Turn with me to Mark chapter 12. In our brief time together,
we'll be looking at 2 verses beginning in verse 38 of Mark
chapter 12. We don't have that much left for
this chapter before we get to Mark chapter 13.
And Mark chapter 13 is the riveting teaching of Jesus on
the Mount of Olives concerning the last days.
And so I'm looking forward to that series.
I trust you are as well, but we must honour our pace and so
we're here at verse 38 and let's read together.
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 honour at feasts, who devour widows houses and for
pretence make long prayers. They will receive the greater
condemnation. I usually don't share the title
of a message, but I will this time.
Today I want to speak to you answering the question who will
receive the greater condemnation?
Contrary to modern day opinion, Jesus Christ of Nazareth
believed, taught and warned about a coming judgement.
This judgement will be executed by God and it will determine the
fate of every human being concerning their eternal
destiny. What we rejoice in, US
Christians, are the truths that we've sung about and even
witnessed through the obedience of some that our judgement has
been settled at the cross of Jesus Christ.
We have no reason to fear this judgement that will arrive and
will be implemented upon everybody.
Christ drank the wrath. Christ took every single inch,
every single amount of your sin and satisfied the justice of
God. And through your repentant
faith, you are now accepted in the Beloved, and you are secure
in His hand. Nevertheless, understand this,
my dear Christian brother and sister, the Bible does teach
that there is still a judgement for Christians, and this
judgement will not determine your eternal state.
It will determine the degree of reward that you will enjoy in
another life, and that will be measured by how you and I lived
as forgiven people in the name of Jesus Christ.
Additionally, there is a judgement that will come upon
those who have rejected the Gospel, who have rejected the
mercy and grace of God in the person of Jesus.
And what people fail to understand is that judgement
will also determine the degree of punishment that unbelievers
will have to endure for all of eternity, depending upon the
wisdom of God and determining the severity of their sin.
And what you and I are reading today is just a glimpse, some
insights about what will take place, how and what will be
judged on that final day. More specifically, Jesus Christ
is actually highlighting those who will bear the heavy penalty
granted by God, one of the highest forms of divine
retribution that one can receive.
And that's made clear by the last part of verse 40.
He says they will receive the greater condemnation, not just
condemnation, but the greater one.
Who is the day that Jesus speaks of the scribes, the scribes, the
theologians of this time, the austere scholars, the esteemed
men who were revered by the general population as being in
tune with God and learned and experts in the mind of God.
Jesus underscores that it is this class of men who will
experience A level of judgement that is quite terrifying.
And when we come to this text, we might wonder, well, what
benefit does this prophetic declaration have for us?
And that would be an appropriate question.
But when you look at it from a different angle, when you look
at it from Luke's writing, you get your answer.
If you want to with me, turn to Luke 20 and verse 45 and Luke
2045 in the parallel account. Notice what the Scripture says
concerning the format of Jesus's teaching.
It says, and in the hearing of all the people, he said to his
disciples, beware of the scribes.
He said to his disciples, He wasn't saying this to the
scribes, He was saying this to his own followers.
Now the full comprehensive teaching that Jesus gives here
is provided in Matthew chapter 23 where you get a lengthy index
of woes that Jesus proclaims concerning the scribes and the
Pharisees. Comparatively, Mark and Luke
summarize that lengthy teaching in the way that we just read it
in these two verses. But I present to you today that
this has great benefit for the disciple of Christ, for him to
look at his own 12 and proclaim this teaching.
Yes, in the presence of a great crowd implies something super
important. Followers of Jesus are capable
of embracing the mentality and the practices of these scribes
who embody the opposite spirit of what a true disciple of
Christ must be. In other words, Jesus wants to
teach his own of the things that deeply displease him.
And so, to our benefit, when Christ speaks about this issue,
he's not vague. He's surgically precise in his
denunciation. And I come to this text and I'm
reading. I'm thinking, OK, I know that
I'm wonderfully saved by the grace of God, but I also see the
mind of my Savior. And what I learned here is what
He greatly condemns, what is deplorable to him.
