Omnes | Everything

"Everyone else gave what they didn't need. But she is very poor and gave everything she had. Now she doesn't have a cent to live on" -  Luke 21:4.

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Luke 21: 1-4: "Jesus was sitting in the temple near the offering box and watching people put in their gifts. He noticed that many rich people were giving a lot of money. Finally, a poor widow came up and put in two coins worth only a few pennies. Jesus told his disciples to gather around him. Then he said: I tell you that this poor widow has put in more than all the others. Everyone else gave what they didn't need. But she is very poor and gave everything she had. Now she doesn't have a cent to live on."

Money can be a hot topic, and Jesus was bold to address it. In this story, we see wealthy individuals donating large financial gifts at the Temple. While their generosity likely impressed onlookers and religious leaders, Jesus challenged his disciples to a different mentality.

“They’re giving from their surplus,” he said. “They won’t even miss the money they’ve dropped into the offering box.” Then he drew attention to the widow who gave only two coins. Compared to other donations, her few cents may have seemed a pittance. But Jesus valued them. More so, he valued her attitude. “She gave more than all the others,” he told his disciples. “Everyone else gave what they didn’t need. But she is very poor and gave everything she had.”

Jesus’ teaching about money matters still applies today. Some folks who donate large amounts to churches or non-profits receive special recognition or preferential treatment. Their generosity influences decision-makers and furthers personal agendas. Sadly, those who give less might be overlooked even though their gift may have required great personal sacrifice.

We’re to exercise caution lest we place more emphasis on the size of the gift rather than on the attitude of the giver’s heart. We also need to exercise caution about our own motives for giving.

Forget about giving in exchange for public recognition and focus on giving from a selfless love for Christ because of his selfless sacrifice on our behalf. Our giving ought to also reflect confident expectation that he will provide for our needs.

The widow’s account of offering her last two coins to God is priceless. She gave from a heart of love for him, and with faith that he would provide for her needs in the days ahead. 

Let’s value her role model as we seek to embrace Jesus’ teachings about money and to honor him with our finances.

Reflection on Luke 21:1-19 by Linda Sutrisno

(Listen to podcast here)

Piedra angular

Pero él, mirándolos, dijo: “¿Qué significan estas palabras de la Escritura?: La piedra que desecharon los constructores, esta es ahora la piedra principal”? – Lucas 20:17

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En Lucas 20 a partir del versículo 9 leemos sobre la parábola de los labradores y la viña. Esta parábola describe las cosas terribles que les sucedieron a los sirvientes y el asesinato del amado hijo del dueño. Los arrendatarios rechazaron al hijo amado y con ello también a la piedra angular.

La Biblia describe a Jesucristo como la principal piedra angular. Lucas 20:17-18 es una profecía del Antiguo Testamento que se cumplió. Leemos sobre esta profecía en Salmo 118:22 y también en Isaías 28:16 - “He aquí, yo pongo en Sion como fundamento una piedra, piedra probada, piedra angular preciosa, de fundamento seguro. El que cree, no se apresure”.

El apóstol Pablo también escribe sobre la principal piedra angular en Efesios 2:20: “edificados sobre el fundamento de los apóstoles y profetas, siendo la principal piedra del ángulo Cristo Jesús mismo”. El apóstol Pedro también escribe sobre la piedra angular y dice que Jesús, como nuestra piedra angular, es “escogida por Dios y preciosa para él” (1 Pedro 2:4).

Así como la piedra angular de un edificio, Jesucristo debe ser nuestro fundamento firme. Lamentablemente, no todos aceptan a Jesucristo. Desde el principio, Jesús fue “piedra de tropiezo” (1 Pedro 2:8). Cuando Herodes escuchó la noticia de la llegada del Mesías, su respuesta fue intentar matarlo.

Cuando las personas rechazan a Jesucristo y lo que Él nos ofrece, se rebelan y construyen sobre un fundamento diferente y también rechazan su ofrenda perfecta por todos nuestros pecados. " El que cree en el Hijo tiene vida eterna, pero el que desobedece al Hijo no verá la vida, sino que la ira de Dios permanece sobre él." - Juan 3:36. También leemos acerca de otra advertencia de juicio para aquellos que rechazan a Cristo: “Cualquiera que caiga sobre esta piedra, será quebrantado; cualquiera sobre quien ella caiga, será quebrantado” (Lucas 20:18).

Asegurémonos de que Cristo sea nuestra piedra angular. Aferrarnos a nuestra piedra angular, a pesar de las circunstancias difíciles que podamos estar enfrentando. Jesucristo como nuestra principal piedra angular significa que Él es el fundamento de nuestras vidas.

Al no rechazar la Piedra Angular, no rechazamos a Cristo y Su sacrificio perfecto, suficiente y consumado por todos nuestros pecados. Debemos confiar en Jesús para el completo perdón de los pecados porque "la sangre de Jesucristo su Hijo nos limpia de todo pecado” (1 Juan 1:7).

¡Jesucristo es nuestro Salvador todo suficiente!   Su obra de redención ha terminado (Juan 19:30). Pongamos toda nuestra confianza en el Señor Jesucristo.

Reflexión sobre Lucas 20:1 - 26 por Hanne Teach

(Escucha el podcast aquí)

Caput Anguli | Cornerstone

But he looked at them and said, “Then what is this that is written, ‘The stone which the builders rejected was made the chief cornerstone"? – Luke 20:17

 

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In Luke 20 from verse 9 we read about the parable of the tenants and the vineyard. This parable describes the terrible things that happened to the servants and the murder of the owner’s beloved son. The tenant farmers rejected the beloved son and thus also the cornerstone.

The Bible describes Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone. Luke 20:17-18 is an Old Testament prophecy that was fulfilled. We read about this prophecy in Psalm 118:22 and also in Isaiah 28:16  - “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation. He who believes shall not act hastily". 

The apostle Paul writes about the chief cornerstone too in Ephesians 2:20: “being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone”. The apostle Peter also writes about the cornerstone and says that Jesus, as our cornerstone, is “chosen by God and precious to him” (1 Peter 2:4). 

Just like the cornerstone of a building, Jesus Christ should be our firm foundation. Sadly, not everyone accepts Jesus Christ. From the very beginning, Jesus was “a stone that causes people to stumble” (1 Peter 2:8). When Herod heard the news of the Messiah’s arrival, his response was to try and kill Him. 

When people reject Jesus Christ and what He offers us, they rebel and build on a different foundation and they also reject his perfect offering for all our sins.  "One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” - John 3:36. We also read about another warning of judgment for those who reject Christ: “Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed” (Luke 20:18).

Let’s make sure that Christ is our cornerstone. Holding on to our cornerstone, despite difficult circumstances we might be facing. Jesus Christ as our Chief Cornerstone means that He is the foundation of our lives.

By not rejecting the Cornerstone, we do not reject Christ and His perfect, sufficient and finished sacrifice for all our sin. We must trust Jesus for complete forgiveness of sin because "the blood of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). 

Jesus Christ is our all-sufficient Saviour!  His work of redemption is finished (John 19:30). Let’s put all our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection on Luke 20:1 - 26 by Hanne Teach

(Listen to podcast here)