Unmasking Hypocrisy: Complete Surrender

Passage: Mark 12:28-44

28 ¶ And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?  29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:  30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.  31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.  32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:  33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.  34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question. 

35 ¶ And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?  36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.  37 David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly. 

38 ¶ And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,  39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:  40 Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation. 

41 ¶ And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.  42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.  43 And 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:  44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. 

Underlying Themes

Love as the Core of Faith Which Comes after the All (Verses 28-34) Jesus’ response to the scribe underscores that love—love for God and love for others—is the foundation of all commandments. True worship isn’t merely about ritualistic adherence to rules but about a wholehearted devotion to God and selfless care for others.

Theme: Faith is relational, not transactional, and love is the ultimate measure of righteousness but IOT understand what is true love - it requires a committment of the ultimate kind, a sacrifice that is for all and requires all.

2. Recognizing Jesus’ True Identity (Verses 35-37) By challenging the scribes' understanding of the Messiah, Jesus reveals Himself as not only the Son of David but as the Lord—both human and divine. The crowd receives this truth gladly, while the religious leaders remain resistant.

Theme: Pride blinds, but the Light of the World Reveals Spiritual insight.

3. Warning Against Hypocrisy (Verses 38-40) Jesus critiques the scribes’ focus on outward appearances—long robes, public praise, and privileged positions—while exploiting the vulnerable (e.g., widows). This hypocrisy is condemned as empty religiosity.

Theme: Faith must be authentic, prioritizing service and humility over self-promotion and superficiality.

4. Sacrificial Giving and Genuine Faith (Verses 41-44) The widow’s offering, though small, reflects a heart of complete trust and devotion, contrasting with the rich who give out of their surplus. Jesus honors her sacrifice as the true model of generosity.

Theme: True faith involves selflessness, trust, and sacrifice - not mere appearances of piety.

Issue Then

The issue in these passages revolves around confrontations from the Pharisees, their scribes, the Sadducees, and the Herodians towards Jesus during his last week before crucifixion and his resurrection. In chapter 11: see see the Pharisees confront Jesus over his authority.... We see another confrontation to Jesus, this time by the Sadducees, presenting Jesus with an absurd interpretation from Deuteronomy 25.

Deuteronomy 25:5-6, "5 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her. 6 And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.

So, we see Jesus correcting the Sadducees and meeting them in their understanding of scripture, explaining that they err because they do not know the scriptures or the power of God. We see how the Sadducees approached Jesus with their minds veiled by the 'god of this world & unable to receive the truth of the gospel (2 Cor 4:4),' and their perversion and interpretation of scripture. Jesus says they are egregiously mistaken. IOWs severely mistaken - they greatly err. What I love most about this confrontation is that Jesus, knowing everything, chooses to meet them at their level. Chooses to meet them at their knowledge and understanding. He shows grace to the Sadducees and brings back to their remembrance Moses meeting Yahweh and Yahweh say I am....the God of Abraham, the God of Issac, and the God of Jacob. That our God is the God of the living, not the God of the dead.

A powerful response to the Sadducees' blinded, prideful, and absurd question. Now at this point, we see several things happening to Jesus. I want to mark the time frame of these passages. Historical context reveals these passages occurring on Tuesday, just 72 hours prior to his crucifixion. In this first portion of todays passage we see one of the scribes [scribes are religious lawyers] coming and having heard them reasoning together, he perceived that Jesus answered them well, so he brings a question forward to the Master Rabbi.

Then we see Jesus responding to the Scribes and then rebuking the Scribes. Our last passage reveals Jesus observing the coming and going of people at the Temple's Treasury. Jesus's observation highlights the sacrificial giving of a widow and her two mites.

ISSUE - Mark 12:28-34

We Are Commanded to Love God Supremely (Mark 12:28-30)

(12:28-34) Introduction: Jesus, approached by a scribe who appears well-versed, teaches the greatest commandments that pertain to provision and duty to our lives. Jesus explains we are called to love, but more importantly, we are called to love God with every aspect that defines who we are and then love our neighbors as we love ourselves. More importantly, Jesus provides not just the greatest commandment but finds commandments that summarize the entire law. Why? Jesus had an opportunity in this moment to give a new command, we see in XXX, that Jesus actually says this – he says I give unto you a new command…

