To be blessed forever in continual happiness, we must have the capacity for eternal values and realities. Man receives new birth through believing the incorruptible Word of God (1 Peter 1:2323Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1 Peter 1:23)).
It is of first importance that we discover that great heart of love expressed so richly at the cross of Jesus and which will be seen throughout eternity in its varied ramifications. Every necessity in man is met by the grace found in Jesus, if there is faith in His Person. Thus the kingdom of God is pressed into, because the soul has no other resource, being consciously stricken, indigent, and poor.
There are five widows spoken of in the gospel of Luke. In the accounts of these widows we see illustrated the divine capacity which marks all of wisdom's children. The expression "widow" means "the silent one", or "bereaved". "The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow" (Prov. 15:2525The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow. (Proverbs 15:25)).
2. The widow of Sarepta was a companion to the rejected man of God (Luke 4:24-26).
3. The widow of Nain, leaving her hopes of nature in the place of death, found new ones in resurrection life (Luke 7:11-15).
4. The widow of the city, with an adversary, found the true Protector who would never fail her (Luke 18:1-8).
5. The certain poor widow discovered that Christ was everything to her, and she was no longer in need of two mites (Luke 21:2-4).
Luke's gospel is moral in character, having to do with man's vital relationship with God, and it is especially adapted to the subject at hand. It is not to be wondered at that all five widows of the New Testament are set forth in progression as to state of soul. Of the nine widows spoken of in Scripture, five are found in the New Testament. One of these is set forth in detail in the Old as well.