The offering of the poor widow

A widowed and poor woman approached the moment of giving her offering—an act that would later become one of the most powerful lessons Jesus ever taught about generosity, humility, and the condition of the heart. Throughout Scripture, we find many stories that reveal God’s perspective on giving, but few are as striking, beautiful, and instructive as the offering of this widow.

As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.

2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.

Luke 21:1–2

Here the Bible tells us that Jesus was in the temple observing the people. Many wealthy individuals were depositing large sums of money into the treasury. Outwardly, their offerings seemed impressive. But something deeper was happening. Jesus, who sees beyond appearances and into the intentions of the heart, recognized that many of these rich individuals gave only what was left over—what did not cost them, what did not affect them, and what did not require faith. Their giving was more about public display than heartfelt worship.

Suddenly, a poor widow walked forward. Without hesitation or shame, she deposited a very small amount—two tiny copper coins, the lowest-value currency in that culture. For the wealthy, such an amount would have been insignificant, almost worthless. But for her, it represented everything she had left. She gave not from abundance, but from extreme poverty. Yet she gave with gratitude, faith, and sincerity. She did not worry about the fact that she would have nothing left to take home. Her heart was full of trust in God’s provision and thankful for even the little she possessed.

This is why Jesus immediately called His disciples to Him and said:

3 “Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.”

Luke 21:3–4

Jesus wanted His disciples—and us—to see the contrast. The wealthy gave large offerings without sacrificing anything essential to their lives. Their giving cost them nothing. But the widow, though she gave little in amount, gave more in value because she gave everything she had. Her offering was not measured by quantity, but by the depth of her devotion and trust. This woman, already vulnerable and alone, worked incredibly hard to survive. Earning even a few coins required great effort, yet she still chose to honor God with her entire livelihood.

This story teaches us a powerful truth: God does not measure our giving the way people do. Humans look at the size of the gift; God looks at the size of the sacrifice. The value of the offering is not determined by how much is given, but by how much is left after giving—by whether the gift flows from the heart with love, faith, and sincerity.

Jesus used this widow to show that He values sincerity over show, worship over display, and faith over abundance. Giving becomes an act of worship only when it comes from the heart, not when it is given grudgingly or to be seen by others. The apostle Paul reinforces this principle when he says that God loves a cheerful giver—one who gives freely and joyfully, not reluctantly or under pressure.

As advice for us at the time of giving offerings, it is good to remember that our offering should come from a joyful heart. When we give with sadness, grumbling, or unwillingness, God does not receive that offering as worship. But when we give out of gratitude, humility, and trust, He delights in it. The Scriptures also remind us of another important principle of generosity:

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Proverbs 19:17

This means that when we give to the poor or support those in need, God considers it as if we are lending to Him—and the Lord Himself will repay. What a remarkable promise! God sees every act of kindness, every offering given with sincerity, and every sacrifice made in faith. The widow’s two coins may have seemed small to the world, but they were precious in the eyes of God. Likewise, whatever we give with love becomes great in His sight.