An odd title for a blog for sure. If something is insignificant, then by definition it’s not worth mentioning, right?

A dictionary definition for the word insignificant is: The quality of being too small or unimportant to be worth consideration. (https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/)

In the Gospel of Mark there is a brief mention of a poor widow woman. To paint the picture, she was, in the context of this passage a seemingly insignificant individual.

Also, taking in consideration the events recorded in Mark 11: Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11:1–10), and Jesus’s cleansing of the Temple (Mark 11:15–19), the poor widow woman, who is mentioned at the end of Mark 12, seems to be too simple and too small of an individual to be significant.

This poor widow woman, even when compared to the other players in this passage; Jesus, his disciples, and all the wealthy people, would have hardly been worth mentioning.

Mark 12:41-44:

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.  And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.  For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

The treasury was located in the Temple complex in an area called the Court of Women. A place, as noted by its name, that women were allowed to freely access.  Located on one side of this courtyard where thirteen offering boxes. These boxes had a trumpet shape funnel, probably made of bronze, that when an offering was made would make a loud clanking noise as the coins swirled down the funnel into the offering box.  

I can see it in my mind. A small, perhaps frail older lady attempting to get into the correct line, shuffled to the end of the line, cut in front of, dismissed, even looked down upon and laughed at because of her clothes, and her very small offering.

As Christians we may feel at times that we are insignificant. Maybe it is because we don’t look the right way, we don’t have material wealth, we don’t have musical talents, or we don’t have intellectual abilities. So, we tend to think that we’re insignificant in God’s sight, and that God could never use us.

There are two things that jump out in this text:

1. Jesus sees everything

Mark 12:41: “And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people…”

We read in Proverbs 15:3 “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.”

God sees everything that we do: our work, our giving, our responses.

Jesus saw the many rich people casting in their money, seeking to gain the attention of each other.

Jesus’ disciples were evidently caught up in the spectacle of the rich hordes casting such large sums of money  into the offering boxes that they were unaware of the poor “insignificant” widow woman.

But Jesus saw her.

2. Jesus’s discerns the heart

Mark 12:43-44:   

And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.  For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Jesus knew the intent of her heart as well as those who were merely giving because they could.

John 2:23-25

“Now when Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.”

King David, before his death, charge his Solomon with the following

“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.”       1 Chronicles 28:9

Jesus points out the most “insignificant” person in the place and recognizes her contribution as worth mentioning.

Not because of what she gave but how she gave.

If you are born again, you are significate in Gods eyes.  For he sent his only son to redeem you, how significant is that?

Definitely worth mentioning!