Lk 21:1-4
1When [Jesus] looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury 2and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. 3He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; 4for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”
POOR WIDOW: Jesus has just warned the disciples “against the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and love greetings in marketplaces, seats of honor at banquets,” and who “devour the houses of widows” (Lk 20:46-47).
In a patriarchal society, a widow is helpless because she has lost her only source of livelihood—her husband. She becomes totally dependent on others to care for her. For this reason, the Mosaic Law affords her, along with the orphan and the alien, special protection. She is to be treated with kindness (Ex 22:22; Dt 14:29).
In Jesus’ eyes, however, a poor widow ranks higher than all the wealthy people putting their offerings into the temple treasury. She gives everything she has. The worth of her gift is seen in terms of the sacrifice or self-offering involved. For Jesus, the widow pictures the condition and basic attitude of every disciple: she belongs to the poor called blessed (Lk 6:20) who place their trust not on wealth and power but in God’s hands and so are not anxious (Lk 12:22-31). They are poor but give the little they have, confident in God who raises the lowly and gives every good thing to the hungry (Lk 1:52-53).