Luke 21:1-4
1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. [*] 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
The inner area of the Temple contained three courts. The easternmost court was the Court of the Women, and it contained the Temple treasury where people donated their money (Mk 12:41-44). Three gates led into this court, one on the north, one on the south, and a third on the east. This third gate on the east side is almost certainly the "Beautiful Gate" that was mention in Acts 3. A fourth gate, which was much larger and ornate led from the Court of the Women west into the Court of Israel (women could proceed no further), which was elevated 15 steps higher than the Court of Women.
The 13 Contribution Chests (Trumpets)
According to the Mishnah (Middoth 2,5) the Women's Court was was just over 200 feet square between bounding lines. Each court on the outside was 60 feet square. The colonnade ran around the court, and within it, against the wall, the thirteen chests, or 'trumpets,' for charitable contributions were placed.
These thirteen chests were narrow at the mouth and wide at the bottom, shaped like trumpets. There were actually eleven treasure chests of the Temple for the voluntary offerings of money, and then also two at the Gate of Susan, for the half-shekel tax.
Their specific objects were carefully marked on them. Nine were for the receipt of what was legally due by worshipers; the other four for strictly voluntary gifts.
Trumpets 1 and 2 were appropriated to the half-shekel Temple-tribute of the current and of the past year.
Into Trumpet 3 those women brought turtledoves for a burnt / sin offering dropped their equivalent in money, which was daily taken out and a corresponding number of turtledoves offered. This saved the labor of steps and allowed modesty of those who might not wish to have their offering publicly known. This trumpet, Mary the mother of Jesus, dropped her offering (Luke 2:22,24) when the aged Simeon took the infant Savior 'in his arms, and blessed God.'
We live in a time that contributions to Church are hard to give due to pressed finanically after historic Biden inflation for 4 years. Many lived on credit cards.
And then it becomes time to fill out a pledge card. We would take what we had on hand and pledge this amount. We would then immediately write a check for our pledge. And then giving cheerfully, we would arrive at an amount to then add to the already given pledge and place this in the offering each week.
With this system of giving, we give cheerfully.
Abba, Father!
WE PRAY
BLESSINGS
And
Gratitude
Every Day
To be
the Voice
of LOVE
Joy, Peace, Patience,
Goodness,
Faithfulness,
gentleness
and
SELF CONTROL
Let's pray
for the departure
of what
is not
good.
We pray the Blessing
of Love and Peace
Shining
The Light of Love Peace and Joy
upon
The Teachings of Jesus Christ.
God of Love
God of Encouragement
God of the Bible.
The safety
of those
helping the earth
to heal.
Let evil and practicing evil
depart
far
from us
and our children.
With Your Help
We will act justly
and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with You, our God.
Cover us
in peace worldwide.
Give us more of
Your Strength
and Hope.
Dwell in me,
Dwell in us,
Dwell in those we Love,
Help us to seek You first.
And we will finish well,
in Jesus Christ.
Help us seek and find
and bring,
to become,
more Heaven
to this earth.
For California
putting out the fires
speedy insurance
claims
and fast rebuilding
realizing the standard building codes
even of Reagan
were safe.
Peace
And in Jesus - This Hope.
Faith and Love - we will rise up Believing Jesus.
Amen
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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