Regarding the rich young ruler. Jesus was testing him to find out his heart. The ruler loved his money more than God. He did not see his true need, he thought he was righteous.

The churches of Macedonia gave sacrificially. ” .. in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. …. Therefore as ye abound in every thing, … see that ye abound in this grace also.” 2 Cor. 8:1-7

Surely it is fine to be blessed with riches from our Father in heaven. I’m quite blessed financially compared to most Christians throughout the world. But we need to see sacrificial giving as something the Lord commends, Himself being the most perfect and outstanding example, when He came to earth, and was born in a stable.

Jesus also said to the rich ruler, “Sell all that you have, and give it to the poor.”

I suppose we will simply have to disagree on the interpretation of this passage of Scripture.
I will continue to look at your interpretation, and study. May God open our hearts and eyes to His truth. Amen.

Jesus warned His disciples with a scathing critique to “beware of the scribes” who devour widow’s houses.
A given percentage (financially) is greater to the poor than it is to those who have plenty because the poor need it to merely survive. The widow gave more because she gave what she needed in order to live; that is how they were “devouring widow’s houses”.

Think about this: If you believe the widow is to be our example, do you believe giving is to be a competition? Do you believe that Christians should outdo each other to see who can be the poorest?

Done that.

” We need to keep the verses in context.”

Absolutely.

“When taken in context, it is impossible to see this as a commendable act.”

I disagree.

You also have to add in Matthew’s gospel. Seems Jesus spoke His great rebuke to the Jewish leaders in the midst of these two statements as well. Seems the phrase “devour widow’s houses”need not be indentified with the poor widow, but it can be surely as you say.

What does it mean to devour their houses? I’m not sure.
I’ll have to study this a little more.

Thanks for the challenge.

The simple reading of our Lord’s words do seem to say He is saying that sacificial giving is more important than giving out of one’s abundance. It reads much more naturally to me. And the widow may not have be joyful, or she may have. Can’t say.
But if simply read these verses speak plainly to me:

“Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
For they 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 21:3-4

“And He called His disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
For [BECAUSE] all they did cast in of their abundance; BUT she of her want [lack] did cast in all that she had, ALL her living.” Mark 12:43-44

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

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

May “the eyes of your understanding” be opened on this issue… Peace-

It is important to keep in mind that chapter and verse divisions were not in the original autographs. We need to keep the verses in context. If you look at Mark 12:38-44 the verses are not separated as they are in Luke.
When taken in context, it is impossible to see this as a commendable act. That must be read into the text. The warning to beware of the scribes who “devour widows’ houses” in vs. 40 parallels Jesus’ use of a widow for His example. Jesus could just as easily have chosen a “poor man” as His example, or simply a “poor woman” - but He was very specific in His choice of a poor widow. This ties it to His criticism of the Scribes who He said were devouring widows’ houses in vs. 40.
Some points I’ve often made to others were in Dr. MacArthur’s sermon.
Jesus actually says nothing to commend the widow for what she did. (Words of praise are absent)
Jesus’ statement is one of relating facts as He observes (She gave more than they all because she cast in all her living)
Jesus says nothing about how the widow felt about what she gave. (He does not describe her emotional state)

In the larger context of the entire Bible, and given God’s commands regarding the treatment of the poor in both the Old and New Testaments (go through Nave’s Topical Bible on the subject), the traditional interpretation and teaching of the passage makes no sense whatsoever. The idea that Jesus is praising the widow must be read into the verse; the idea that she gave it joyfully must also be read into the verse - in both cases the text must be ripped out of its context in order to give that impression.

We have had the truth revealed in this sermon - dare we allow our “tradition” continue to be taught over truth in reformed protestant and evangelical churches?

Amen.

The point may be that if Bill Gates gives a billion dollars to charity, and a poor child in Tanzania gives his meager three or four cents to charity, this poor child have given more, in God’s eyes, because it was sacrificial, and he’s not looking for a reward, whereas Bill is looking for a tax deduction, and a little admiring from the world “to boot”.

have a pleasant and blessed Lord’s day.