Jesus was in the temple in Jerusalem, observing people as they came to make their offerings. Many wealthy people came and put large sums of money into the temple treasury. Among the crowd, there was a poor widow who approached the treasury. She had only two small copper coins, which were together worth only a fraction of a penny.
Despite her poverty, the widow decided to give her two small coins as an offering to God. She approached the treasury and, without drawing any attention to herself, quietly placed her meager offering into the collection box.
Jesus, who was observing the scene, called his disciples to him and said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."
Jesus recognized the widow's deep devotion and sacrificial giving. While others may have given larger amounts, their giving didn't require significant personal sacrifice. In contrast, the widow's offering was all she had, signifying her complete trust in God's provision and her willingness to give sacrificially.
The story of the widow's offering serves as a lesson in generosity and the value of giving from the heart. It highlights the principle that it's not the amount of the gift that matters most to God but the spirit and attitude behind it. The widow's act of giving, despite her poverty, demonstrated her faith, trust, and love for God.
This story has become a powerful reminder for Christians about the importance of giving with a sincere and selfless heart. It encourages believers to prioritize their relationship with God and to give generously, even in times of scarcity, trusting that God will provide for their needs.
The story of the widow's offering is often interpreted as a lesson in true giving, sacrificial generosity, and the value of faith. Here are a few key themes and lessons that can be derived from this story:
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Sacrificial Giving: The story highlights the widow's willingness to give everything she had, despite her poverty. It emphasizes that true giving involves sacrifice and a willingness to let go of material possessions for the greater good.
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Heart of Generosity: The story contrasts the actions of the wealthy who gave out of their abundance with the widow's offering, which came from her poverty. It teaches that the size of the gift is not as important as the spirit behind it. The widow's small offering, given with a generous heart, held greater value in God's eyes.
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Faith and Trust: The widow's act of giving her last two coins demonstrates her deep faith and trust in God's provision. She believed that God would take care of her needs, even if she gave away all she had. The story encourages believers to trust in God's faithfulness and to prioritize their relationship with Him over material possessions.
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Recognition of True Worth: Jesus specifically called attention to the widow's offering, acknowledging her as an example of genuine devotion. It suggests that God values not only the outward appearance of our actions but also the intentions and motives of our hearts.
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Challenging the Status Quo: The story can be seen as a critique of the religious system that may have emphasized external displays of wealth and piety over true devotion. Jesus used the widow's humble act to challenge the conventional understanding of giving and to redirect attention to matters of the heart.
Overall, the story of the widow's offering serves as a reminder to prioritize selfless giving, trust in God's provision, and cultivate a generous heart. It encourages believers to reevaluate their motives and attitudes towards giving and to approach it with sincerity and devotion.
耶稣在耶路撒冷的圣殿里观察人们奉献。许多富有的人前来把大笔钱放入圣殿的库房。在人群中，有一位贫穷的寡妇前来。她只有两个小铜币，合起来只值一文钱。
尽管她贫穷，但寡妇决定把她的两个小币作为对上帝的奉献。她走到库房，不引起任何人的注意，悄悄地把她微薄的奉献放入捐款箱中。
观察这一幕的耶稣召集门徒，说道：“我实在告诉你们，这个穷寡妇比所有其他人都多给了；因为他们都是从自己的富余中拿出来给，但她却是从自己的贫穷中，把一切所有的都给了。”
耶稣认识到寡妇的虔诚和牺牲的奉献。虽然其他人可能给了更多的金额，但他们的奉献并没有要求他们做出重大的个人牺牲。相比之下，寡妇的奉献是她所有的，象征着她对上帝供应的完全信任，以及她愿意做出牺牲的意愿。
寡妇的奉献的故事传达了慷慨的教训，以及从内心真诚地奉献的价值。它强调了给予的精神和态度比金额更重要。寡妇的微薄奉献，虽然小，但她怀着慷慨的心给出，这在上帝眼中具有更大的价值。
这个故事提醒了基督徒真正给予、牺牲慷慨以及信仰的重要性。它鼓励信徒优先考虑与上帝的关系，并在贫乏的时候也慷慨给予，相信上帝会供应他们的需要。