The Scriptures tell us just how poor the family of Jesus was, but it doesn’t say directly. Instead it says this:
And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons” (Luke 1:22-24).
Every Jew would know what this meant. Jesus was dirt poor.
The sacrifice of purification for a child was a lamb plus a pigeon or turtledove. One was for atonement for her and the other for a burnt offering.
If someone was so poor that they didn’t even have a lamb, they could bring two turtle doves or two pigeons. One bird would be for the burnt offering the other for atonement.
And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, and he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female. And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean” (Leviticus 12:6-8).
What we see here is that Mary brought 2 turtledoves or pigeons. We don’t see the quote referring to a lamb plus a pigeon.
A pigeon was a concession offering for the poor as it was very low cost. It was humbling to bring something of such low value but when it was all you had, it was still a gift. And that’s what the Lord desired–a gift.
Jesus knew poverty. He knew what it was not to be able to afford milk and meat. He likely knew what it meant to work hard not ever feel full.
Jesus truly knows the suffering of many.