The poor widow in today’s Gospel is often held up as the model of generosity and church giving. But there might be more than meets the eye in today’s Gospel passage. The Gospel is more a warning to religious preachers and teachers to not manipulate and misuse the Word of God, especially when asking for money. In the passage right before today’s passage Jesus warns the people about some of the religious teachers of his day:
“Be on guard against the scribes, who…devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation.” (Luke 20:46-47).
The scribes were the teachers of the Law, the Torah, who would interpret for the people the demands of God. Jesus warns that sometimes their teaching lays heavy burdens of guilt on people:
“They tie up heavy burdens [hard to carry] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them.” (Matthew 23:4).
Jesus contrasts his own teachings as a source of life, hope, and rest:
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me…For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).
In today’s Gospel Jesus is criticizing the heavy yoke that the scribes placed on this poor widow’s shoulders. These scribes “devour the house” and livelihood of this widow through their teaching so that she ends up with nothing: “she has offered her whole livelihood.” She has nothing left to live on. God wants us to be generous and help the needy, but he does not want us to become destitute. Jesus is not criticizing the widow but religious teachers who would use such guilt to raise money.
Image: by Marty Donnellan © 2010; Photographic image is courtesy of www.freebibleimages.com.