GIST: We’re called to have a Christ-like character of true devotion, not to cloak our destructive arrogance in false spirituality.
SCRIPTURE: Mark 12:38-44
38 And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
Today we’re coming to the end of Mark 12. The length of this passage will likely come as a welcome reprieve after several weeks of more hefty verse-counts. Likewise, the message here is very straight forward, so I hope not to keep you long. Nonetheless, like always, even the truths which are most easy to grasp are hard to put into practice--and this particular truth should strike a real chord in our 21st Century American culture (which means...your heart, too☺).
Again, this is the last week of Jesus’ life. We’ve seen powerful displays of His majesty. He is God. He is here as the Savior of the world who will sacrifice His life and endure Hell to save you from your sin. Amen! After several confrontations with the religious elite, the last of which was a scribe who was actually getting close to the kingdom of God, Jesus gives His last public address where He corrects their understanding of who the Messiah is--pointing to Him, again, as God-in-human-flesh coming to save the world from sin. Then, He gives this condemnation against the religious elite which is a warning for us, too. Just like in chapter 10 when He calls His followers not to lord over people like the Gentile leaders, here we’re told not to imitate the corruption found in the religious leaders either. In chapter 10, He told us instead to live like dependent children. Here, we’re told to live like this devoted widow. He’s flipping their expectations around again! So, what’s the gist? We’re called to have a Christ-like character of true devotion, not to cloak our destructive arrogance in false spirituality.
I. THE SCRIBES: DESTRUCTIVE ARROGANCE CLOAKED IN FALSE SPIRITUALITY
Let’s look at the religious leaders first. They’re definitely not painted in the best light here. Now, were all the religious leaders of Jesus’ day like this? No. In fact, we know some came to follow Christ. Nonetheless, this seems to have represented the majority, which is why Jesus begins this address by telling those listening to “beware”. This is a warning. Look out for this selfishness and don’t fall victim to it yourself.
As I was studying this week, I found Steve Wilmhurst’s break down of this selfishness very helpful, so I’m giving him full credit for the terminology of the points below. In the text, we see their selfishness manifested in the following ways.
1. Desire For Appearances & Status (38-39). We’re given a few images here, but they all point back to the same heart. They wanted to look good and get praise. First we’re told they “like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces.” These religious leaders wore long, flowing white robes which were very distinct. No one else wore them. Therefore, it was immediately apparent who they were. Much like if we were to see a police officer in uniform. We would immediately understand what he represents. There is nothing inherently wrong with this. I wear a badge at school, so people know who I am. However, it’s their motivation that’s the problem. Why do they like to wear these? So they’ll get special attention in public. This isn’t a matter of being religious leaders in the community, but rather wanting to be treated as “holy men”. In the same way, they like to “have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts”. This is the same thing, right? At this time, much like many places today, seats at both the synagogue and at festivals were based on rank. Having the best seats was a perk of being a religious leader...and they enjoyed it.
Let’s be clear. There is nothing wrong with being respected or recognized. That’s not sinful. However, living for that is a problem. Isn’t that an issue in our world today? Aren’t so many looking for recognition and accolades? These religious leaders wanted to look good--and were not talking physical attractiveness (I don’t know...maybe Pharisees were ancient fashion models, too… ☺). They wanted people to think highly of them. They wanted that prestige. The problem is, as we’ve been studying, they weren’t living righteous lives. It was all show.
2. Destructive Use Of Greed (40a) Right after telling us this, He says they “devour widows’ houses”. What’s going on there? (I can’t help but picture them actually chowing down on some drywall.. .☺). At this time, religious leaders didn’t collect official paychecks for their labors. They lived off the hospitality of others. Because of this, it would be assumed that these men would be poor, or at the very least, of fairly modest means. Yet, they had some cash! Where did this come from? The people. They were the privileged class who deserved your donations. We’re not told how they specifically did this, and there is no need to speculate here. We just know that their special victims were people like the widows who already had very little to give. People like the woman we’re about to be given as an example of true devotion. People they were supposed to be serving, but instead were devouring. They weren’t just taking enough to live on, but taking enough to deprive those from whom they were taking.
3. Public Displays Of False Spirituality (40b) So they like the attention, take from the needy, and “for a pretense make long prayers”. Praying is not bad, and this isn’t a call for only short prayers either ☺. The issue is a heart one again. Why are they making these long prayers? For outward show. That’s what the word pretense means there. It wasn’t genuine. It was part of the scheme to look more holy.
I know we’re not to the “takeaways” yet, but add all this together, and I think you can see where this can hit us today. Is there a serious difference between your home and church lives, or your “outside of church” and church lives? Here’s something I think about quite often. If I have students or colleagues come and visit us at church, will they be shocked when they see me preaching? What about my kids? Am I living this, or is it just to make me look better? Am I really serving God, or seeking the approval of people? It’s like Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
What Was The Result?--> Greater Condemnation (40c). They wanted to get more than everyone else and Jesus says they will...get more judgment. Rather than lead God’s people to Himself, they have turned their religion into a platform for personal gain. Don’t we hear the warning for our nation today?
