Observations on the Story of the Widow's Mites - Popular Christian Videos

This video is based a letter I wrote to a friend last year about my concerns with the traditional interpretation of the story.

Most pastors take this story out of its context. It makes no sense that Jesus, who is in the middle of a warning to His disciples about the scribes devouring widows' houses, would suddenly interrupt the lesson with a story on giving by poor widows. I believe that the story is part and parcel of His warning and an illustration of how the scribes were "devouring widows' houses."



I have heard preachers and bible study teachers go so far as to say that the widow probably received more than she gave. This is patently ridiculous considering that the corrupt religious leaders were "devouring widow's houses."



Additional food for thought: Jesus had just condemned the corrupt system of Judaism - if this is an example of how to give, and if we are to follow the widow's example, we would be giving everything we have to corrupt, apostate religious institutions.



(It should be noted that the story, complete with Jesus' warnings of the scribes, appears in the book of Luke as well, but it is divided between two chapters. We need to keep in mind that the chapters and verses were not there in the original text and the divisions are not inspired; they weren't added until much later.)



For a more thorough study on this issue please visit:



http://www.gty.org/video/



http://www.gty.org/Resources/Transcripts/42-251



The Truth About the Widow's Gift Part 1



http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8186778193218624990&hl=en



The Truth About the Widow's Gift Part 2



http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7838738363484227518&hl=en