Luke 21:1-4

Revelation 14:1-3, 4b-5

Psalm 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

Luke 21:1-4

When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people

putting their offerings into the treasury

and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.

He said, “I tell you truly,

this poor widow put in more than all the rest;

for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,

but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I give all that I am to you. I offer you everything I do today as a loving sacrifice. I hope that, united to your Son’s offering, it becomes a pleasing sacrifice of praise. I thank you for releasing me from the debt of sin and granting me true freedom as your child. 

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Value of Two Small Coins: Jesus sees everything. He saw the wealthy and the poor widow. Jesus saw beyond their appearances and saw their hearts and deepest intentions. He saw the intentions of those who wanted to be seen and praised for their generosity and those who gave with a humble heart. Jesus does not measure or judge a person by their bank account. In fact, according to Jesus’ math, two small coins – two lepta – can be worth more than great sums of wealth. In Jesus’ day, a lepton was the least valuable coin: one hundred twenty-eight bronze lepta equaled a day’s wage, i.e., a silver denarius. Jesus pointed out that the wealthy were making offerings to God from their surplus (from their leftovers), but that the poor widow offered her entire life or livelihood. It is reminiscent of the difference between the sacrifices of Cain and Abel. Cain offered some fruit to God but not the first fruits. Abel, by contrast, offered God the best, the firstborn from the flock, and the fat portions (Genesis 4:3-5). By pointing out the widow and her total offering, Jesus was not encouraging reckless or imprudent abandon in giving away what we have. But he pointed out a model of self-giving to God and filial trust in God’s care. 

2. They Were Singing a New Song: In the Book of Revelation, John has just contemplated the persecution of the Church by the red dragon, a symbol of Satan, the sea beast, a symbol of corrupt Gentile powers like Rome, and the land beast, a symbol of false religious authorities. When John saw the 144,000 in heaven, he saw the righteous remnant that was saved during the time of tribulation. “The vision reminds the reader that, though Jerusalem has become wicked, not all from Israel will be condemned. The reader is reminded that not all have bowed to the beast and received his image. Some are marked with the sign of the Lamb” (Barber, Coming Soon, 178). The righteous remnant gathered on Mt. Zion and sang a new song. “Just as Moses led Israel in singing a song of praise to God after delivering them through the Red Sea, so now the saints sing a song of praise as they enter into the true Promised Land of heaven” (Barber, Coming Soon, 179). 

3. They Have Been Redeemed: Unlike those who followed the beast (Revelation 13:3) and were marked on their foreheads with 666, the number of the beast (Revelation 13:16-17), the righteous remnant follow the Lamb and have been marked with the name of God the Father on their foreheads. John highlights that the faithful followers of the Lamb of God have been redeemed. This recalls that, for centuries, Israel was in the debt of sin and awaited God to ransom or redeem them from this debt and its consequences. The New Testament reveals that Jesus is our redeemer, for he has paid the price to release us from the debt we incurred through sin and from our slavery of sin. Jesus has redeemed us at the expense of his own blood. His sacrificial death truly atoned for our sins. The 144,000 John contemplates are like the 24 elders (royal presbyters) who offered their lives as a priestly sacrifice to God. These saints are also called the “first fruits:” “In the Old Testament the first fruits were to be an offering to the Lord (cf. Exodus 34:26). These who ‘have been redeemed’ have offered themselves to God as a sacrificial offering” (Barber, Coming Soon, 180).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are my redeemer. You are my brother, my kinsman, who paid the ultimate price to release me from the debt and slavery of sin. You are the Lamb of God who was sacrificed for my sins. I thank you, I praise you, and I adore you.

Living the Word of God: Who do I follow? The beast of the love of money and political power? Or the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world? Has the love of money corrupted me? Or do I use my money to help others and serve God? How can I be a better steward of the good things I have been entrusted with?