I find this incredible because just as Jesus met the Sadducees with grace and truth regarding their misinterpretation and perversion of scripture with our bodily resurrection, Jesus uses specific commands that the Jewish people would know but with so many things in our lives, we can become desensitized or hardened – and when this occurs we often become cavalier, often selfish, and things that once had special meaning to us no longer does. We see this with new Christians, they receive a bible and they are on fire and they are reading and listening to the word, listening to the gospel and then the world begins creeping in. Creeping in, not bringing in, but reaffirming that sin-serpent nature in our lives. The etymology or root of the word reaffirm is broken into two parts, “Re which is a prefix meaning again or back, used a as repetition or renewal of an action, and affirm which means ‘to declare something or state positively.’ 

So, think about that, we are literally reaffirming the sin-serpent nature in our life because we are breaking away from the new covenant and we are putting ourselves back into the world of sin. We do this by vain repetitions, we recite aspects of the word which proves us, but no longer cuts deep into us.

So these new Christians once on fire for God, now are doing the same things, watching the same shows, drinking the same alcohol, smoking or using the same drugs listening to the same music prior to their conversion and they are bearing no fruit in their lives.

James says, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (Jas 2:10).

When you put yourself back under the law, into sin, you are not free from it. With no liberty comes bondage to darkness, then creeps in judgment, and contention, and condescension. We judge, we hold to division, and we think ourselves better that reality. The reality is we all fall short of the glory of God, yet we see the pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, and scribes continue with no avail come against Christ. We see this today, we see division and superficiality. A sobering reality is there is a artificialness to our everyday lives. Don’t worry about artificial intelligence, the artificialness of your righteousness is already damning you to hell. The doors are already open for you where the worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.

Some points for 28-30:

(28) At this time there is 613 laws or commands in total located in the first five books of the Pentetuech. Of these 365 were negative commands or bearing consequences and 248 are positive commands bearing blessings. Intermixed in these 613 laws were moral laws and ceremonial laws, bearing heavy or light demands in the rabbinic tradition.

(29) Jesus responds with 'The Shema.' Which is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5: "Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." This confession was recited by every devout Jews morning and evening. Rabinnic tradition and scholars indicate the Shema was and is as important to Judaism as is the Lord's Prayer is to Christians.

Breaking down that first is part is "The Lord [Yahweh] our God [Elohim], the Lord [Yahweh] is One." Here is the heart and soul of the Hebrew faith, yes, of Christianity. Yahweh is God's covenant name declared to His people. Yahweh is our God and our only God. Yahweh is One. He is unified and unique in essence and existence. He alone is God; there is no other.

In Ex 34:6-7, we see Yahweh described as perfect in His gracious love and pure in His justice: And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. (Exo 34:6-7 KJV)

Furthermore, the context of the Shema is instructive. To love God is to obey His commandments and statutes "all the days of your life" (Deut 6:2). To love God means you will teach these commandments to your children and grandchildren (Deut 6:2), when you sit, walk, lie down, and rise up throughout the day (Deut 6:7), remembering He is the God "who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery" (Deut 6:12). To love God supremely means you must "not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you, for the Lord your God [Yahweh your Elohim], who is among you, [because Yahweh] is a jealous God" (Deut 6:14-15).

(30) To Love God with All you Are - The repetition of the word "all" (found four times in Mark 12:30) emphasizes the comprehensive nature of how we are to love Yahweh our Elohim, the Lord our God. It calls for a total response of love and devotion to God. It is a commandment, but more importantly a call to love God wholely and completely.

The heart speaks to our emotions, the real me on the inside (see Exod 20:3). "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

The soul speaks to the spirit, the self-conscious life (see Ps 42:1-2). "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. Psa 42:2  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?"

The mind speaks to our intelligence and thought-life (see 2 Cor 10:3-5). "2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ"

Strength speaks to our bodily powers, perhaps even the will (see Rom 12:1). "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. "

There is none other God but one” (1Co 8:4).

a. He is the Lord, Jehovah, Yahweh. There is no other. We beleive in one God fulfilled as the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, anything else or anything less than this is a false belief.

b. He is our God. This is a personal relationship between a worshipper and his God. It is a daily experience. We are related to Him; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Therefore, we should love, adore, and worship Him.

c. He is one Lord. He is the focus and concentration of our life, attention, worship, love, and praise. He is the only Subject of our devotion. There is no reason, no excuse for distraction by any other subject. He is the One Lord, the only Subject.

