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.”
[*] 21:2 Greek two lepta; a lepton was a Jewish bronze or copper coin worth about 1/128 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer).
After searching for Lepton pictures, none of them fit the parable descriptions of Greek and copper. Herod in 36 BC, didn't even produce a Lepton, considering it to be too poor. So the coin in the parable, was actually old, about 40 years old, when the widow added it to the offering box.
Six years of civil war (93–87 BC) between Alexander Jannaeus (grandson of Simon Maccabaeus and the great, great nephew of Judas Maccabaeus (Maccabees Apocrypha & Hanukkah) between Sadducees against the Pharisees; Alexander asserted his position as King by crucifying 800 Pharisees, who invited the Greeks to come to take Jerusalem. The coin proclaimed him King, when people - not of the Davidic line - were not allowed to call themselves king. Kingship was again signified by minting coins “King Alexander” in Greek and “Yehonatan, the king” in Hebrew.
Trouble everywhere - We think of the Middle East as being complicated now - her coin is in Greek, and it was Greeks who fueled a civil war, as needed, between priests in the Temple of the Living God. A Greek coin used by a Judean, in a Roman puppet state. The trouble is human beings using their need for meaning to propel themselves forward in self-centered and destructive ways.
The King who cannot be a King because he is not of the Davidic line; the Herods look like they are here to stay, the coin suggests change and power shifting as a sign from God.
Notice the symbol of the star encircled by a royal diadem provides two emblems of the priestly and royal Messiahs (Balaam’s prophecy of the Scepter and the Star).
The coin predicts the Messiah:
Numbers 24:15-17
15 And he took up his discourse and said,
“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
16 the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
and knows the knowledge of the Most High,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
falling down with his eyes uncovered:
17 I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near:
a star shall come out of Jacob,
and a scepter shall rise out of Israel
We all wonder if we're doing life the way God wants us, after all, we are dust in the wind. Does God really mean it when He says we are important to Him. More important than a sparrow, does He .... really .... know about a sparrow? .... Or me?
Look at the widow in 1st century A.D. - she is a woman. Strike one. She is a widow - without a husband to speak for her or care for her. Strike two. In the middle of the most fortunes to be made in ancient history, Roman conquest, her contribution is small. It is all a strike out.
So... Jesus sees her as worthy - her action - she is generous to God. This video emphasizes good works, even all we have to offer will not be our salvation.
What does Jesus see?
Jesus sees - not the vast Temple, not the many priests, but sweeps away the vast & the temporal - sees this woman. The woman living a life pleasing to God. Much more important to Jesus than the wealth of the Empire. More important than the interesting coin. More important than the title of King to Jesus. Her generosity lived on far longer than the Temple. She matters to the LORD and she will come into His promises.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the Kingdom of God
and
His righteousness,
and
all these things will be added to you.
Our Abba, Father
We ask Your Blessing
from God our Father
and
The Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Alleluia Chorus will come from Jesus.
Amen!
Blessed is our the God and our Father.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, has presented the Father with a New Heaven
and a new earth.
Pray with hope!
Ending
Bad weather experienced
And
be good weather again.
Praying for safety and prosperity in these days.
Please continue to pray for peace and the wishes of our parents and great
and
grandparents to be fulfilled in a peaceful and complete manner.
Because we know our Father.
The Father of mercies
and God of all comfort.
This is Our Father and Jesus, who comforts us
enabling us, strengthening us,
able to comfort those in any affliction,
Blessings of Grace and Peace,
with which we ourselves are comforted
by God.
Dwell in me,
Dwell in us,
Dwell in those we Love,
Help us to seek You first.
Peace and the Joy God gives us.
And we will finish well,
in Jesus Christ.
We are praying for
NATIONS
NATIONS
to put
aside
Tyranny
and Cartels.
Abba,
Blessed to be chosen and Loved by God.
Blessed to ask for more of Your Good Will in Heaven as in earth. Blessed to be Given this day. Blessed to find Your Kingdom, Your Power and Your Glory as Life goes forth.
Blessed to have our prayers heard. Blessed to trust our Loved Ones to Jesus. Blessed to be the Children of God in Jesus Christ. Blessed to have Hope, Faith and Love.
We pray the impossible
more Heaven on earth and
for the believers of God
and
the ones they pray for
To Know Your Love
and
See the weary world REJOICING in Christ Jesus.
We can do absolutely nothing about Massachusetts killing babies. Shake our heads at the horror of babies murdered. We can moan and cry and do absolutely nothing. And those babies will die badly.
Or we can find life and grace. Blessing the great and grand and parents to find Love has made a path straight forward.
Pray and make a path for these preborn children to LIVE.
Life for preborn children. Human Beings. Babies. Hoping for love and warmth to give and receive. So many willing hearts and homes. Valid Adoption Agencies. Hope for the biological mother, instead of a life of sadness.
The end of Abortion.
Asked why not affordable
Adoption.
Agree
LABOR
DAY
DAY
and the price of giving
birth
is and frequently
and outrageously
and
unpatriotically
is
$50,000.
We pray
about
all
of these
valid
true
concerns.
Saint Nicholas of Myra, b. March 270 – 6 December 343, Nicholas of Bari. Known as St. Nicholas.
Pere Noel. Father Christmas. Santa.
If our Saint Nicholas
buys 3 women out of being trafficked.
We can certainly
ask
the mother to accept payment
for bringing
God's Gift of Life
into the world.
Support
The Book of Life!
Support
The Book of Life!
In the Name of Jesus
fill us
surround us
Embolden us
lead us
redeem us
and
keep us forever.
Lord Jesus Christ
Only Son of God, our Father.
WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE
IN
JESUS CHRIST
THE LORD
Father God, Dear Father God,
WE PRAY
BLESSINGS
for those
helping the earth
to heal.
Jesus Christ
Shine on us
ALL
Let evil and practicing evil
depart
far
from us
and our children.
Health for
American Gray Whales
and their solid survival
facing Orcas.
Thy Kingdom come
Thy will be done
on earth
as it is
in Heaven.
And we will be blessed indeed.
Jesus the Lord. Alleluia
and Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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