Wise Widows

Psalm 146 / 1 Kings 17:16 / Mark 12:38-44

1 Kings 17:16 ESV

16 The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

Beware the Scribes - v38-40

Abuse of good things

greetings

best seats in the synagogue

long prayers

Their Heart: Pretense / Self-righteous

long robes - they look the part, esp to be noticed

best seats - prestige & position (while devouring widows’ houses)

long prayers - false piety / wanting to be heard

Greater Condemnation

Evidence they are not in Christ

Romans 8:1 ESV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Warning for proclaiming to be a teacher / preacher / leader

James 3:1 ESV

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Jeremiah 23:1–2 ESV

1 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord.

Matthew 23:37 ESV

37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

Condemned in Eternity

Matthew 11:20–22 ESV

20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.

Scribes and teachers in the church today need to take great care not to fall into prideful and pretentious ways.

Everyone should beware of teachers and preachers who act in these ways. It could very well be evidence they are false teachers. At a minimum they have lost their way.

Be like the Widow - v41-44

NT Giving

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 ESV

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

The widow’s offering is NOT an example expected to be followed by NT believers, just like Jesus telling the rich you ruler to sell everything was not meant as a norm to be required.

Caesar or God?

Mark 12:15–17 ESV

15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.

This widow gave out of poverty because she knew she owed her all to the Lord

An act of Faith

Elijah & 1 Kings 17

Psalm 146:5 ESV

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God,

Psalm 146:10 ESV

10 The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!

The widow in Zarephath gave to Elijah when she had not enough for herself and her son because she believed Elijah was sent from God, and was rewarded for her obedience by being rescued from the drought.

So too, the widow’s offering in Mark 12 was an act of faith; believing that God would provide; not unlike the widow in 1 Kings 17, and also not unlike the sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham.

The choice is yours!

Beware the Scribes:

Don’t seek teaching and leadership positions for self gain

Don’t follow teachers that match the description Jesus gave

Examine the life of those who propose to speak for God; see the fruit of their heart

Be like the widow:

Trust in God to provide

Recognize that all you have and are is already His

Whether materially, or of your time, talents, and efforts, give as an act of faith in and worship of the one who has supplied for you.

Church Family, we see a clear contrast in today’s text: Those whose hearts are for themselves, and seek to influence others, and a simple widow who acted in faith, not making a show. MayGod help us to always beware of the former, and seek to imitate the faithfulness of the latter.