Sinclair Ferguson says, "God is never satisfied with anything less than the devotion of our whole life for the whole duration of our lives"

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jud 1:21).

Ask yourself the following?

Is the Lord the all-consuming passion of my life?

Do I have a deep, intense, and abiding affection for my Lord?

Am I loyal to my God with an exclusive love?

Do I resist and even oppose anything or anyone that seeks to do my Lord harm?

Am I zealous to defend, with grace, my Lord's name and honor?

Do I enjoy spending time with my Lord?

Do I do things that please my Lord and increase His joy?

Do I brag on my Lord to others?

Do I tell my Lord that I love Him?

Do I talk with my Lord as much as I can?

1 John 4:10 "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." This verse emphasizes God's unconditional love, showing that love originates from Him—not from us. It highlights the sacrificial love of sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to atone for humanity's sins.

Some points for 31-34:

(31) Love Thy Neighbor as thyself: Do you love yourself? Do you feed yourself? Do you pray for youself? Is your Christian walk selfish or maybe just self-centered? How many times a day are you praying for your family? For financial blessings to rain for yourself or for others close to you? How many times have you prayed for an enemy?

There is very likely ought between you and another if you cannot pray for that person! If you cannnot acknowledge anything good in that person.

The Lord our God demands that we love our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus provided a powerful illustration to the Scribe who asked Jesus "Which is the Greatest Commandment?" The first command is an abstract idea - it cannot be seen or understood by itself! It must be revealed by an action. There must be something done IOT show that you are doing the first and that is by the second.

A profession of love without demonstration is empty. It is only profession. Love is not known without showing it.

1 Jhn 4:8 says, "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

Love is an active experience, not inactive and dormant. It is inaccurate and foolish for a man to say, “I love God”; and then be inactive, dormant, doing nothing for God. If he truly loves God, he will do things for God. Any person who loves does things for the one loved.

The primary thing God wants from us is to love our neighbor, not the doing of religious things. Doing religious things reveals the lifelessness and immateriality of what makes us feel good but it does not demonstrate our love for God.

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (Jhn 13:34-35).

The great commandment to love God flows downward into another great commandment: to love our neighbor as ourselves. The fact is inescapable.

“God commendeth [demonstrated] His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8).

We are to love our self. Not selfishly; selfishness desires attention, allows self-reliance, shows conceit and contention, and even ignores others.

However, God wants a love in us that stirs a strong self-image, confidence, assurance, and that is pleasing to God. Godly love esteems others better than itself.

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Php 2:3).

The fact that this is a command makes clear that the primary focus is on our actions and not our feelings. In a paradox that does not refute itself. Jesus tells us to love ourselves in Mark 12:31 but in Mark 8:34 we are to deny ourselves ("And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.").The more I rightly love myself, the more I will deny myself and love others.

(32-33) Such Love Is a True Sacrifice To love God supremely and our neighbor genuinely "is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices."

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. (1 Sam 15:22)

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.. (Prov 21:3)

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. (Hos 6:6)

To love our neighbor is a very practical command. It involves some very practical acts that are spelled out in Scripture (see 1Co 13:4-7).

⇒ Love suffers long (endures long, is patient).

⇒ Love is kind.

⇒ Love envies not (is not jealous).

⇒ Love vaunts not itself (brags, boasts not).

⇒ Love is not puffed up (vainglorious, arrogant, prideful).

⇒ Love does not behave itself unseemly (unbecomingly, rudely, indecently, unmannerly).

⇒ Love seeks not her own (is not selfish, self-seeking, insisting on a person’s own rights and way).

⇒ Love is not easily provoked (not touchy, angry, fretful, resentful).

⇒ Love thinks no evil (harbors no evil or immoral thoughts, takes no account of a wrong done it).

⇒ Love rejoices not in iniquity (not in wrong, sin, evil, injustice); but rejoices in the truth (what is right, just, righteous).

⇒ Love bears all things.

⇒ Love believes all things (exercises faith in everything; is ready to believe the best in everyone).

⇒ Love hopes all things (keeps up hope in everything, under all circumstances).

⇒ Love endures all things (keeps a person from weakening; gives the power to endure).

Jesus adds Leviticus 19:18 to complement Deuteronomy 6:4-5. Growing out of my love for God, I love those who have been created by God in His image. "Neighbor" is not used here in a restrictive sense. All of humanity, even my enemies, are in view (see Luke 10:25-37).

