BibleProject | Upside-Down Kingdom / Part 1 - LukeSample

As Jesus waits in Jerusalem for the coming Passover feast, he teaches daily in the temple about the nature of the Kingdom of God and the things that are to come. At one point, Jesus looks up and watches while many rich people donate large gifts in the temple treasury and a poor widow donates only a couple of coins. Jesus knows that the rich people gave what they didn’t need but that the widow gave everything she had. So he speaks up and tells everyone listening, “this poor widow gave more than all the rest of them.”

See, Jesus is not like other kings who value the wealthy because of their large donations. In his Kingdom, people do not need much in order to give more. Jesus teaches that the wealth of this world is coming to an end and that his Kingdom is drawing near, so he tells his followers to keep their hearts free from waste and worry and to rely on him instead (vv. 21:13-19, 34-36).

Read, Reflect, and Respond:

• Consider how Jesus can value two copper coins more than a large, flashy donation. What does this tell you about the nature of his Kingdom?
  
• Reflect on Jesus’ wise warning in Luke 21:34-36. How does this passage speak to you right now? How will you respond to Jesus’ words this week?
  
• Jesus quotes the prophet Daniel in Luke 21:27. Read Daniel 7:13-14. What do you notice?
• Let your reading and reflection prompt a prayer. Talk to God about what inspired amazement, be honest about where you have wasted time, money, or attention on the values of this world, and ask for what you need to transfer your affections to Jesus’ Kingdom.