True and False Religion

“Religion” is often treated as a dirty word—both outside and inside the church. But Scripture, church history, and Jesus himself show that religious practices are not the enemy of grace; rather, the danger lies in religion that is self-made, self-exalting, and disconnected from genuine devotion to God. The question is not whether religion exists, but whether it is true or false—whether it flows from a heart oriented toward God’s kingdom or toward the self.

Jesus condemns false religion through the scribes, whose outward piety (long robes, public honors, elaborate prayers) hides inward corruption. These acts serve self-justification, fostering pride and exploitation, like "devouring widows' houses" under a pious facade. Such religion invites greater judgment for misusing sacred things for selfish gain and harming the vulnerable.

Luke then reveals the nature of true religion: a poor widow placing two small coins into the collection box. Though insignificant by worldly standards, Jesus deems her gift greater than the rest. Unlike the scribes and the rich, she gives not out of abundance or obligation, but out of faith, surrendering all she has to God. Her life, defined by having less, is redefined by Jesus as one of abundance. This act is not about money but about worship—an embodied declaration that God is worthy of everything.

By placing this widow at a critical point in the narrative, Luke shows that true religion is not found in institutions, wealth, or external performance, but in humble submission to God made possible through Christ. Framed by two widows in the temple—Anna at Jesus’ birth and this unnamed woman near his death—Luke presents true religion as faithful, persevering devotion rooted in the gospel.