ISSUE - Mark 12:35-40

The Coming of Jesus Reveals a Greater David Mark 12:35-37

Moving into our next passage we see Jesus now asking the Scribes a question: How say the Scribes that Christ is the Son of David? This simple question framed by Jesus to evoke an response from them and at the same time it reveals his presence to them as the Messiah but again we see how their minds are veiled by the god of this world. He frames his question from Psalm 110:1 - "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." In the framing of Jesus's question, Jesus one acknowledges the Holy Spirit to the Scribes which I find fascinating and he explains how can David call his son Lord, unless IOW by being emboldened by the Holy Spirit, David reveals that there will be a Lord and a Son, and the Lord will call his Son Lord. This completely flips their theological understanding on it's head. I love how the scripture says, the common people heard him gladly which means the Scribes did not receive what he said gladly but only the common people.

In a moment of truth, Jesus reveals a very literally truth knowing his revelation comes in another revelation merely three days away.

The Hypocrisy of Religion Mark 12:38-40

Jesus takes this moment to rebuke the Scribes and their hypocrisy in public. Juxtaposing them against their personal walk with God. Jesus specifically calls out the actions of the Scribes:

To wear clothing IOT draw attention. (38) had long robes and tassles on the sides; wore phylacteries. These were little leather type boxes which contained a piece of parchment with four passages of Scripture written on it. The Scriptures were Exo 13:1-10; Exo 13:11-16; Deut 6:4-9; and Deut 11:13-21.

To exalt man through titles and greetings IOWs salutations (38)

To be seen, admired, and honored by those around them and in the public (39)

To prey upon the weak and use widows for gain (40)

To show exaggeraged piety through long prayers.

“Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Php 4:8).

A man’s life consists not in the things he has, but in the service he renders to others. The world is desperate, swamped with enormous needs. God’s will is for all persons to be wrapped up in meeting the needs of the world and not in clothing. This is especially God’s wish for the Christian. The Christian’s concern is to be righteousness. He is to work for Christ and His kingdom, not for expensive, stylish, ostentatious clothing.

A person can change his dress, his clothing, and his appearance in order to attract attention. A person often desires attention, so he seeks to attract by being different and making himself stand out. This was a sin of the religionists in Christ’s day. This is the same sin we see today. Jesus very simply said to beware of dressing to attract attention. The religionists did it to appear righteous. Others do it to appear worldly (appealing).

“Neither yield ye your members [bodily parts] as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God” (Rom 6:13).

“For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him” (Psa 49:17).

Self-Seeking—Honor, Worldly—Pride: beware of front seats and high places, seats and places to be seen, admired, and to show one’s prominence. In the synagogue the leaders and distinguished men sat on a bench in front of the ark (where the Scripture was kept), and they sat facing the congregation. No leader could be missed.

On social occasions the most honored sat at the right hand of the host, then the next honored at his left hand, and so on, alternating from the right to the left down the table. Position and recognition were set. Some loved the positions of honor, special seats, and places of recognition. There are those who love the restricted neighborhoods and clubs, the preferred lists. They love the preeminence (3Jn 1:9). Note what is condemned: not being in these positions and places, but the love of them. Someone has to hold the upper positions and fill the major places. It is the love of such, the love and the feeling of pride because of the place and position that is wrong.

Widows—Stealing—Motive, Evil: beware of devouring widows, of using widows for gain. Many commit this sin, and Jesus is most severe in His warning against it. He says that the man who devours (takes advantage of) a widow “shall receive greater damnation.” Note who these men were.

1. They were lawyers (Scribes). Of course others were guilty as well, but the ones who stood before Jesus were lawyers. They used their legal position to manage the wills and other legal business for the widows, and they cheated, devouring the widows by skimming too much out of their estates.

2. They were religionists, professing to believe in God. Some used the guise of religion to steal from widows.

There are some today—lawyers, religionists, preachers, and institutional, civic, and Christian leaders (all professing hypocrites)—who court the attention and favor of people, especially widows, for the purpose of securing money. They seek large donations, endowments, trusts, investments, and gifts to promote themselves and their institution. And the great tragedy is, such false and hypocritical hearts use the guise of religion to promote themselves and their false ideas. Their call to people is to institutional religion, not to the honor of God and the spirit of self-denial. Vain men, of course, are susceptible to such appeals, but widows in particular are exposed to those who seem to be so devoted to God.

