Texts in Conversation
In Mark, Jesus praises a widow who gives a small amount because she offered all she had, showing that value is in the proportion of giving. This follows a Jewish tradition in Tobit, saying that charity should be given in proportion to your possessions.
Share:
2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Tobit 4:8
Deuterocanon
4 Remember her, child, that she has experienced many dangers for you in her womb; and when she is dead, bury her by me in one grave. 5 My child, be mindful of the Lord all your days, and do not let your will be set to sin and to transgress his commandments: do acts of righteousness all the days of your life, and do not walk in the ways of unrighteousness. 6 For if you do the truth, success shall be in your works, and so it shall be to all that do righteousness. 7 Give alms of your substance: do not turn away your face from any poor man, and the face of God shall not be turned away from you, 8 As your substance is, give alms of it according to your abundance: if you have much, according to the abundance of it, give alms; if you have little bestow it, and do not be afraid to give alms according to that little: 9 for you lay up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity: 10 because alms delivers from death, and does not allow one to come into darkness. 11 Alms is a good offering in the sight of the Most High for all that give it.
Date: 225–175 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
Mark 12:43
New Testament
38 In his teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the experts in the law. They like walking around in long robes and elaborate greetings in the marketplaces, 39 and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows’ property, and as a show make long prayers. These men will receive a more severe punishment.” 41 Then he sat down opposite the offering box, and watched the crowd putting coins into it. Many rich people were throwing in large amounts. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, worth less than a penny. 43 He called his disciples and said to them, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the offering box than all the others. 44 For they all gave out of their wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in what she had to live on, everything she had.”
Date: 60–75 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
Search:
Notes and References
"... It is needless to multiply quotations here from the many places in all parts of the Scripture commanding or commending beneficence to the poor. The same theme runs through the uncanonical literature. It is frequent in Sirach. Tobit begins with a recital of his charities to the living and the dead. (See Tobit 4:7-11; 12:8) The exhortations of Jesus in the Gospels are in the same vein, as are also the Apostolic writings. The jurists of our period interpreted the Mosaic legislation on the subject of charity in its spirit, sometimes, to our notions of exegesis, straining the letter in doing so, and in their application adapted it to the conditions of their own time. An instructive example is the oldest juristic commentary on Deuteronomy 15:7-11. In the context the passage is a warning against refusing to lend to a necessitous countryman, especially in the immediate prospect of the septennial cancellation of debts. The Midrash extends it to gifts, and only incidentally touches on loans secured by a pledge (vs. 8) ..."
George Foot Moore, Judaism in the First Centuries of the Christian Era: The Age of the Tannaim (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1997), 1:165.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.
User Comments
,