I'm trying an experiment this week in virtual Bible study. Every Wednesday at Trinity we have a conversation about the texts for the upcoming Sunday. In an effort to connect with folk who cannot make the Wednesday conversations, I'm posting the notes here to see if this could be a forum for virtual conversation. If you like it, let me know or join in the conversation by posting in the comments. If you have a suggestion for a better format, I'd love to hear that too.
Study Format:
1. Read passage aloud. What did you notice in the reading? What words or phrase caught your attention?
2. Read passage aloud a second time. What questions would you ask the text?
3. Read passage aloud a third time. What do you hear God calling you to do or be in response to this text?
Interesting Ideas to Consider:
• Our bibles tend to break this section up into two sections, but Jesus following the warning to beware the scribes who “devour widows houses” with a story about a widow indicates they are meant to be read as one. Some commentaries wonder if this is less about praising the widow then it is about critiquing a system that asks the last penny of a widow to support the wealthy elite.
• Verse 44 is better translated as “her whole living.” Some scholars suggest the widow’s selfless giving is a foreshadowing of Jesus death, where he will give his life.
• The Old Testament reading for this week is 1 Kings 17:8-16. How are the experiences of the two widows similar? How are they different?
• The word sacrifice comes from the Latin for “to make sacred.” Does thinking about the word in that definition change how you think about sacrifice?
Great idea.
ReplyDeleteMy first though is to draw a parallel with the society of today where the rich have gamed the system to marginalize the poor. I'm wondering though if giving all you have in and of itself makes you any more faithful.
ReplyDeleteI had the same question, the gross inequalities of our current system don't seem all that much different. One thing I noticed was in the 1 Kings story, Elijah asked the widow to give up everything, but he promised to take care of her, in contrast to the scribes who watched the widow give up everything with no support. I really wonder if this story is not about affirming the widow for giving up everything, but about critiquing a system that takes without giving.
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