Note that Jesus said the damnation of these shall be greater. There are some sins more horrible than others. Using religion for selfish ends is one of them. Such will receive a greater damnation. Something should be noted here. Widows hold a special place in God’s heart. He has always instructed His people to care for them in a very special way.

“He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment” (Deut 10:18).

“Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow” (Deut 27:19).

“A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation” (Psa 68:5).

ISSUE - Mark 12:41-44

Jesus Sees What We Give Mark 12:41-42

The preceding paragraph mentioned widows as the object of religious exploitation (v. 40). The simple piety of this "poor widow" stands in stark contrast to the self-centered ambition of the scribes. She also must be contrasted with the rich young ruler (Mark 10:17-31) who loved his money more than he loved God. In this lady we find a marvelous example of one who "love[s] the Lord [her] God with all [her] heart, with all [her] soul, with all [her] mind, and with all [her] strength" (Mark 12:30).

Further, "The elevation of the simple woman to such an exemplary place captures the essence of Jesus' words that in God's judgment 'many who are . . . last [will be] first' (Mark 10:31)."

We see this scene shifting from the Scribes devouring the widows to this widow giving to the temple treasury. An interesting note is that at this time, the temple treasure contained 13 shofar chests and Jesus is watching all those who give offerings.

Illustration - Jesus wasn't simply watching them like a we look at the birds - Jesus watched them and saw them through completely. He knew their hearts. He knew their thoughts. He knew them...

"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." Jeremiah 1:5 Emphasizing God's intimate knowledge and divine purpose for Jeremiah it serves as a reminder of how God knows each of us.

It is a story that . . .

shows how God’s heart reaches out to those in need—reaches out in tenderness and compassion and love.

shows how much devotion and commitment and boldness mean to Him.

shows how deeply God is moved by those who give all they are and have to Him (contrast the Rich Young Ruler, Mrk 10:17-22).

shows what real giving is.

The treasury was an area in which there were thirteen trumpet shaped collection boxes where the worshippers dropped their offerings. He sat down, apparently all alone, to get some relief and rest from the tension of the past hours. While resting, He “beheld how the people cast money into the treasury” The word “beheld” (etheorei) means He was deliberately observing, discerning the motives of the people as they made their offerings. He saw many walk by and drop in sizeable offerings. Some were apparently quite large contributions. He could see the handfuls of coins and hear them clang against the sides as they slid down the funnel shaped trumpets. But none attracted His admiration. Finally a poor widow came along and threw in two mites, which were the smallest of coins, coins of very little value. Christ took what he saw and taught what true giving really is.

“Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee” (Deu 16:17).

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (2 Cor 9:7)

Real giving is measured by how much a person has left, not by how much a person gives. Jesus called His disciples to him and used the great sacrifice that the widow made to teach a much needed lesson. Note several facts.

They all gave an offering to God: both “the people” (v.41) who had and the poor widow who did not have.

The ones who had plenty gave more money, much more than the widow. Their contributions were generous. Their incomes were dazzling, so their offerings were large.

But in God’s eyes the widow gave more. Why? Because God measures what was kept, not what was given.

⇒ The widow had less remaining; the others still had much.

⇒ The widow had given more of what she had; the others had given less of what they had.

⇒ The widow had sacrificed more; the others had sacrificed less.

This is the lesson Jesus was teaching, a critical lesson. God counts what we have left, not what we give. He counts the amount of sacrifice, not the amount of money. The gift that matters is the gift that costs the giver to give. To the thoughtful recipient it is not the size of the gift that impresses, but the sacrifice the giver had to make in order to give the gift. In proportion to what she had, the widow gave a larger percent. The others gave a much smaller percent. After they had given, they still had 85 percent or 90 percent or 95 percent to spend on themselves.

Jesus had not failed to see the others. It was simply that the others "gave out of their surplus" (v. 44). Their giving was not sacrificial, it was comfortable. Did they truly give God their best? No, they gave to an institution (and a corrupt one at that) what was easy and convenient. Jesus was not impressed. Warren Wiersbe captures it well: "The rich made a big production out of their giving (see Matt 6:1-4), but Jesus rejected them and their gifts. It is not the portion but the proportion that is important: the rich gave out of their abundance, but the poor widow gave all she had. For the rich, their gifts were a small contribution, but for the widow, her gift was a true consecration of her whole life"

William Kelly said, "The test of liberality is not what is given, but what is left."

