Matthew 22:1-14; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19; Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17;     Luke 20:20-26; Matthew 22:23-33; Mark 12:18-27; Luke 20:27-40; Matthew 22:34-46; Mark 12:28-37; Luke 20:41-44; Matthew 23:1-39; Mark 12:38-44; Luke 20:45-21:4

As His agony on Calvary came down to a matter of hours, Jesus grew desperate. Not in the sense that you and I would facing certain torture, but desperate to sow as many seeds as he could into the hearts of those who would remember these things when He arose. The arrogance and pride of the religious leaders brought out the harsh truth and the pronouncement of “woes” upon them and all with the same heart. Then came a widow with two small coins.

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Luke 21:1-4

In all of the momentous exchanges between Jesus and the Pharisees and events leading to His crucifixion and resurrection this small encounter stands in stark contrast. In the midst of the final parables of banquets and murderous vinedressers, the widow’s example is powerfully simple. Hearing the lofty teachings on paying taxes and life in the resurrection, two copper coins come to symbolize extreme value. All is enough.

And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:35-40

All is enough when loving God and people. All that the Law taught can be found in the principles and commandments. It goes beyond Israel and the church, because these truth apply to all from Adam to you.

And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

Luke 20:9-18

All of God’s plan to redeem mankind through Messiah is found in this parable. All of the priests and scribes knew Jesus was pointing the lesson directly at them. Insanely, they wanted to kill Him all the more. When Jesus makes His ultimate application by referencing Psalm 118, He speaks to all people including me and you. Notice the rejected stone SHALL become the cornerstone. It’s a done deal because the plan of God for Messiah will be accomplished no matter what men do. In accomplishing the plan ALL people have a choice. Fall upon the stone or allow the stone to fall upon you.

Do you see it? Either way I am all in.

Salvation is absolutely free, but it costs me all. All of my heart, soul, mind and strength. All of my trusting belief. All of my hope. All of my behavior and attitudes. To be forgiven, I must fall upon the Christ, Messiah.

Or, I retain all control over my life, my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength. Blindly, I will live out all of my days. The cornerstone will fall upon me as I stand before the judgment seat of Christ to answer for all I did and said.

Two copper coins. It was all she had, and she gave it all to God. It’s all I need to know about who I am.

Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”‘? If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

Matthew 22:41-46

All of the Pharisees and Sadducees and priests and scribes who challenged Jesus and tried to trap him believed the sweet psalmist David was inspired by the Spirit of God to write his psalms. This profound truth was right under their noses the whole time and they never saw it until Jesus pointed it out to them. The Holy Spirit told David that Messiah is God.

The Holy Spirit and David gave them all they needed to know about who Jesus is.

Two copper coins that most consider practically worthless are the symbol of ultimate wealth. A widow…the wicked vinedressers…The Son of God…The Creator of the universe. All gave all.

Consider His nature.  Consider His ways.  Strive to love Him more!