to pay those in the service of the Lord and to maintain the Lord’s temple. Tithes are spoken of in the very first book of the bible and continue up into the new testament.

It is proper and right to give to the Lord and the Lord’s work. It is proper to give to your local church.

Now, if you will remember, in chapter 20, the Lord finished His rebuke of the scribes who love to take from others to and give to themselves. This kind of action would cause others to say, “I’m not giving to them all they want is money.” And rightly so. Look for a church that loves the Lord and give there.

Luke 20:46  Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; 47  Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

Then the Lord turned to this poor widow to show a great truth. She gave to the Lord because it was right. She did not fall for the trickeries of the scribes.

While others were throwing (casting) in of their abundance, no doubt making a great show of their prosperity, this poor widow cast in all she had. She gave because it was proper, because it was right, because of Her trust in the Lord.

She gave not to please the scribes or the pharisees or anyone else she gave to the Lord.

The Lord made a statement that should rock us to the core. He said, “Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:” “She of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.”

When one gives all they have to the Lord, it means they completely, without reservation and without doubt, trust in the Lord to meet their needs. Most people cannot see that far in their faith. Most people walk by sight and not by faith. The true believer does the opposite.

2Corinthians 5:7  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Most people never experience a complete trust in the Lord. They live according to what they see in their refrigerator or their pantry or back account, etc. That is living by sight.

Faith see greater things than the physical here and now, faith sees God and the promises of God.

Malachi 3:10  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11  And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

I would say this dear widow had it in her heart to trust the Lord and His promises to rebuke the devourer and sustain her, even her living.

Do you trust the Lord and His word?

When it comes to salvation the Lord and His word is paramount, for faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

It all comes down to one thing, do you believe and trust in the Lord Jesus to save your soul, or are you trusting in yourself to save yourself?

For the believer, the born again Christian; are you believing in the Lord and His promises for your living? Or, are you trusting in yourself?

The choice is still yours,

Pastor Cook