The poor widow's sacrificial giving was a foreshadowing of Jesus' own: she gave all she had, and so would He! Prophetically, we see this widow as a forerunner for Jesus and his ultimate sacrifice just three days away.

Issue Now

Relevance to Today’s Church and Spiritual Lives

Struggles with Superficiality and False Righteousness

Appearance: Many churches and individuals can fall into the trap of focusing on outward displays—rituals, dress, status—while neglecting inner transformation and genuine love. Just like the scribes, there’s often more concern for public recognition than humility.

Understanding: Misinterpretation of scripture or resistance to deeper theological truths can mirror the scribes’ inability to grasp Jesus’ identity fully. Intellectual pride can hinder spiritual growth.

Hearts: The widow’s example challenges us to examine whether our giving (whether of resources, time, or energy) comes from a place of love and sacrifice or merely convenience.

2. Faith in Action Churches today are called to embody the love Jesus emphasized—by caring for the vulnerable, serving others selflessly, and fostering an atmosphere of genuine worship over superficial religion. Individuals must also reflect on their own lives:

Do we prioritize appearances over authenticity in our faith?

Are we resisting pride and seeking humility to understand God’s deeper truths?

Do we give sacrificially and trust God with everything, as the widow did?

3. A Call to Justice and Compassion The scribes’ exploitation of widows reminds us of the persistent need for justice. Churches and individuals must strive to protect and uplift the marginalized, recognizing that superficial displays of religion mean little without genuine acts of love.

Where We Struggle

1. Pride

Proverbs 16:18 (KJV): "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." This verse warns that pride leads to downfall, highlighting its destructive nature.

James 4:6 (KJV): "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." Pride creates distance from God, while humility brings His favor.

Luke 18:9-14 (KJV): The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector illustrates spiritual pride. The Pharisee boasts in his righteousness, while the tax collector humbly seeks God’s mercy.

Real-World Struggles: Pride can manifest in a reluctance to admit wrongdoing, judging others harshly, or seeking recognition for spiritual achievements. For example, some Christians may focus on external appearances of piety, measuring their faith by their actions while forgetting that humility is key to true discipleship.

Why It’s a Problem: Pride prevents believers from fully depending on God, disrupts relationships, and fosters a judgmental attitude toward others. It can hinder spiritual growth and make it difficult to reflect Christ’s humility and love.

2. Self-Reliance

Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV): "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." This teaches the importance of depending on God rather than relying on our own strength or wisdom.

John 15:5 (KJV): "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." Jesus emphasizes that true fruitfulness comes only through reliance on Him.

Real-World Struggles: In today’s culture of self-sufficiency, Christians may prioritize their own abilities, plans, or logic over seeking God’s guidance. For instance, in making decisions, people may turn to worldly wisdom rather than prayer and discernment.

Why It’s a Problem: Self-reliance diminishes faith by creating a false sense of control. It distances believers from experiencing God’s power and provision, leading to spiritual stagnation and frustration when human efforts fall short.

3. Selective Love

Matthew 5:43-44 (KJV): "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Jesus calls for unconditional love, even toward those who oppose us.

James 2:1-9 (KJV): This passage warns against favoritism, highlighting the sin of showing partiality to the wealthy while neglecting the poor.

1 John 4:20 (KJV): "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"

Real-World Struggles: Selective love often shows up in how people interact with those outside their community, denomination, or socioeconomic status. For example, a church may prioritize outreach to certain groups while ignoring others who might be harder to love or less “visible.”

Why It’s a Problem: Selective love contradicts the gospel’s call to love as Christ loves. It weakens the witness of the church, creates division, and alienates those who most need to experience God’s unconditional love.

Why These Struggles Persist Today

Cultural Influences: The emphasis on individualism, achievement, and personal success promotes pride and self-reliance, often at the expense of humility and dependence on God.

Lack of Reflection: Christians may focus on external religious practices while neglecting heart-level transformation, leading to pride or selective love.

Fear and Comfort Zones: Loving without limits requires vulnerability and a willingness to step outside comfort zones—something many find difficult in a world that prizes security.

