A Question, A Warning, and A Widow: An ESL Bible Study on Luke 20:41-21:4

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Luke 20:41-21:4 Printable Discussion Questions

Luke 20:41-21:4 Printable ERV Passage

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 Lists for the ERV Bible Translation

Key Vocabulary Words (10 words)

cheat: (verb) To do something dishonest to get what you want.
collection box: (phrase) A special box in the Temple where people put their money gifts for God.
copper coin: (phrase) A small piece of money made of orange-brown metal that is not worth much.
marketplace: (noun) An open area where people buy and sell things.
Messiah: (noun) The “Chosen One” that God promised to send to save his people.
places of honor: (phrase) The best seats at a party or meeting given to important people.
plenty: (noun) A large amount or more than enough.
Psalms: (noun) A book in the Bible full of songs and prayers.
punish: (verb) To make someone suffer for doing something wrong.
synagogue: (noun) A building where Jewish people meet to pray and study.

Important Words to Know (20 words)

banquet: (noun) Large, formal meal for many people.
cheat: (verb) To do something dishonest to get what you want.
collection box: (phrase) A special box in the Temple where people put their money gifts for God.
copper coin: (phrase) A small piece of money made of orange-brown metal that is not worth much.
enemy: (noun) A person who hates you or wants to hurt you.
follower: (noun) A person who learns from and obeys a teacher.
honor: (noun) High respect or fame.
live on: (phrase) To use money or food to stay alive.
marketplace: (noun) An open area where people buy and sell things.
Messiah: (noun) The “Chosen One” that God promised to send to save his people.
places of honor: (phrase) The best seats at a party or meeting given to important people.
plenty: (noun) A large amount or more than enough.
poor: (adjective) Having very little money or things.
prayer: (noun) The words we say when we talk to God.
Psalms: (noun) A book in the Bible full of songs and prayers.
punish: (verb) To make someone suffer for doing something wrong.
rich: (adjective) Having a lot of money or things.
synagogue: (noun) A building where Jewish people meet to pray and study.
teacher of the law: (phrase) A person who is an expert in the religious rules given to the Jewish people by God.
warning: (noun) Something that tells you about a danger or a problem so you can be ready.

Complete Lesson Word Bank

against: (preposition) In opposition to or in conflict with.
also: (adverb) In addition to something else.
banquet: (noun) Large, formal meal for many people.
careful: (adjective) Paying close attention to what you are doing.
cheat: (verb) To do something dishonest to get what you want.
clothes: (noun) Things that people wear to cover their bodies.
collection box: (phrase) A special box in the Temple where people put their money gifts for God.
copper coin: (phrase) A small piece of money made of orange-brown metal that is not worth much.
David: (noun) A great king of Israel who lived long before Jesus.
enemy: (noun) A person who hates you or wants to hurt you.
follower: (noun) A person who learns from and obeys a teacher.
gift: (noun) Something given to someone for free.
God: (noun) The creator and ruler of everything.
honor: (noun) High respect or fame.
important: (adjective) Something that matters a lot.
Jesus: (noun) The Son of God and the Savior of the world!
law: (noun) A set of rules that people must obey.
live on: (verb) To use money or food to stay alive.
long: (adjective) Measuring a great distance from one end to the other.
Lord: (noun) A name that shows someone has power or authority.
love: (verb) To care very much for someone and want what is best for them.
make: (verb) To cause a feeling or a change.
marketplace: (noun) An open area where people buy and sell things.
Messiah: (noun) The “Chosen One” that God promised to send to save his people.
much: (adjective) A large amount of something.
place: (noun) A specific area, room, or location.
places of honor: (phrase) The best seats at a party or meeting given to important people.
plenty: (noun) A large amount or more than enough.
poor: (adjective) Having very little money or things.
power: (noun) Strength or the ability to do something.
prayer: (noun) The words we say when we talk to God.
Psalms: (noun) A book in the Bible full of songs and prayers.
punish: (verb) To make someone suffer for doing something wrong.
put into: (phrase) To place something inside a container or a space.
respect: (verb) To show that you think someone is important.
rich: (adjective) Having a lot of money or things.
right: (noun) The side of the body that is not the left.
seat: (noun) Something you sit on.
show: (verb) To let someone see something.
side: (noun) The part of something that is not the top, bottom, front, or back.
sit: (verb) To rest your body on a chair or the ground.
Son of David: (phrase) A name for Jesus that shows he came from the family of king David.
synagogue: (noun) A building where Jewish people meet to pray and study.
take: (verb) To get or carry something away.
teacher of the law: (phrase) A person who is an expert in the religious rules given to the Jewish people by God.
Temple: (noun) The special building in Jerusalem where people worshiped God.
than: (conjunction) A word used to compare two things.
truth: (noun) The things that are real and true.
try: (verb) To make an effort to do something.
under: (preposition) Controlled by a power or a law.
walk around: (phrase) To go from one place to another by walking.
warning: (noun) Something that tells you about a danger or a problem so you can be ready.
wear: (verb) To have clothes on your body.
while: (conjunction) During the time that something is happening.
widow: (noun) 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 building in Jerusalem. It was where people prayed and gave gifts to God.