I know we rejoice in the truth that God is love.
But remember, God also hates. He hates and there are things
that He hates more than other things, including this.
And so these evils that you and I just mentioned that seem to be
culturally bound, when you actually consider the heart
behind it, you'll realize that these appetites and these
actions are actually universal. They apply today.
So yes, these scribes acted in a certain way that deserve such
judgement, but they can re replicate it and imitate it even
now in 2024. So in this brief time together,
I want to show you by way of categorizing these things, four
things, four things that the Lord Jesus Christ greatly
condemns #1 Jesus Christ greatly condemns showy attention seeking
spirituality. Where do we get that from?
We see here in verse 38 and in his teaching he said beware of
the scribes who like to walk around in long robes.
Pause. Jesus is not criticizing a style
of apparel. He is pointing out a mindset
behind the application of certain garments.
Not much is given to us by Mark about what these long robes
signify, but again, it's when you go to Matthew's explanation
where you get some additional insights that helps us
understand what Christ is getting at.
So you have to turn to Matthew 23 and you have to see it here
in verse five of Matthew 23. Jesus expounds upon what He
means here about these lengthy robes that these scribes wore
all the time. Matthew 23, verse five, He says
about the same group of people. They do all their deeds to be
seen by others, for they make their phylacteries broad and
their fringes long. What are these two items?
Phylacteries are things that devout Jews today even apply.
They're those small leather boxes, have you seen them, that
are placed in the hands or on the forehead of devout Jews?
And they are strapped by leather ties.
And in those leather boxes are verses and scriptures.
You say, well, why would they do that?
Well, they derive that by literally interpreting and
observing what Deuteronomy 68 says.
And that passage tells us that God commanded the law to be
bound as a sign on your hand, as shall be frontlets between your
eyes. So they took that and they
literally applied it. We're going to put the Word of
God here and put the Word of God in our hands.
And then you read about these fringes that they were made
long. It does not have biblical basis.
Absolutely, it has biblical basis.
When you read in Numbers 15, you actually see it in verse 38 and
39 where God commanded the common Jew to make certain
tassels on the corners of their garments, and these tassels at
the end of their garments would serve as object lessons to
remember to obey and walk in the commands of God.
So everything that Jesus is describing here is actually
biblical. It's not inherently wrong.
He's not condemning the presence of these leather boxes and these
fringes and these tassels. What is he?
What is he criticizing? Then read the verse again, for
they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.
And why did they look for the biggest leather box that they
can hold on their hand? Why did they try to find the
most noticeable thing to place on their face?
The first part of the verse they do all their deeds to be seen by
others. The Lord Jesus, can I just talk
to you plain and straight? He hates when the commands of
God are pursued, an exercise to maintain an image of super
spirituality. He hates it.
Notice again that it was in the presence of these items, but the
motivation behind them. And unfortunately, what these
scribes did is possible for us to do today.
Not only with your address, but with your words, with your
actions. When we act in a certain way
because we want not to please God, not to genuinely bless
those around us, but with the goal for the outcome of
onlookers to say to themselves and others, and maybe even to
you, you're holy, you're godly, you're like the real deal,
right? You're the real deal.
And when that becomes the aim of your adornment of truth, Jesus
says that deserves great condemnation.
All of this reminds me of a certain man from the Old
Testament. By the way, the Old Testament is
the best illustration book for New Testament truths.
I'm reminded of a certain king by the name of Jehu.
And he was commanded by God. He was commissioned by God to
clean house, to remove all of Baal worship from the land of
promise. And he did so with great zeal
and obedience. And at some point he bumps into
another man named Jehanadad. And I want you to read or hear
these words in Second Kings 10/16, when this man now is on
this mission and he is succeeding.
Notice the words that he says. He says the quiet part out loud.
He says what these scribes felt inside.
He perhaps is saying what some feel even in Christendom today
in their pursuit of spirituality.