Addressing the Problem

The solution lies in returning to the foundational truths of the gospel: humility, surrender, and selfless love. Actively pursuing a relationship with God through prayer, study, and community can help believers combat these struggles and reflect Christ more fully in their lives.

Faith as Relational, Not Ritualistic

At the heart of Jesus’ response to the scribe in Mark 12:28-34 is an unmistakable call: love. Not love masked in performance, but love rooted in devotion to God and care for others. David Wilkerson lamented how modern churches sometimes drift toward ceremonial comfort zones—places where outward worship replaces inward surrender. He warned that believers often know how to go through the motions but fail to cultivate genuine relationships with God and neighbors. Love, as Wilkerson declared, is not measured by church attendance or eloquent prayers but by how deeply we surrender our lives to God’s purposes.

True worship is not transactional. It’s not about doing good deeds in exchange for blessings. It’s about embracing our identity in Christ and pouring out our hearts to Him and to those He has placed in our lives. Yet how often do Christians today rely on ticking spiritual boxes while their love remains shallow? What we need is not performance but transformation—a faith that uproots pride and establishes humility.

Humility and the Struggle to Recognize Christ

When Jesus challenges the scribes on the nature of the Messiah (Mark 12:35-37), His words invite them to go deeper. He reveals that the Messiah is both David’s descendant and David’s Lord, bridging humanity and divinity. Charles Spurgeon, in his resounding voice, often proclaimed the blindness of spiritual pride—the way it leads us to hold tightly to our limited understanding rather than seeking the fullness of God’s truth. Spurgeon pleaded with his listeners to approach Scripture with humility, declaring that only in brokenness can we receive divine revelation.

Today, many believers resist going deeper in their faith. Why? Pride. We prefer our assumptions, our inherited interpretations, and our comfort zones to the mystery of God’s majesty. And in churches, this resistance manifests in division, dogmatism, and a lack of spiritual hunger. The question is—will we gladly receive Christ’s truths like the crowd or remain resistant like the religious leaders?

The Poison of Hypocrisy

Jesus’ stern warning about the scribes (Mark 12:38-40) is echoed in the fiery critiques of both Ray Hughes and David Wilkerson, who mourned the superficiality and arrogance of some church leaders. Hughes described hypocrisy as “religion without relationship,” calling out how pride blinds us to the vulnerable in our midst and causes churches to prioritize comfort and image over mission. Wilkerson similarly lamented the exploitation of the poor and the hollow prayers of those who prioritize status.

In today’s churches, we face the same temptation to prioritize appearances over authenticity. We can become obsessed with our platforms, our programs, and our buildings while neglecting the very heart of Christ’s message: humility and service. Hypocrisy in the church is dangerous because it alienates the lost and distorts the gospel. Faith must be lived authentically, in service to God and others—not in pursuit of recognition.

The Challenge of Sacrificial Giving

When Jesus honors the widow’s offering (Mark 12:41-44), He reminds us that true giving flows from trust and devotion—not abundance. Charles Spurgeon often spoke of sacrificial giving as “the act of a heart on fire,” urging believers to give not because they have much, but because they recognize how much they’ve received in Christ. Spurgeon warned against hoarding, declaring that nothing we possess is truly ours but is entrusted to us by God for His purposes.

But in modern Christianity, sacrificial giving has often been replaced by token generosity. David Wilkerson challenged churches to examine their hearts, asking, “Are we giving to God out of convenience, or are we giving until it hurts?” Sacrificial giving is not about the amount—it’s about the heart. The widow gave “all her living,” not out of obligation but out of love and trust in God’s provision. In contrast, the rich gave from their surplus, a gesture devoid of sacrifice.

Today, the church wrestles with a deep tension: will we cling to material wealth, or will we trust God enough to give sacrificially? This challenge isn’t just financial—it’s a call to surrender our time, talents, and pride. We are stewards, not owners, and our lives should be marked by generosity that glorifies God and transforms communities.

The Razor's Edge of Reality: A Call to a Faith That Lives

Mark 12 isn’t a gentle suggestion; it’s a searing indictment. A clarion call to a faith stripped bare, a faith that bleeds with love, bends with humility, shines with authenticity, and aches with sacrifice. And yet…look around. Look at the church. How often do we find ourselves drowning in the very things Jesus so fiercely rebuked?

