EVERYTHING

Mark 12:35–44 ESV

And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, in 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. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly. And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 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. 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.”

NOTICE WHAT JESUS CONDEMNS

Jesus criticizes these religious leaders for their shallowness and showmanship.

THEIR SHALLOWNESS

Mark 12:35–37 ESV

And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, in 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. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly.

THEIR SHOWMANSHIP

Mark 12:38–40 ESV

And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

So there they were: Prancing, Preening, Primping, Pompous, Proud, Powerful, Prestigious Peacocks…Prancing amongst the Poor Pigeons of society.

NOTICE WHAT JESUS COMMENDS.

Mark 12:41–44 ESV

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 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. 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.”

Jesus is interested in what people do with their money.

In the Bible prayer is mentioned 371 times; love 714 times, and giving...2162 times.

He knows that money can do more to you then it can do for you.

Money is a good servant but a poor master.

When you learn to give, you learn to control your money & not let it control you.

Mite/Lepton: smallest Jewish copper coin (lit. a thin one) [Worth ¼ of a cent]

Quadrons - smallest Roman coin [Worth ½ of a cent]

The mite was the smallest offering permissible under the law.

Here we have the most famous giver ever.

He watches our giving. Don’t ever think that what you have is too little for Him to notice. Should those who have very little, still be expected to give? [actually they’re the best givers]

Jesus was a people watcher. But not only watching their actions but watching their motives.

He watches our motives.

Matthew 6:1–4 ESV

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Notice in (41) it says he noticed how they gave, not what.

Hannah said in her prayer in

1 Samuel 2:3 ESV

Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

Why do you give?

He watches our proportion not the portion.

1 Corinthians 16:2 ESV

On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.

Jesus noticed and appreciated her gift. Not because of the size but because of her generosity.

Jesus said she put in more (43) How? Because God weighs things on a different set of scales.

For the rich their gifts were a small contribution; but for the widow, her gift was true consecration of her whole life.

It seems like she was 1 mite away from never being heard of. She could have kept 1 back, but gave both. all that she had…her whole livelihood.

Wait...she just showed us how to love the LORD your God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. But if I give a penny w/the widow’s heart, it is great gain to me & to God.

Matthew 6:21 ESV

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Is everything on the table this morning?