The Wednesday after the Ninth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on August 5, 2026 by under
Scripture: St. Mark 12:38-44 (NKJV)
12:38 Then He said to them in His teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, 39 the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 40 who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”
41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”
Devotion
In our text Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of religious showmanship. Outward piety that devours widows’ houses while seeking honor from men is empty. The Law reveals our own temptation to appear righteous before others while our hearts remain self-serving.
Then Jesus sits opposite the treasury and watches. Many rich people give large sums out of their abundance. But a poor widow comes and drops in two small copper coins—everything she had; all she had to live on. “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.” This is not a call to sacrificial giving as a means of earning favor with God. Such a reading would turn the Gospel into Law. Rather, the widow points us to Christ. He gave everything—His very life—for us who were destitute in sin. On the cross, Jesus offered and poured out Himself on our behalf, becoming sin so that we might become the righteousness of God.
Those redeemed by His total gift are freed to give generously—not to impress, but in faith. Whether little or much, our tithes, offerings, service, and love flow from hearts trusting the Father’s provision. May we, like the widow, give ourselves wholly to the One who gave all for us.
Collect: Let Thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of Thy humble servants; and, that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please Thee; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