Second Kings 1016 and he said, come with me and see my zeal for
the Lord. So you had him ride in his
chariot. So what's the big deal with
that? Here's what it would translate
that. Imagine a pastor coming to you
before Sunday service calling you saying, hey, can I pick you
up? I want you to hear how
passionate I am for God. How does that sound?
And now you taste it, right? That's exactly what he's saying.
Come and see my zeal for the Lord.
I have an extra seat in my chariot.
What's happening here? Well, you have this man who is
confessing a passion for God, but that passion for God has
become his platform for self promotion.
So it's not for God's sake, it's for my sake.
And I have no problem using my consecration, my gifting, my
influence, yes, in the name of God, but for you to really love
my name and to talk about me, you know, a true preacher will
be more disappointed if people walk out of the service talking
about him more than Jesus. But there are many like this man
and many like the scribes who actually are fishing.
They're fishing for the praise. They're fishing for the pat on
the back. They're fishing for the
comparison where you are incomparable, where you're the
next this and you're the next that.
Jesus hates showy, attention seeking spirituality, but it's
not the only things that he he condemns.
There's a second thing that Jesus greatly condemns.
Jesus condemns #2 spiritual status as a means for personal
advantage. Come back to verse 38 of Mark
12. And in his teaching, he said
beware of the scribes who who like to walk around in long
robes and like greetings in the marketplaces.
Pause there. That's elaborated in Matthew 23,
where they love to be called by titles rabbi and father and all
these different they they got a kick out of that and they would
get upset if you didn't. But besides the point, look at
verse 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places
of honour at feast. So listen the these scribes were
not just fishing for respect verbally expressed, no, they
employed their spirituality also to gain social advantage like
tangible perks. And so they wielded their pious
positions with that in mind. And again this might sound
strange, the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour
at feast. What kind of feast?
It can be any kind of feast, including wedding feasts.
And so it may seem formed, but it's not formed because lust for
power and authority is not alien within Christendom.
It's not. And these scribes remind us that
we are all in danger. All of us are in danger, He told
his disciples. He told his followers.
We are all in danger of developing the attitude of a
master rather than of a servant within the sphere of the church.
And you've been here long enough to hear so many sermons about
Christ elevating and promoting and teaching His own to pursue
servanthood. If you're really going to be
great spiritually, you're going to serve.
What do these scribes do? They did the exact opposite.
They they, in the pursuit of greatness, measured that by the
privileges that they were able to attain and secure because of
their positions of power and their spiritual influence.
This is exactly what Christ is getting at, the danger of
developing an attitude of being a Lord instead of being a slave.
And the ugliness here is when we are now leveraging our gifts,
leveraging our knowledge, leveraging our personality,
leveraging our influence to collect perks rather than to
serve others. And so when you begin to think
in this way, I deserve this, I deserve this because I am this
or I do this, you're treading on condemnable ground because Jesus
hates this. In fact, He teaches in another
place something that elaborates on this warning.
Turn with me to Luke again. But look here at verse seven of
chapter 14, Luke 14, verse 7, because again, we can look at
this in a negative, but we also have to see it in the positive.
If this is what Christ condemns, then what is He after?
What does He want us to pursue as disciples of His?
This is what He's asking of you, that no matter your position,
you and I have to daily, daily clothe the inner man with a
garment of servanthood every single day.
As you put on your physical clothes, you're also putting on
the inner garments of servanthood and expect to be
treated as such, saying, what are you talking?
This is discipleship. This is what it means to follow
Christ. And look what Christ does when
he was invited to a feast, Luke 14 verse seven.
Now he told a parable to those who were invited when he noticed
how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, so Can
you imagine that, right? You have all these prolific,
influential people who invite Jesus and you know what Jesus
noticed when he came to dinner? I can just see it, these
Pharisees and these scribes entering into the place and
bumping into each other and racing to the best seats in the
house. And Christ noticed that like
little kids, He says, you know what, since I'm here, let me
teach on a parable about this very thing.
And so on. Verse 8, When you are invited by
someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of
honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be
invited by him. And he who invited you both will
come and say to you, give your place to this person, and you
will begin with shame to take the lowest place.
