Widows Mite
Luke 21:1-4
Actors:
Widow, Pharisee, Jesus, Peter and Crowd.
Jesus
and others eavesdrop on what happens when a poor widow and a Pharisee meet in front
of the Temple.
Pharisee, seeing the widow: “Where are you going? Aren’t you the woman who owes me 500 shekels?”
Widow:
“Yes, I am. And I’d like to pay you back, but a Roman soldier came and took
away all the clothes I was going to sell to pay you. All I have left is one
shekel.”
Pharisee:
“That’s not my problem. You made a deal with me and it’s time to pay up.”
Widow:
“But Mr. Pharisee, sir, my land lord is going to evict me from my apartment. I
need extra time to make more money so I don’t end up on the street.”
Pharisee:
“Well, I’m not a monster. I’m a God-fearing man so I’ll let you pay me back
tomorrow. With extra interest of course.”
Widow:
“Bless you, Mr. Pharisee. Thank you so much! You’re too kind.”
The
Pharisee walks away, and the widow sighs. She looks up towards heaven and says:
“Lord, all I have left is a shekel.
That’s not enough to pay the rent. I’ll leave it at your Temple to help someone
who’s poorer than I am.”
She
drops her shekel into the alms box.
The
Pharisee returns, bringing some jewelry to donate to the Temple. When he sees
the widow, he looks at her scornfully. Other rich people walk by and donate
luxury items.
Watching
this scene, Jesus turns to his disciples and says:
“I tell you that this poor woman
has put more in than all the others. Everyone else gave what they didn’t need,
but she gave all she had.”
Peter
walks over to the poor woman, takes her by the hand, and welcomes her into
their fellowship. The crowd is surprised. Jesus smiles and puts his arm around
Peter and the widow.
“Jesus at the Temple”
Luke 19: 45-48
Jesus
stands with Peter and watches this scene in front of the Temple.
Galilean:
“Which way to the Temple?
Jerusalemite: “It’s right in front of
you. Can’t you see? I guess you
Galileans need glasses”
Galilean:
“Wow, look at that Temple. It’s even bigger than I imagined. And covered with gold.
God sure has a nice home here in his holy city.”
Homeless
man: “Sir, can you help me? I used to have a home, but the tax collectors
took so much of my harvest I went into debt and lost my farm. Can you spare a shekel?”
Galilean:
“Just a moment. All I have are Roman coins. I need to change my Roman coins
into the shekel. Sir, what’s the exchange rate?
Money changer: “I usually give three shekels for one Roman coin, but for you, I’ll give five!”
Money changer: “I usually give three shekels for one Roman coin, but for you, I’ll give five!”
Homeless
man: “That’s highway robbery! The going rate is ten shekels for a Roman
coin!”
Money
changer: “Shut up, you good-for-nothing bum! All you do all day long beg
and complain.”
Jesus
watches this scene and become angry. He walks over to the money changer and
turns over his table, scattering his money.
Jesus: “This is my Father’s house. It is supposed to be a house of prayer for all people, and you’ve turned it into a den of thieves.”
The
money changer is terrified and runs away to a nearby priest.
Money
changer: “Did you see what that man did? He ought to be arrested.”
Priest:
“He will be, don’t worry. We’re giving him enough rope so he’ll hang himself.”
Money
changer: “Thank God.”
Peter
to Jesus:
“Let’s get out of her before the
Roman soldiers arrive.”
Jesus walks off calmly, followed by Peter, who seems very nervous.
Jesus walks off calmly, followed by Peter, who seems very nervous.
Paying Taxes
Luke: 20: 20-25
A Pharisee and a Priest are walking
down the street. One of them brushes up against a man.
Pharisee: “Did you just touch that
man?”
Priest: “Yes, I did. Why?”
Pharisee: “He’s a tax collector.”
Pharisee: “Yes, those tax
collectors are the scum of the earth.”
Priest: “Did you know that one of
Jesus’ disciples is a tax collector?”
Pharisee: “That’s right. He lets
anybody join his movement, even women. That gives me an idea.”
Priest: “What do you have in mind?”
Pharisee: “You know how the people
hate tax collectors…”
Priest: “Of course, they rob us
blind…”
Pharisee: “And you know it’s
against the law to refuse to pay taxes…”
Priest: “Yes, yes. You can be
crucified just for telling people not to pay taxes.”
Pharisee: “Well, just watch what I
am going to do to that would-be prophet Jesus.”
Jesus walks by with a crowd of
people.
Pharisee: “Rabbi Jesus, how nice to
see you. I have a question for you.”
Jesus: “What is your question?”
Pharisee: “Is it morally right for
a Jew to pay taxes to Rome?”
Jesus pauses as the crowd watches
for his answer.
Jesus: “Bring me a Roman coin.”
Pharisee hands him a coin.
Jesus refuses to touch it. Instead
he asks:
“Whose graven image is on the
coin?”
Pharisee: “Caesar’s.”
Jesus: “In that case, give what belongs to Caesar back to Caesar….”
Jesus: “In that case, give what belongs to Caesar back to Caesar….”
Jesus turns and gestures to the
rest of the city.
“And give to God everything that
belongs to God.”
Pharisee looks displeased and walks
away with the priest. The crowd applauds.
Woman: “Jesus is a Godly man. He
knows that everything belongs to the Lord.”
Homeless man: “Except for those blasted
coins the Romans make us use.”
Tax collector walks over to Jesus:
“I hear that you don’t hate us and that tax collectors can join your movement….”
Jesus: “If that’s what your heart tells
you to do….”
Tax collector: “Then I will give up
this lousy job and give all my ill gotten money to the poor. Can I become one of
your disciples?”
The tax collector places a bag of
money in the alms box of the Temple and gives a bag of coins to the homeless
man.
Jesus: “Sure. We’d love for you to join us.”
Jesus places his arm on the tax
collector’s shoulder and they walk away arm in arm. The crowd is amazed and
praises God.
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