Intro: If we want to know God’s purpose for our lives, we must have a relationship with the eternal Father—believe Father exists and gain an understanding of God’s nature so we can use our faith to please him (Heb. 11:6). To know the salvation that is essential for eternal life with Father, we must have a relationship by faith in his Son, Jesus, who teaches us the will of God for human life (John 14:6). To be able to serve the Father and the Son, as well as bring the revelation of eternal salvation to others, we must have a relationship with the Spirit of Truth, because God’s divine power accompanied by faith is essential to overshadow our human weakness toward sin [unbelief and the guilt of disobedience to God’s Word] (Ro 8:26-27).
Most organized religions remind people they must believe in a higher power, but that is just a speck of God’s purpose to bring wholeness to his creation. Divine correction is the travel companion of God’s redeeming salvation (Heb 12:6). God desires to destroy the sin that tries to rob us and restore righteousness through repentance and obedience. Believers understand the way of Christ is the way of the cross (Mat 16:24). We must teach the Truth that God’s purpose is to make human beings holy, so he can enjoy a relationship with his fallen creation.
In our passage today, the religious leaders are so off track from the purpose of God Jesus has to correct them. They appear holy, but they reek with unrepentant pride and hypocrisy. They say they care about God’s people, but they exploit them and enable sin, heresy, and idolatry. They expect to be treated with honor even though they are void of integrity in their example. The words and long prayers of these leaders sound pious, but they are void of the Truth and Jesus knows every heart. We should never forget the judgment of God begins in the house of God (Rev 2-3). So to express God’s displeasure with these religious leaders in our passage, Jesus humbles and humiliates them and instead exalts a poor woman who understands the purpose of God, the heart that honors him, and the relationship he desires. Jesus calls for complete devotion to the will and purpose of God.
Luke 20:45–21:4 NLT
45 Then, with the crowds listening, he turned to his disciples and said, 46 “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes [sign of their devotion] and love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. 47 Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be severely punished.”
The Widow’s Offering
21:1 While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. 2 Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins.
3 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. 4 For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”
Prayer: Lord, may your sons and daughters understand your purpose and heart for salvation and may we remain devoted to you with our whole lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.