First, Jesus asked a question about the Messiah. The Messiah is the “Chosen One” that God promised to send. The people believed the Messiah would be the Son of David. David was a great king of Israel who lived long ago. Jesus reminded them that David called the Messiah “Lord.” This shows that the Messiah is very special and much greater than a normal king.

Next, Jesus gave a warning about some teachers of the law. He told his followers to be careful. These men liked to walk around in fancy clothes. They loved to get respect in the marketplace. They wanted the best seats in the synagogue and the places of honor at a banquet. A banquet is a very large, special meal. These leaders acted like they loved God, but they were mean to people. They would cheat a widow and take her home. Then they would try to make themselves look good by saying long prayers. Jesus said God would punish them because they were being dishonest.

Then Jesus saw people giving money in the Temple collection box. Many rich people gave a lot of money. They had plenty, so they still had a lot of money left for themselves. Then a poor widow came. She put in two small copper coins. These coins were not worth much money. Jesus said her small gift was the greatest. The rich people gave what they did not need. The widow gave everything she had to live on.

This passage teaches us that God cares about our hearts. He does not care how much money we have. He loves when we give to him with faith. It also reminds us to be honest and to care for people who are in need. We must always honor God as our most important leader!

Read The Passage

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

Is the Messiah David’s Son or David’s Lord?
41 Then Jesus said,
“Why do people say that the Messiah is the Son of David?
42 In the book of Psalms, David himself says,
‘The Lord God said to my Lord:
Sit by me at my right side,
43 and I will put your enemies under your power.’
44 David calls the Messiah ‘Lord.’
So how can the Messiah also be David’s son?”
Warning Against the Teachers of the Law
45 While all the people were listening to Jesus, he said to his followers,
46 “Be careful of the teachers of the law.
They like to walk around wearing clothes that look important.
And they love for people to show respect to them in the marketplaces.
They love to have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.
47 But they cheat widows and take their homes.
Then they try to make themselves look good by saying long prayers.
God will punish them very much.”
True Giving
1 Jesus looked up and saw some rich people putting their gifts to God into the Temple collection box.
2 Then he saw a poor widow put two small copper coins into the box.
3 He said,
“This poor widow gave only two small coins.
But the truth is, she gave more than all those rich people.
4 They have plenty, and they gave only what they did not need.
This woman is very poor, but she gave all she had to live on.”
Luke 20:41-21:4 (ERV)

Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 20:41-21:4 (ERV)
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)

Luke 20:41-21:4 Printable ERV Passage

Comprehension Questions

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

Application Questions

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

Theological Insights

Jesus is the promised Messiah, greater than King David.
God cares about our hearts more than what people can see on the outside.
People who pretend to be good but hurt others will face God’s punishment.
Even small gifts given with love and faith are precious to God.
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.