But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that
when your host comes, he may say to you, friend, move up higher.
Then you will be honoured in the presence of all who sit at table
with you, that there is a gospel truth tucked into us, but we
don't have time to break it down.
In fact, there are many, many points to make from this
parable. Can I just make one for the sake
of making it memorable? Here's a practical tip for
discipleship for you and I. It is this.
Whenever I walk into a room, I am to never think that I am the
most important person there. Any room, any setting, any
amount of people. Here's one of the practical
truths. We want to be practical.
Yeah. Here's one of the practical
truths of I want to please Christ as a disciple of his.
I am to register, remind myself I am not the most important
person in this room. Even if you serve God
sacrificially, even if you're a radical follower of his, do not
allow your heart to ever get to the place where you think you
earn an advantage over another. This is discipleship saying,
well, what should my heart be like then?
I serve God. I, I do much for God.
I, I, I think I'm the most active person actually in my
local church. Shouldn't I get something?
Here's what you do. You're still in Luke, right?
Go to 17 and look at verse 10. Jesus actually instructed you
what you should do when you're even serving God and are
recognized for it. Look at Luke 17, verse 10.
This is Christ speaking and I pray that this would mark the
heart of every person at NBC. So you also, when you have done
all that you were commanded, say we are unworthy servants, we
have only done what was our duty.
That's what you say. Not just I'm a servant, I'm
actually unworthy to serve. It's one thing to be invited to
a high position or to be recognized and praised and say
I'm unworthy. No, no, no, you're actually
unworthy when you serve. Like it's such a privilege and
an honour to serve God in any capacity.
We should have the revelation that it's a privilege and an
honour to do so. You say what kind of thinking of
it? This is not the world, but this
is the church. This is the Kingdom.
I'm an unworthy servant. I don't get to.
I don't deserve this. This is the opposite of what
Jesus is condemning here. Jesus hates the Lord.
Jesus hates when spiritual status is used to manipulate and
gain personal advantage. And it's very close to the third
thing that Jesus greatly condemns from our main passage
#3 Jesus our King condemns greed being satisfied through
spiritual manipulation. Come back to our main text,
please. Look at verse 40 of Mark 12.
These scribes who also devour widows houses.
Pause. I I really do.
I actually feel a fear for those who have No Fear in exploiting
people with their spiritual authority to make money.
I fear for those people because Jesus said such people will
receive the greater condemnation.
And this would be so important for the disciples to hear
because they were soon ready to be sent out into the four
corners of the earth. And they were going to preach
the gospel, and God was going to enable them to do miracles.
And they're going to plant churches, and they're going to
bless thousands upon thousands of people.
And as much as it might be an honor to be such a person, yes,
these apostles were unique in their authority and in their
ministry. But on any level, to touch
people's lives, as much as that might be a privilege, it is a
tremendous responsibility. Because here's the thing, from a
leadership standpoint, one of the things that you gain very
easily, even within the church, is people's trust, people's
trust. And what begins to happen then
if you're not careful and you allow this flesh to be
unharnessed and not to be under the control of the Holy Spirit,
is that the love of money can creep in.
And now you are able to convince yourself and even convince
yourself to benefit from others who sit under your ministry and
believe that you are a man of integrity and serve God
wholeheartedly. It's a tremendous
responsibility. And we look at this and Jesus
highlights this, and I believe it's more than just to keep a
watch out for perverted leaders. It's worth mentioning here that
financial manipulation is not limited to prosperity preachers
or those who embezzle church donations.
Let me say this way, there are many people who are not behind
pulpits like this, who don't have TV programs, but see the
church as a benevolent institution.
And they will come into the church and find a way to exploit
the sheep. Get this as fellow sheep.
Paul speaks of such people here. It is in Second Thessalonians
chapter 3 and verse 10. It's a very brief epistle.
And he writes For even when we were with you, we would give you
this command. If anyone is not willing to
work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you
walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busy bodies.
Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus
Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
So Paul here is highlighting a different danger.
He's not speaking about the top down, but he's speaking about
those on the same field. And he's saying here that we
hear. So there's something now that's
arrived to the attention of the apostle.
