Questions

The poor widow’s offering (Mk 12:41-44)

(Questions for meditation)

  1. Compare and find the contrast between verses 41 & 42. What phenomenon does the contrast reveal?

  2. Compare verse 43 with verses 41 & 42. What are the differences of the contrast and the phenomenon between them?

  3. In view of Jesus’ comment on the offering of the widow, what did he emphasize as to how God perceives our money offering? How different is God’s view from our common view in regard to money offering?

  4. Where can we discover that Jesus paid special attention to the widow’s offering?

  5. Church pastors usually encourage us to make monthly tithe offering. Is there any basis on the Bible? (Malachi 3:10)

  6. What if we offer less than tithe? How does God view it? (Mal 3:8)

  7. Have you made tithe offering in your church? Do you think you have fulfilled your duty as a Christian?

  8. If your church minister urges you to make extra offering other than tithe, how will you feel or react?

  9. What do you think as to how we can make extra offering generously and gladly like the widow?

  10. Have you made extra offering besides the tithe? To what types of organizations have you offered? Did you feel the pressure for so doing?

  11. Can you guess the reasons why the widow was willing to offer “all her living”? What are the things that we can learn from her?

  12. Please read II Cor 8:1-5. How does Paul describe the offerings of the churches of Macedonia? What are the similarities of the widow’s offering and the offerings of the churches?

  13. Compare the scribes (Mark 12:38-40) with the widow. What are the differences with regard to their characters and outcomes?