Religious Deception

The sin of the Pharisees was paying attention to outward demonstration of piety for appearcae sake rather than giving attention to the inward obedience.

Two Eggs on is normal raw egg placed ain the hadn and squissed

the second egg is exactly the same on the outside but the insides have been removed.

Do not be deceived by those who perceive to be religious.

Warning - Woe

Scribes- Not all Scribes Pharisees

The vast majority of the scribes were Pharisees; the priests were Sadducees.

D. A. Carson

The become more traditions - The considered the traditions more valuable than the Law itself

Long Robes- Long White Robes and Tassels - Phylacteries

Greetings- Oh Great Teacher- Rabbi - Honored -

Best Seats

Places of Honor-

James 2: 1-4 “1 My brothers and sisters, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. 2 For if someone comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes also comes in, 3 if you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” 4 haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”

Devour Widows Houses -

A state of a woman who has lost her husband and has not remarried. This was often a dangerous state for a woman in ancient times because economic security was often based on a husband's income and work.

Isa 10:2 “2 to keep the poor from getting a fair trial and to deprive the needy among my people of justice, so that widows can be their spoil and they can plunder the fatherless.”

Amos 2; Micah 3

Didache - 3 - If He asks for money - He is a false prophet - 12 Give me money or anything else do not listen to him. But is he tells you to give on behalf of others who are in need let no one judge him.

The church has always led the way in matters of philanthropy and kindness to widows, to the poor, to children, to the suffering, the wounded and those who are treated harshly by life.

Authentic Christianity (3), 250

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones

The Gospel according to Mark (A Widow’s Two Cents’ Worth (12:38–44))

Josephus (Ant. 18.81–84) tells of a Jewish scoundrel exiled to Rome who affected the ways of a scribe (“he played the part of an interpreter of the Mosaic law and its wisdom”) and succeeded in persuading a highstanding woman named Fulvia to make substantial gifts to the temple in Jerusalem. The bequests, however, were embezzled, and Rome—from Emperor Tiberius on to plebs in the street—was outraged.

Say long prayers just for show

A Man who prays Much in Private prays shot in public

Short prayers are long enough.

Charles Spurgeon

123    Be specific with God in prayer and he will be specific with you in regard to the answer.

David Wilkerson

Prayer—The Long and Short of It! (2009)

David Wilkerson

Receive Judgment - The Hottest Spot in Hell

James 3:1 “Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment.

Religious Deception results in the manipulation of the masses that hope to gain favor with God.

Temple Treasury

1. Origin of the Treasury- Already in Josh 6:19, 24, therefore, we read of a “treasury of the house of Jeh,” into which “the silver and gold, and vessels of brass and iron,” taken at Jericho, were brought.

2. The Solomonic TempleI- David’s plans for Solomon the “treasuries” (ganzakkīm) are mentioned with the “porch,” “the houses,” the “upper rooms,” the “inner chambers” of the Temple (1 Ch 28:11); and the same distinction is made of “the treasuries [’ōçerōth] of the house of God,” and “the treasuries of the dedicated things.

3. The Second Temple - The Book of Neh introduces us to treasury-chambers in the second temple—now used for the voluntary offerings (tithes) of the people—corn, and wine, and oil (Neh 13:4 ff; cf Mal 3:10).

4. Herod’s Temple - in the NT In Herod’s temple the name “treasury” was specially given to the “court of the women” (see TEMPLE, HEROD’S), where were 13 trumpet-shaped boxes for the reception of the offerings of the worshippers.

Treasury- 13 horn shaped - THat would make loud noise when coins would be placed in.

The money was used for

The Rich Putting in Large Sums.

The Poor Widow Dropped two tiny coins.

two lepta”

The Gospel according to Mark A Widow’s Two Cents’ Worth (12:38–44)

In cases where a contribution was rendered for priestly service, the attending priest examined the currency for genuineness, inquired of the purpose of the gift, and verified that the contribution corresponded to the prescribed sacrifice. The priest then directed the worshiper to deposit the amount in the appropriate receptacle.

The Gospel according to Mark A Widow’s Two Cents’ Worth (12:38–44)

For Jesus, the value of a gift is not the amount given, but the cost to the giver

The widow’s giving “ ‘all she had’ ” is a true fulfillment of the call to discipleship to follow Jesus by losing one’s life (8:35). The final Greek words of the chapter might be paraphrased, “she lay down her whole life.” That is what Jesus will do on Golgotha.

Three Types of Givers

Flint- You must hammer it and you on

Sponge - you must squeeze it

and the honeycomb - overflows with its own God given sweetness Thi is

But we are shown here the result of the religious Deception.

Giving - Ananias Sapphira

Acts 5:1–11 CSB

1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. 2 However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God.” 5 When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard. 6 The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him. 7 About three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 “Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the land for this price?” “Yes,” she said, “for that price.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband. 11 Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 9

7 Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. 9 As it is written:

He distributed freely;

he gave to the poor;

his righteousness endures forever.,

The Widow is a victim of the system. - Yes She is giving in faith but she is only doing so because the religious leaders beat into her head that she will be blessed in her giving.

This is a Warning Passage! It was a warning to the 1st century audience and it is a warning to you!