Pride, a venomous serpent, coils around our hearts, blinding us to our own failings and whispering lies of self-importance. Hypocrisy, a festering wound, poisons our witness, choking the life out of genuine connection. And selfishness, a relentless tide, pulls us under, preventing us from even glimpsing the breathtaking generosity of Christ.

This isn't a new lament. Listen to the echoes of the past! David Wilkerson, a prophet to a dying generation, cried out for a dismantling of religious facade. Ray Hughes thundered against the complacency that suffocates the soul. And Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, relentlessly challenged believers to live a faith that was real, not merely recited. They all pointed to the same desperate need: to tear down the walls of pretense and surrender to the radical, transformational power of true discipleship.

They understood, as Jesus so clearly demonstrated, that the Gospel isn't about ticking boxes on a spiritual checklist. It’s not about perfectly polished rituals. It’s about relationship – a messy, vulnerable, life-altering relationship with a living God. It’s about humility, not inflated ego. It’s about authenticity, a raw honesty before the throne, not a carefully constructed performance. And it’s about sacrifice, a willing offering of everything we are, not a frantic clinging to self-preservation.

So, I ask you, with a weight on my heart: how will we respond? Will we continue to toss God the crumbs of our time, our talents, our affections, expecting Him to be satisfied with leftovers? Or will we, like the widow, lay down everything at His feet, even when it feels like all we have? Will we chase the applause of others, meticulously crafting an image of piety, or will we embrace the terrifying freedom of vulnerability and authenticity?

The Kingdom of God doesn't ask for a portion of your life. It demands it all. Your love, fierce and unwavering. Your trust, absolute and complete. Your service, selfless and tireless. Your sacrifice, a constant offering of your very being.

Let us fall to our knees, humbled before the staggering grace of the cross. Let the flames of His love consume our pride, melt our hypocrisy, and shatter our selfishness. Let our hearts be set ablaze for His glory, radiating a light so brilliant, so compelling, that it pierces the darkness and draws a world desperately in need of His hope.

Let us, finally, reflect the very heartbeat of Christ.

God Then & Now!

The Echo of Eternity: God Then, God Now, God Forever

Look at Mark 12. Don’t just read it, feel it. Feel the weight of those ancient questions, the sting of Jesus’ challenge, the quiet dignity of a widow’s sacrifice. Because within these verses isn’t just a story from the past – it’s a mirror reflecting the very heart of God, then, now, and for all eternity.

This isn’t a God content with mere obedience. He isn’t a cosmic rule-giver demanding empty ritual. No! He yearns for connection. He aches for devotion. His greatest commandments – to love Him with everything we are and to love our neighbors as ourselves – aren’t restrictions, they’re invitations. Invitations to a relationship so profound, so intimate, it redefines everything. He doesn’t want our performance; He wants our hearts.

And then, the revelation. The unveiling of Jesus as not just a son of David, a promised king, but the Son of God! This isn’t a political maneuver, it’s the unfolding of a plan millennia in the making. A plan of redemption, of reconciliation, of a love so fierce it sent divinity itself to bridge the chasm between us and the holy. He didn’t send a fixer; He sent a Savior.

But God doesn’t just offer salvation; He demands justice. He doesn’t turn a blind eye to suffering. He sees the exploited, the vulnerable, the forgotten. He exposes the hypocrisy of those who cloak themselves in religion while crushing the spirits of others. His righteousness isn’t cold and distant; it’s burning with compassion, a fierce defense of the broken and the oppressed.

And then…the widow. Two coins. A pittance in the eyes of the world, but a universe of meaning in the eyes of God. He doesn’t measure by the size of the gift, but by the weight of the sacrifice. He honors the trust, the faith, the selfless devotion that pours forth from a heart emptied of everything but love.

This is the God who doesn’t just offer a new life, He creates one. He promises to take our hearts of stone and replace them with hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). He declares that anyone who is in Christ is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). This isn’t a cosmetic makeover; it’s a complete transformation, a remaking from the inside out.

God then is God now. He still calls for love. He still reveals Himself through Jesus. He still champions the vulnerable. He still honors sacrifice. And He still, relentlessly, pursues a relationship with you.

The question isn't, “What does God want from me?” but “What does God want for me?” And the answer echoes through the ages: wholeness, redemption, and a love that knows no bounds. Will you answer His call? Will you open your heart and let Him transform you? The echo of eternity awaits.

Benediction

Hebrews 13:20-21 (KJV):

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."