Joyful Moments in Christ

This Bible study lesson is for people who are learning English (ELL or ESL students). It is made for advanced beginner and intermediate English learners. Children who speak English or adults who prefer easy English may also enjoy it and learn from it.

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Lesson Icebreaker Question

When was a time you gave a little gift to someone, but it meant a lot to them?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will hear Jesus ask a hard question, give a warning, and tell a story about a poor widow. We will learn that God cares about what is in our hearts, not just what people see.

Vocabulary List (GNT)

1. Copper Coins — Small, brown coins made of metal, worth very little money.
2. David — A famous king in the Bible who loved God and wrote songs to him.
3. Descendant — A family member born later, like a grandchild or great-grandchild.
4. Disciples — People who follow a teacher and learn from them.
5. Drop — To let something fall into a place.
6. Enemies — People who want to hurt or fight against someone.
7. Feast — A big, special meal with lots of food.
8. Footstool — A small stool or stand where people can rest their feet.
9. Greet — Say hello to someone in a kind way.
10. Guard — To watch and be careful to keep something safe.
11. Had to Spare — Extra things or money that someone does not need.
12. Lord — A special name for God or someone very important.
13. Make a Show — To do something in front of people so they will watch and be impressed.
14. Marketplace — A place where people buy and sell things.
15. Messiah — The special person God promised to send to save people.
16. Poor — Having very little money or things.
17. Psalms — A book in the Bible filled with songs and prayers to God.
18. Prayers — Talking to God with words.
19. Punishment — Something bad that happens to someone because they did something wrong.
20. Reserved — Saved for a special person or purpose.
21. Respect — Kindness or honor shown to someone because of who they are.
22. Rich — Having a lot of money and nice things.
23. Rob — To steal something from someone.
24. Robe — A long, loose piece of clothing like a coat.
25. Seat — A chair or place to sit.
26. Synagogue — A place where Jewish people gather to worship and learn about God.
27. Take Advantage — To treat someone badly for your own gain.
28. Teachers of the Law — Men in Bible times who studied God’s laws and taught them to others.
29. Temple — A special place where people worship God.
30. Treasury — A place where money and gifts are kept, especially at the Temple.
31. Widow — A woman whose husband has died.

Summary of the Passage

This passage takes place while Jesus is teaching people in the Temple. In Bible times, the Temple was a very important place where people prayed and gave gifts to God.

First, Jesus asked a question about the Messiah. The people believed the Messiah would be part of King David’s family. But Jesus reminded them that David, long ago, called the Messiah “Lord.” This was a way to show that the Messiah would be very special and greater than David.

Next, Jesus warned the people about some teachers of the Law. These men wore nice clothes and liked people to notice them. They wanted the best seats at parties and in the Temple. But they did not take care of poor people, like widows. They even stole from them while pretending to be good. Jesus said God would punish them for this.

Then Jesus saw people giving money at the Temple. Rich people gave from the extra money they had. But one poor widow gave two tiny coins. It was all the money she had. Jesus told the people that her small gift was worth more to God than the big gifts, because she gave with a loving heart and great faith.

This passage shows us that God cares about our hearts, not just what people see. He loves when people give to him with faith and love, even if it is small. It also reminds us to be careful not to show off and to care for people who need help.

Read The Passage

The Question about the Messiah
41 Jesus asked them, “How can it be said that the Messiah will be the descendant of David?
42-43 For David himself says in the book of Psalms,
‘The Lord said to my Lord:
Sit here at my right side until I put your enemies as a footstool under your feet.’
44 David called him ‘Lord’; how, then, can the Messiah be David’s descendant?”
Jesus Warns against the Teachers of the Law
45 As all the people listened to him, Jesus said to his disciples,
46 “Be on your guard against the teachers of the Law, who like to walk around in their long robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplace; who choose the reserved seats in the synagogues and the best places at feasts;
47 who take advantage of widows and rob them of their homes, and then make a show of saying long prayers! Their punishment will be all the worse!”
The Widow’s Offering
1-2 Jesus looked around and saw rich people dropping their gifts in the Temple treasury, and he also saw a very poor widow dropping in two little copper coins.
3 He said, “I tell you that this poor widow put in more than all the others.
4 For the others offered their gifts from what they had to spare of their riches; but she, poor as she is, gave all she had to live on.”

Luke 20:41-21:4 (GNT)

Most English learners should use the New International Reader’s Version (NIRV) or the Good News Translation (GNT) because they are easy to read. If you want to try something harder, you can read one of the other Bible versions:

• Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 20:41-21:4 (NIRV)
• Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 20:41-21:4 (GNT)
• Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 20:41-21:4 (NLT)
• Hard: New International Version: Luke 20:41-21:4 (NIV)
• Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 20:41-21:4 (ESV)

Comprehension Questions

1. Who did the people think the Messiah would be related to?
2. What question did Jesus ask about King David and the Messiah?
3. What did Jesus say about the teachers of the Law?
4. How did the teachers of the Law act in front of people?
5. What did the teachers do to widows?
6. What did Jesus say would happen to those teachers?
7. Who did Jesus see giving money at the Temple?
8. How much money did the poor widow give?
9. Why did Jesus say her gift was worth more than the others?
10. What does this story teach us about how God sees our gifts?

Application Questions

1. Have you ever seen someone act like the teachers of the Law, showing off in front of others? How did it make you feel?
2. Why do you think it is sometimes hard for people to give, even when they have a lot?
3. What are some ways you can give to God or help others, even if you do not have much money?
4. Why do you think God cares more about our hearts than the size of our gifts?
5. How can we be like the poor widow in this story in our own lives?

Theological Insights

1. Jesus is the promised Messiah, greater than King David.
2. God cares about our hearts more than what people can see on the outside.
3. People who pretend to be good but hurt others will face God’s punishment.
4. Even small gifts given with love and faith are precious to God.
5. Followers of Jesus should care for people who are poor and in need.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for teaching us through Jesus. Help us to give with loving hearts and take care of people who need help. Please help us follow you every day. Amen.

ELL Resources for the Gospel of Luke

More ELL Resources

You can find more Bible lessons for English learners on the main ELL page.

Scripture quotations marked (GNT) are from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version- Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.