Luke 21:4 kjv
For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
Luke 21:4 nkjv
for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had."
Luke 21:4 niv
All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
Luke 21:4 esv
For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
Luke 21:4 nlt
For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has."
Luke 21 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Cor 9:7 | Each one must give as he has decided in his heart... for God loves a cheerful giver. | God values giving from the heart, with cheerfulness, not compulsion. |
| 1 Chron 29:9 | Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. | Joy in giving stems from a willing and wholehearted offering to God. |
| Rom 12:1 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. | True worship involves offering one's entire life as a living sacrifice. |
| Mk 12:41-44 | Jesus sat opposite the treasury and watched... many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins... he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury..." | Parallel account of the same event, emphasizing Jesus' evaluation. |
| Lk 20:46-47 | Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings... who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation. | Immediate preceding context highlighting the hypocrisy of religious leaders who exploit widows. |
| Deut 10:18 | He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. | God's specific concern and care for widows and the vulnerable. |
| Ps 68:5 | Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. | God's divine role as the protector and advocate for widows. |
| Jas 1:27 | Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. | Practical religion includes caring for widows in need. |
| Matt 6:1-4 | Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them... when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. | Warnings against giving for show, emphasizing sincere, private giving. |
| Matt 19:23-24 | And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I tell you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven... it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." | Highlights the spiritual danger of reliance on wealth rather than God. |
| Phil 4:19 | And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. | Promise of God's provision for those who trust in Him, as the widow demonstrated. |
| Matt 6:25-33 | Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink... But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. | Exhortation against anxiety over material needs, encouraging trust in God's provision. |
| Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. | The widow's act was a profound display of faith, pleasing to God. |
| Lk 18:14 | I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted. | Emphasizes God's favor towards humility over self-exaltation. |
| Matt 23:12 | Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. | The principle of divine exaltation of the humble. |
| Matt 6:24 | No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other... You cannot serve God and money. | The inherent conflict in serving both God and material wealth. |
| 1 Tim 6:10 | For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. | The spiritual dangers associated with an improper attitude toward money. |
| Deut 6:5 | You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. | The highest commandment to love God completely, echoed by the widow's full surrender. |
| Matt 22:37-38 | He said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment." | Jesus reaffirms the ultimate demand for total love and devotion to God. |
| Prov 13:7 | One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. | The wisdom of valuing inner spiritual reality over outward appearance. |
Luke 21 verses
Luke 21 4 Meaning
Luke 21:4 reveals Jesus' profound evaluation of generosity, contrasting the offerings of the wealthy with that of a poor widow. While the rich contributed significant sums from their surplus, causing them no personal deficit, the widow sacrificially gave her entire living – all that she possessed for her sustenance. This act, though financially small, demonstrated immense faith and total reliance on God, illustrating that true spiritual worth is measured by the depth of sacrifice and the intention of the heart, rather than the mere monetary amount of a gift.
Luke 21 4 Context
Luke chapter 21 opens with Jesus teaching in the Temple precincts, where He observes various people contributing to the Temple treasury. This event immediately follows Jesus' public denunciation of the scribes (Lk 20:45-47), who deceptively sought prestige and exploited vulnerable widows while making outward shows of piety. Jesus' comment on the widow's offering therefore stands as a sharp contrast to such hypocrisy. This small yet profound observation precedes Jesus' major prophetic discourse (the Olivet Discourse) about the destruction of the Temple and the signs of His coming, making the widow's act a vital example of genuine devotion amidst the backdrop of spiritual blindness and impending judgment. Historically, the Temple had specific chests for donations, with designated slots for various types of offerings, and contributors could be readily observed by those present. Widows in that society were often extremely poor, lacking familial support and entirely reliant on charity or meager inheritances.
Luke 21 4 Word analysis
- For all these (Πάντες γὰρ οὗτοι, Pantes gar houtoi): "For" introduces an explanation or reason. "All these" refers to the many wealthy individuals Jesus had just observed giving large sums, setting up a direct comparison with the widow.
- out of their abundance (ἐκ τοῦ περισσεύοντος αὐτοῖς, ek tou perisseuontos autois): The Greek perisseuontos implies that they gave from what was "superfluous," "excess," or "more than enough" for them. Their giving did not cost them anything substantial or lead to any deprivation.
- have put in offerings (ἔβαλον εἰς τὰ δῶρα, ebalon eis ta dōra): Ebalon (from ballō) means "to cast" or "to throw in," referring to placing their monetary gifts into the collection chests. Dōra refers to "gifts" or "offerings."
- but she (αὕτη δέ, hautē de): The emphatic "but" (de) introduces a powerful contrast, setting the single, unnamed widow apart from the multitude of wealthy contributors. Her humility and circumstances make her a counterpoint.
- out of her poverty (ἐκ τῆς ὑστερήσεως αὐτῆς, ek tēs hysterēseōs autēs): Hysterēseōs denotes a severe "deficiency," "lack," or "state of being in want." This term highlights her extreme destitution; she gave from a position of absolute deprivation, not surplus.
- has put in all (ἔβαλεν ἅπαντα, ebalen hapanta): Hapanta means "all things," "everything." This is an absolute statement; she held nothing back. Her giving was total and complete, representing 100% of her available funds.
- the livelihood (τὸν βίον, ton bion): Bion means "life," "living," "means of existence," or "sustenance." It implies her very capacity to survive, her essential resources for daily life—food, shelter, basic necessities.
- that she had (ὃν εἶχεν, hon eichen): "Which she possessed" or "that she held." This phrase confirms that what she gave was literally everything that belonged to her for immediate use.
- For all these out of their abundance have put in offerings: This phrase describes conventional, comfortable giving. It speaks to acts of charity or piety that do not challenge one's financial security or require profound trust. The quantity may be impressive, but the personal sacrifice is minimal.
- but she out of her poverty has put in all the livelihood that she had: This contrasts sharply with the former, highlighting an act of radical faith and absolute surrender. Her offering signifies total trust in God for future provision, demonstrating that the value of a gift to God is determined not by its size, but by the extent of personal sacrifice it entails relative to the giver's means. It emphasizes the heart behind the action.
Luke 21 4 Bonus section
- Jesus, through this observation, directly contrasts true worship with the hypocrisy He had just denounced among the scribes who "devoured widows' houses." The widow’s pure faith acts as a stark spiritual foil to their exploitative practices.
- This passage demonstrates Jesus’ attention to the marginalized and forgotten members of society, highlighting how God values individuals overlooked by the world’s standards of power and wealth.
- The widow's offering of "two small copper coins" (as mentioned in the parallel Mark account, Mk 12:42) represents the lowest possible currency value, further underscoring the completeness of her sacrifice in tangible terms.
Luke 21 4 Commentary
Luke 21:4 unveils Jesus' penetrating insight into the nature of true devotion. He critiques outward displays of wealth and presumed piety, seen in the rich making substantial, yet effortless, contributions. In stark contrast, Jesus uplifts an impoverished widow whose minuscule offering of "all her livelihood" becomes the exemplary act. This is not a mandate for every believer to literally give away everything at once, but rather a profound illustration of the spiritual principle: God values the depth of sacrifice and the attitude of the heart over the monetary quantity. The widow's act was one of radical faith and complete trust, emptying herself fully and relying entirely on God for her future. Her worship was genuine, unburdened by show or pretense, standing as a timeless model of total surrender and devotion that far surpasses contributions born from abundance or obligation.