II. THE WIDOW: TRUE DEVOTION & A LESSON IN CHRIST-LIKE CHARACTER
Now, let’s look at the widow. These religious elites were serving themselves. She presents a very different picture.
The Setting (41) After making this public condemnation, Jesus moves into what seems to have been the Court of the Women. This would have been the next level of the temple. You had the Court of the Gentiles which was as far as the Gentiles could go, then the Court of the Women, which was as far as Jewish women could go. There were 13 trumpet shaped boxes for freewill offerings here. It’s important to note that these were offerings made above and beyond the required temple tax. Because of their shape, the sound was apparently amplified when coins were dropped in, so the more the louder. It seems to have become an opportunity for making a show of your generosity. “Look at me. This is beyond the requirement. Look how loud I can make this!” That’s the scene Jesus was observing when this poor widow comes and drops in two small coins which would have made basically no sound.
The Offering (42) We’re told throughout Scripture to take care of orphans and widows. Why? Because they had no one to care for them. Women in this time did not earn income. They were mainly dependant upon family members or the generosity of others. This widow is pointed out as poor, so her situation seems to have been doubly dire. Nonetheless, she is going above and beyond what was required of her. She gives the equivalent of a penny. Actually, the word used there probably means something worth even less than our modern penny, but the picture is clear: this is a super small amount. Nonetheless, the point was that it was a great sacrifice for her. “She out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” This isn’t saying “less is more”. In fact, I don’t think the lesson is about what she gave at all.
The Lesson (43-44) So what is the lesson? It’s not about what you’re giving, but why you’re giving. We’re called to have a Christ-like character. At the core of who we are, we should be longing to be like and serve Jesus. Our entire lives should be for Him. It should be what drives everything. Not just everything at church or when people are paying attention...but everything, all the time.
That’s why I titled this message “What Gives?” It was a little play on words since this passage is about giving...but it’s really more about why we give than how much...and “what gives” means “Why are you doing this?”... Ok, so maybe it only makes sense in my mind☺. Either way, the lesson is about being genuine in your devotion. It’s almost identical to what Jesus just talked about with the scribe who was “close”. Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Don’t just look good, really follow Him. Be willing to give everything.
TAKEAWAYS
1. Have a Christ-Like character. Throw off your need for appearance and status. Forget greed. Be real in your worship. This means worshiping Jesus even when no one is looking AND speaking the truth even when everyone is--even if that means a blow to your popularity or acceptance.
2. Give beyond convenience. This isn’t just about money, but that’s a part of it. So, let’s start there and get good and uncomfortable. We like our money, what little we may have, and don’t like the idea of anyone telling us to give it away. In fact, we’re suspicious of anyone who tries to get money out of us. Regrettably, this is one of the major scars left by nominal Christianity. People expect to come into a church and be asked for money. So, let me try to make this as clear as I can. I don’t want your money. Giving to this church won’t somehow guarantee your salvation, or make greater sums of money magically appear at your door. This is a very generous church. Yet, we’re called to give financially to the ministry of the Gospel, not for us, not for me, but because it’s God’s money in the first place. He gave it to us. We should use it for Him.
On top of finances, though, this is about time and talents. We don’t like to be put out. We don’t like to be asked to do more. Our time is precious and limited. Yet, here’s the deal. You have been given unique opportunities and gifts. You are loved by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You, though wretched and sinful, are precious in His eyes. So precious, in fact, that He died to save you. As such, there is not a single person reading these words who has not been made for a very specific purpose. That purpose is not serving yourself. That purpose is serving Him.
These scribes were condemned for putting on a show, but not really living it. Are you going through the motions, or are you giving beyond convenience. Not sure what that would look like? What could I ask you to do right now that you would immediately say is “too much”? And this goes for me, too. Just because I stand up here and talk every week doesn’t mean I’m giving Him my all. Take time to seriously pray about this. Is your Christianity more than a show? What are you not willing to give? Give Him that.
3. Long to see Jesus move. This wasn’t a takeaway until this morning. Yet, as I prayed about how to apply this in my life, I was struck by a sign of just going through the motions. If we can come to church, but not really desire Jesus; if we could have all of the fellowship, music, and some inspirational speaking, but not draw closer to Him; if we could continue to meet together and talk about texts from the Scripture and try to become better people from their teachings, but not have Jesus and never see anyone ever saved, then we’re just putting on false spirituality. If we’re not longing to see Jesus move in the lives of people around us, what are we longing for?
THE LORD’S SUPPER
I think it’s fitting that we’re having Communion this morning because this can sometimes become more of a ritual than a reality. Paul warned his readers of this in 1 Corinthians 11. Let’s let the Word speak for itself. “26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.”
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