The Widow
This week is Holy Week – the week leading up to Easter. Daily, the Branchline staff is going to share a small devotional that highlights a moment in Jesus’ last week before His death and resurrection. Today, is Tuesday. On Sunday, the people welcomed Jesus with loving, open arms, waving palm branches. On Monday, Jesus overturned tables. “Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.” (Matthew 21:12) Today, Tuesday, Jesus was met with challenging questions from the religious leaders to try and trick and discredit Him. One of those questions was about a widow.
Matthew 22:23-33
23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?”
29 Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’[b]? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”
33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.
There is more here than just a trick question about a widow. It’s much deeper than that and maybe I’ll write about it at a later date. For now, let’s focus on the widow. I want to take you to another passage in the bible because it’s in times like this, uncertain times, that God may be asking us to do something for someone else. Someone in need. Someone who is alone. Someone who is vulnerable.
In ancient times, a woman without a husband to provide for her and to protect her would have been left in a precarious position and in the Old Testament God recognizes this.
Deuteronomy 27:19
19 “Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.”
In the New Testament, it is written again in the book of James.
James 1:27
27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Jesus goes a step further and condemns the Pharisees.
Mark 12:38-40
38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
Scripture is clear, God has deep compassion for the oppressed. I believe that the church (the people) are to demonstrate that same compassion.
CHALLENGE:
Is there someone that you know who is a widow, who is alone, or who is vulnerable in these uncertain times? If so, is there something you can do for them while upholding to the guidelines of the CDC during this COVID-19 pandemic? Let’s pray.
PRAYER:
God…in my ignorance, in my selfishness, help me help others. Now, more than ever, when I need to be practicing social distancing, reveal to me how I can help those who are alone, vulnerable, and in need. Open my eyes to their plight so that I might have compassion on those who are helpless in these uncertain times. Amen.
SONG:
Pastor Ian