"And Jesus sat over against the treasury. And he looked up and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury; and many that were rich cast in much. And there came also a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing." There was a curious law at this time amongst the Jews, forbidding any one to put into the treasury so small a sum as _one_ mite: this poor widow therefore put in the smallest sum she could. Many who saw her, most likely despised her offering; and thought that such a paltry sum was not worth giving. But He who seeth the heart, judged very differently: "He called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: for all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all that she had, even all her living." The difference was, that the rich men had given large sums, of which they would not feel the loss: but the poor widow had practised the greatest self-denial, in order to do something for the service of God. She had to work hard to gain money to buy necessary food, and by giving all she had at this time, she would be obliged to go without a meal. Without self-denial, we cannot please God: and we can all practise self-denial, though it seems very hard to do so. If we give up our own wishes, and practise self-denial, in the most trifling things, though men may not know it at all, God does: and if He sees that we do it _because_ He has bid us deny ourselves, He will be pleased with us. Our Lord now departed from the temple, and as he went out "his disciples came to him, for to show him, the buildings of the temple"; that is, to draw His attention to the strength of the walls, and the size of the stones used in building it; as if they thought it almost impossible that one stone should not be left upon another. But Jesus again assured them that the temple, as well as the city, should be utterly destroyed. Jesus then spake of the misery that would come upon the Jews, when the destruction of their city should take place. From this, He went on to speak of the end of the world, which must surely take place some day or other: and He warned them, that as no man could know when this event would take place, it was necessary that every one should be prepared to meet their God. Let us remember this: let each one of us try to live every day as if it was to be our last. Many things He spake, to enforce the duty of watching, so as to be always ready.