Reflections on shabat, May 8, 2026

 

Picture: Yeshua and his disciples were watching the offerings the Jews were putting into the offering box in the temple of Yehowah. Yeshua honored the poor widow.

Let's reread the Bible verses in the picture

>>8 And the word of Yehowah came unto Elijah, saying, 9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongs to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 10a So he arose and went to Zarephath... (He talked with that widow woman)

  13b ... Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou has said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. 14 For thus says Yehowah Elohim of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that Yehowah sends rain upon the earth.<< 1 Kings 17:8-10a, 13b-14

>>42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And Yeshua called unto him his disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow has cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.<< Mark 12:42-44

We also read the verses Luke 16:10 and Matthew 25:24-27

Luke 16:10
>>He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.<<

Matthew 25:24-27
>>24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

26 His lord answered and said unto him, You wicked and slothful servant, thou knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 You ought therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.<<

  In those NT passages, we are encouraged to use even all our smallest gifts diligently. It is often the case that when we are faithful in trivial tasks, Adonai Yeshua gradually gives us more demanding tasks and through them more joy. After all, no one is born a blacksmith and only practice makes perfect! Good luck!

The grace of Elohim grows us

  When we understand that it is a great grace to be a co-worker with our Creator, gratitude to Him fills our hearts. Then the Holy Spirit, as the spirit of grace and prayer, begins to work in us day by day. He also works through us good and living works by His own power, because our own powers are not enough. Only those living works are pleasing to Elohim. About this, the beloved apostle Paul wrote as follows: Titus 2:11-14

>>11 For the grace of Elohim that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great Elohim and our Saviour Yeshua HaMashiach; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.<<

A sacrifice acceptable to Yehowah?

  The offering given by that widow was insignificant compared to the offerings of the rich offerers. However, it was greater in the eyes of Adonai Yeshua than the others. So the size of the offering does not make the offering great or small, but the circumstances of the offerer matter most. A sacrifice is only then a true offering if its giving is felt and hurts! Moreover, offerings should always be given with a cheerful heart! This is also the situation between a servant and the one served.

  In this world, rulers are considered greater than their servants, and slaves are the least valuable people in the minds of the most people. This is not the case in the Kingdom of Elohim, but there the greatest is the one who serves. Therefore, Adonai Yeshua said to his disciples: Luke 22:24-26

>>24 And there was also a strife among disciples, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that does serve.<<

  Adonai Yeshua justified his teaching by saying that he himself came to serve us and suffer as a substitute for our sins through the terrible suffering on the cross of Golgotha! Furthermore, he said that there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends! Through this, he left us an example of how we are obligated to love one another if we want to follow Him!


A cautionary memory from years ago

  This happened around 1975 in a congregation in Helsinki. The theology of success had taken root there with its delusions. I happened to be there one evening when the congregation was having a special meeting to encourage sacrifice. The pastor asked everyone present to take out their wallets and take out the largest banknotes.

  Then he told them to wave their hands in the air, holding the banknotes in front of everyone. Many did so. He called it a modern 'wave offering'. After that, he told them to bring those banknotes in a line, row by row, and put them in the offering bucket in front of him. Many went, obediently obeying the pastor, but I did not go.

  Of course, the commotion did not please Adonai Yeshua, and soon after that, the owner of the rented apartment where all the meetings were held decided to double the rent! The congregation had to move to a cheaper apartment. Many of the congregation members resigned and immediately moved to another Christian congregation.

  The shepherd had forgotten a clear teaching from Adonai Yeshua's Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 6:1-4

>>1 Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 

2 Therefore when you do thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3 But when you do alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand does: 4 That your alms may be in secret: and your Father which sees in secret himself shall reward thee openly.<<

  We note from the teaching of Adonai Yeshua: It is right and acceptable to give alms. Without them, the fixed expenses of any congregation cannot be covered, its workers cannot be paid, and the preachers of the message of salvation cannot be sent to neighboring areas or abroad to proclaim this one and only eternal Good News, by believing in which a person is saved from being lost and enters heaven.

  According to the NT, the payment of tithes to the local congregation as in the OT is still necessary today, and even more should be given if the Holy Spirit so leads. But Adonay Yeshua will never accept the way in which the sacrificers with banknotes in their hands are ordered to stand up for all to see! That would be an insult to the poor!

Songs suitable for the topic

Please, note: Our Savior's original name in Hebrew is Yeshua HaMashiach HaNotzri

Sing Hallelujah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKB8ZuN07z8

Unto Thee O Lord
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjqlkWhz-aA

You Know Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APzgx4hqCI4

With my life in Your hands
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN7hzcQblXI

Majesty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNnTFDNPT3U

P.S. 1 You can check out the interesting stages of my life from the link below. My life has been a great adventure. There have been successes and setbacks. Adonai Yeshua has always helped me!

https://seventh-river.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-seventh-river.html

P.S. 2 I have also prepared these studies in Finnish. They consist of selected Bible translations and include various hymns:
https://yakov-tutkielmia-sapattina.blogspot.com/2026/05/pohdintaa-sapattina-852026.html