The story of the widow’s mite never made sense to me. How could it be that Jesus would praise anyone who gave away her last means of support, even to the Temple? Sure it makes sense to say that her gift cost her more than anybody else’s … but so what? That’s a true if somewhat banal statement. We would never, today, expect people to give everything they have to organized religion; we would consider it a terrible travesty if people did that. Why would Jesus think any different?
Addison G Wright has written an article which turns the interpretation of this familiar passage on its head he says:
- The story of the widow’s mites is immediately preceded in Mark and Luke by a unit that warns: “Beware of the scribes who like to go about in long robes and have salutations in the market place and the best seats in the synagogues and the place of honor at feasts, who devour widow’s houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation” (Mark 12:38-40; Luke 20:46-47). … In both Gospels, Jesus condemns those scribes who devour the houses of widows, and then follows immediately the story of a widow whose house has beyond doubt just been devoured. … If, indeed, Jesus is opposed to the devouring of widows’ houses, how could he possibly be pleased with what he sees here?
Wright’s conclusion:
- The story … provides a further illustration of the ills of official devotion. Jesus’ saying is not a penetrating insight on the measuring of gifts; it is a lament, “Amen, I tell you, she gave more than all the others.” Or, as we would say: “One could easily fail to notice it, but there is a tragedy of the day—she put in her whole living.” She had been taught and encouraged by religious leaders to donate as she does, and Jesus condemns the value system that motivates her action, and he condemns the people who conditioned her to do it.
Read this way, the story is consistent with Jesus’ message that rules need a human face, and that the Sabbath was made for people. It is consistent with the Jesus who healed, and the Jesus who wept at the death of Lazarus. And it’s a challenge to all institutions that call for enormous sacrifice from those least able to give.
Lest we descend into a kind of knee-jerk anti-Jewish rant … let’s be clear that Wright is not saying that Jesus is condemning Judaism, or Jewish values, or the Jewish religion. Wright thinks Jesus is condemning a kind of abusive practice by Temple authorities – and there were lots of Jews other than Jesus who did that too. This same Jesus who criticized the scribes also saw the Temple as an appropriate place to teach, to pray, to worship.
Just stumbled on your blog for the first time, and this post is really interesting, Steve. I hadn’t at all thought of the story in this way – especially with Rememberance Day in the background, my mind was really thinking in terms the Widow’s mite as a symbol of sacrifice that is laudable, even if it is unfair or unreasonable to expect it.
I think this interpretation is also consistent with the idea that Jesus is looking more for us to be disciples through our faith and not by acts alone. In any event, thanks for the post!