Among several coins that I have dating from the antiquities is a genuine ‘widow’s mite’.
Murray Smith
Also known as a lepton, meaning ‘small,’ these coins were made of bronze. Their tiny size matches their value – we would understand that value as being about half a cent in their day. Nowadays, speaking relatively from a collector’s point of view, they still aren’t very valuable, nor are they terribly rare,. These little coins weren’t very well struck which means their markings are quite nondescript. But they’re special nonetheless because holding a genuine mite in your hand stirs the memory of a significant incident in the Bible in which they are mentioned. They were minted well before Jesus’ time and were still in circulation during His ministry on earth.
A curious incident occurred one day as Jesus sat in the Jerusalem Temple. This resplendent ‘world wonder’ gleamed in the sunlight as the massive stones used in its construction were sheathed in gold. Sitting by the treasury where people did their ‘giving’ Jesus was observing a parade of wealthy people ostentatiously putting large sums into the coffers.
A poor widow came along. She put in two small coins (mites) amounting to about one cent. Drawing His disciple’s attention to her, Jesus stated that she had given more than all the contributors to the treasury since they gave from their surplus, whereas she gave out of her poverty – putting in everything that she had to live on.
Strangely, this story is mis-used by many who overlook Jesus’ intention in His teaching from the incident – they end up preaching the exact opposite to what Jesus actually taught. This wasn’t a lesson about doing little things with big love and it’s certainly not saying that giving is about what it costs you, rather than the amount given. Jesus is not praising the widow’s action – rather He’s observing the burden that cruel religion has laid on her.
Jesus and the Parable of the gold coins.
Directly before this event, Jesus had given His disciples stern warning about religious expressions devoid of God’s heart saying, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets. They Devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation”. (Mark 12:38-44)
The story continues with the disciples admiringly pointing out to Jesus the temple’s beauty. He replied, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” How confronting for the aghast disciples.
Jesus is totally unimpressed by the trappings of religion – especially when perpetuated at the cost of a poor widow’s livelihood. He saw beyond the veneer to a time in AD70, just a matter of decades in the future when the armies of Titus would utterly destroy the temple, plundering its treasures, stripping the stones of their gold overlay.
Jesus points us away from pretentious holiness to authenticity, demanding care and justice for those like the poor widow and a thorough examination of the state of the ‘real’ temple…our heart, the ‘inner’ temple which God sees.
