& substitute for sacrifices, or for distribution to the poor, they were given towards what was regarded as the work of God. But there was nothing in the offering of the rich which called for the special praise bestowed on the widow. 1. It ts to be observed here that Christ commended what most people would blame. You would probably argue thus: “Two mites were of little importance to the treasury, but of great importance to her. If she had given one and kept the other, she would have showed not only piety, but good sense. As it was her gift was insignificant, and at the same time it was rash and needless.” Yet, in the eyes of our Lord, the gift was right; and it was commended for this very reason—that she had cast in all the living that she had. We cannot but be reminded here of an incident in the house of Simon. When Ma broke the alabaster box, and poured the spikenard on her Saviour’s head, the disciples said that it was a foolish impulse—that if sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor, it would have been of real utility; now a waste of the ointment had been made, In reply, Jesus taught them that nothing given to God was wasted; that the groma of such an offering went beyond the world of sense. On both occasions our Lord commended what others blamed. 2. Further, the reason for his commendation was not what many would expect. It was not the value of the gift; for two mites was a smaller sum than we could give if we tried to find our smallest coin. Nor was it the object to which the money was given which Christ approved. He knew how much there was of what was false under the glitter of the ceremonial worship of the temple. He had just rebuked the very men who would manipulate these funds. He looked on to the day when the temple would perish, and a nobler Church would arise on its ruins. Hence, in commending the widow’s gift, which supported this ritual, he condemned those who withhold their help till an organization is exactly what they wish—who refuse to support what does not accord precisely with their tastes and views. Those who habitually do this crush in their hearts the germ from which gift and sacrifice spring. 3. The widow's gift wus approved because it ws the offering of a simple heart, full of love to God. She wished to show gratitude, and to give a deli- berate expression of her confidence in God; and therefore she gave up her living, and threw herself on him who feeds the birds, and never forgets his children. 4. Most of ail the gift was valued because it represented self-sacrifice, They gave of their abund- ance—she gave all her living; in other words, herself. Too often we lose the highest blessedness because we do not cross the border-line which lies between self-indulgence and Christ-likeness. When we begin to feel that some service is a burden, and demands a strain, we give it up to some one else to whom the effort would be less! Let us seek the spirit of the poor widow, who knew that God could do without her gift, but felt that her love could not be satisfied without her sacrifice.
Ill. Taat ous Logp QUIETLY WATCHES OUR GIFTS AND SERVICES. We may put into the treasury wealth, talents, prayers, tears, etc. None are unnoticed by him. And he looks in order to approve, not to condemn. His disciples might have said, “She is imprudent to give her all; she is priest-ridden; she is supporting a formal worship which is a barrier to the kingdom of Christ.” But the Lord looked beneath the surface. He saw the pious intention, the pure purpose, and out of all the chaff on that threshing-floor he found one grain of purity and reality, and rejoiced over it as one finding great spoil.
IV. Toat ove Lord APPROVES ALL THAT I8 DONE IN A RIGHT SPIRIT. He did not praise her to her face, nor in her hearing. When the delicate flower of devotion is taken in the hot hand of popular applause, it withers; but, left in the coo] shadow of secrecy, it lives. Hence the widow heard no flattery or approval, though she went home with inward satisfaction because she had done what she could. It is a pleasure to make a sacrifice for one we love. The young girl gives up her money, her position, her future, herself, to the man she loves, and rejoices in doing it. The father will not begrudge it when he looks at his children’s faces, though for their sakes he goes off in a shabby coat to his daily duty. Love longs for sacrifice, and glories in making it. Now, ix is a sacrifice so inspired which our God approves and commends. In the day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, when nothing will be overiooked, services which the doer had forgotten, which the Church thought trivial and the world laughs to scorn, will be recompensed, and even “a cup of cold water, giver in the name of a disciple, will not lose its reward.”—A. R.
178 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. [on, xu. 1-44
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Vers. 1—12.— The parable of the vineyard; or, unfuithfulness and its reward. A rude dermand upon Jesus tor his authority led him to ask in reply “one question ” which awakened the consciences of his interrogators and threw them into confusion and difficulty. They were hurrying him on to his final hour, and he must needs take advantage of every opportunity of finishing the work given him to do. Therefore “in parables” he spake both “unto them” and “against them,” which but roused their ire, and sent them away to plot and plan for his destruction. No word was needed to declare who wus represented by the vineyard. “For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel.” And the details of the parable were minutely historic. How often had “‘a servant” been sent “that he might receive of the fruits of the vineyard ”! How often had he been “handled shamefully ”! Now a last chance is offered. “ He had yet one, a beloved son: he sent him last unto them.” The rest is prophecy ready to be fulfilled, and so soon to become history also. But the appeal, “ What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do?” he does not leave them to answer, but supplies it in simple words and in such manner as to make the reply an admonitory warning. Alas! our eyes behold the precise fulfilment. And the rejected stone is now the Foundation-stone, “the Head of the corner.” The parable reveals—
I. A GRACIOUS EXAMPLE OF THE DIVINE GOODNESS AND PATIENCE. It was a direct dealing with Israel, but it was an indirect dealing with all men. The comment is found in the historic development of the history of Israel.