More Parables (Part 2)

Introduction

Today we are continuing our study in the book of Mark. Last week, we saw Jesus using parables—or stories—to answer the questions of the religious leaders. We ended with Mark 12:34. The very end of this verse says,

“And from that point on no one dared ask him any more questions.”

Yet, Jesus is still in the temple. And now He begins to ask the people questions—presumably the religious leaders are still gathered around watching.

If you have your Bible’s I want to encourage you to turn with me to Mark chapter 12 and we will begin reading with verse 35.

Who’s Son is the Messiah?

Mark 12:35 NIV84

While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, “How is it that the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the son of David?

Now as we begin, I want to remind us there are two words that refer to the same person. Some of your Bibles say, “Christ,” while some of your Bibles will say “Messiah.” This often confuses people but the two words refer to the same person in two different languages. Christ is Messiah in Greek, while the word Messiah is more of a Hebrew word, but the both refer to God’s promised redeemer—we know Him as Jesus.

The Jews were looking for the Son of David. Jesus knew this, when we come to verse 36, He quoted from Psalm 110:1 and then concluded with a question.

Mark 12:36–37 NIV84

David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’ David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?” The large crowd listened to him with delight.

So in the quote from Psalm 110, the first “Lord” in Psalm 110 is the is the word Yahweh—which ALWAYS refers to God. The second “Lord” is the word “adonay” which is often used to refer to the Messiah.

In this Psalm, David heard a heavenly conversation. David said that Yahweh said to David’s Messiah that Messiah was to sit at the right hand of Yahweh—the honored position. And Messiah was to sit there until Yahweh puts the Messiah’s enemies under his feet—a place of subjugation. Hebrews 10 talks of this time.

Hebrews 10:12–14 NIV84

But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

So the question that Jesus poses, is how someone who David called Lord could be the Son of David? While meant to be a rhetorical question, it shows that the Messiah, is both David’s son and David’s Lord at the same time.

This is one of the clearest claims by Jesus saying He is the Messiah.

I love the fact that verse 37 says the large crowd that listened to Him with delight.

Do you delight in listening to Jesus? Do you know Jesus as Messiah—your Savior and as your Master (Lord)?

Beware of Religiosity

When we come to verse 38, Jesus continues to teach the people.

Mark 12:38–39 NIV84

As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.

The religious leaders—the men in our story last week that came to Jesus to challenge Him—these men love to be honored!

Walk around in flowing robes—historically these were fine linen robes with tassels on the fringe that flowed when they walked.

The loved to be greeted in the marketplace—a sign that they were important to the common people.

They loved the seats of honor in the synagogues.

They liked to receive honor at banquets.

All three of these were signs of prestige and honor within the church. These men cared more about themselves than they did people! Look at verse 40.

Mark 12:40 NIV84

They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.”

When we read this verse, it might sound a little strange to us. In Jesus’ day, the teachers of the Law received no pay—so they would depend on the hospitality of those they taught. However, this led to the misuse of their power, by many of them taking advantage of people who could not afford to help—the widows would be an example. They would use loopholes in the Law to take people’s property.

Jesus adds that they also make long prayers—more like speeches—to impress people of their religiosity while covering up their greed.

Jesus concludes such men will be severely punished!

Today, I see a lot of religiosity among the Church of Jesus. But following Jesus is NOT about religion. Now don’t get me wrong, being a part of a church is an important part of living for Jesus—but religion does not save us. Having a personal relationship with Jesus, accepting His free gift of forgiveness of our sins, and then living a life of obedience is what is important. It is personal relationship over organized religion.

The Widow’s Offering

Continuing the this theme of religiosity, Jesus begins to teach His disciples.

Mark 12:41 NIV84

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.

Here’s the scene. Jesus and His disciples are sitting across from the place where people gave their financial gifts to the temple. There were 13 ram’s horn trumpet-shaped metal receptacles called shofar in Hebrew. The priests would place the shofar against a wall of the women’s courtyard to receive the Jews’ offerings.

When you went to the temple you would enter the courtyard of the Gentiles. This courtyard surrounded the courtyard of the women. A low barrier separated the courtyard of the Gentiles from the other courtyards and the temple building that lay within this enclosure.

The courtyard of the women was farther from the temple building than the courtyard of Israel, which only Jewish men could enter, or the courtyard of the priests, which only the priests could enter.

Jesus had given His preceding teaching in the courtyard of the Gentiles. Now He evidently moved into the courtyard of the women and watched the people as they dropped their offerings into the metal shofar.

As you might imagine, dropping coins into a metal ram horn shaped trumpet made quite a noise.

Jesus observed the rich people throwing their coins in, making a huge commotion. This must have been both an impressive sight and sound.

At the same time, Jesus observed something else. Look at verse 42.

Mark 12:42 NIV84

But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

He also saw a poor widow quietly put in two small copper coins—worth a fraction of a penny—these coins were worth 1/64 of a day’s wage.

No doubt the disciples were impressed by the number of rich people who gave making a huge commotion. But look at what Jesus said.

Mark 12:43–44 NIV84

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

To the disciples’ shock, Jesus says the poor widow woman’s gift was greater than all the others’ gifts. The reason—they all gave out of their wealth—it didn’t cost them anything. But the poor woman gave everything she had—all she had to live on.

So many times, I look at the amount of money I have to live on, and I begin to think I can’t afford to give. The truth is I cannot afford NOT to give to the Lord. Yet, when I give, I need to give quietly, without great show! And I need to give generously—sometimes until it hurts, then trusting the Lord to supply my needs!

Life On Earth is Temporary

When Jesus finished talking to the disciples, they made their way out of the temple. Look at verse 1 of chapter 13.

Mark 13:1 NIV84

As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”

One of the disciples notices the massive stones that were used to make the temple. This disciple looks back at the temple and notices how magnificent the building was. At this point he calls Jesus’ attention to it.

“Look Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” The temple complex must have been impressive. Yet, Jesus gives a surprising response.

Mark 13:2 NIV84

“Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

As wonderful as the temple looked, it would not survive the test of time. The magnificent temple complex would be destroyed—ever stone would be thrown down!

So many times the things that seem grand to us are really small to God. What we find so important are actually unimportant to God. The disciples thought the temple was magnificent, but Jesus saw the temple for what it was—A man made place to worship Him.

If we put the emphasis on the grandeur of the created we will miss the grandeur of the Creator.

Today, are we missing the grandeur of the Creator? We must be careful that we don’t miss the greatness of the Lord God!

SO WHAT?

There are five main "takeaways” that we need to see from this passage.

Do you know Jesus as your Messiah—your Savior and your Lord?

Are you amazed by Jesus and His teachings.

Do you focus on your personal relationship with Jesus—or are you just “religious” practicing “religiosity”?

Do you give to the Lord out of love and dependence on Him to supply your needs? Or do you give out of your excess—out of your leftovers?

Do you see your importance through God’s eyes or man’s eyes?