It's become a concern in this particular church.
Paul is not speaking about the church not taking care of those
who are genuinely in need within the church.
You and I's brothers and sisters must look out for those who are
suffering and who are in seasons of need and to come to their
aid. That's our call as Christians.
This is not what he is getting at.
Paul is speaking about those who have ample opportunity and great
ability but refuse to provide for themselves.
They refuse to do so. Now, why would some within the
church who have opportunity and have ability refuse to work?
Because Christians are loving and they're generous and they're
compassionate, and instead of being mindful of their own
needs, they have no hesitation to take advantage of that
compassion. And so Paul is highlighting a
mindset that is not justifiable. Again, let me reiterate here.
Let me emphasize there are going to be people in your life in the
church who do need help, and we are not to put them under this
category. You know what's so interesting
about these kind of people, though, who are exercising
idleness? It actually could be because of
their faulty view of the last days.
When you read this epistle, Paul is also correcting a faulty view
of the teaching of the things to come.
And it could be that some in the wrong theology interpreted and
applied the last days for them to say, well, what's the point
of working? Just quit your job.
Just wait. The end of all things is near.
And so you remove yourself from your daily duties.
But what tends to happen? What happened in this case?
These people who might have believed that we're waiting and
waiting and waiting and other stomachs are grumbling, but
there's nothing in the bank account because you haven't
worked in months. So what happens now?
In the name of spirituality, they're becoming a burden to the
church. And so Paul comes in and he
says, no, no, no. We talked about this and I'm
ready to talk about it again. This is this is serious.
So from any angle to financially take advantage of the church as
a leader or not is a dangerous game to play.
Jesus hates when greed is satisfied through spiritual
manipulation. There's one more thing that he
condemns from this passage Mark 12.
Let's look at verse 40 once more.
Who devour widows houses and for a pretence make long prayers.
It's as though the Lord is reinforcing his absolute disdain
for showy spirituality because it it's very similar to the
first point. Who who wear long robes, right?
Look at me, look at me, look at me.
And instead of doing it with their garments, they're doing it
with their voices. But there's a deeper layer to
Jesus mentioning this kind of praying because he says here who
for pretence make long prayers pretend simply means to pretend.
So what is he putting his finger on those who not are just
praying to get attention, but those who are pretending while
they pray there there's something that they're not
though they're presenting themselves in a certain manner
through praying. And so Christ here, lastly, not
only condemns showy spirituality, not only condemns
those who use their spiritual status to take advantage of
others, not who only through satisfying their greed will
manipulate spiritually, but lastly, Jesus condemns
spirituality without substance. This pretense and pretense
making long prayers is more than just showy spirituality.
It's spirituality without substance.
And Jesus talks about this in so many different ways.
And you're familiar with that passage in Matthew chapter 6
where he also condemns early in his ministry, a type of prayer
that is drawn out and framed and shaped in a way so that people
can hear you instead of God hearing you.
And do you remember what Jesus's answer to that kind of praying
was? Do you remember what he says he
looked for instead? Matthew 66 But when you pray, go
into your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is
in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
That is not to say that Christ is against public prayer
meetings. But you know what?
He is against public prayer meetings without personal
intimate relationship. Who for pretense make long
prayers where the heart is. I want people to know that I
have a connection with God. I want people to know that I am
indeed deep, passionate, sold out.
Call it what you will, but your room has cobwebs and the prayer
closet has not felt the warmth of your hand on its knob.
That's what Jesus condemns. So that's in particular with
prayer. But let's broaden it, right?
What does Christ want from people who call upon his name?
Substance. What is substance defined by
private, real, secret intimacy with the Lord, not just in
prayer, like who you are Once we check out of here in a few
minutes, that's what the Lord is after.
And the scribes, and I say this with a broken heart.
Buildings like this are packed with those who for a pretense
show up, who for a pretense give, who for a pretense hold
the Bible. They might even beat it up a
little bit so it looks like they've read it for a long time.
Pretence. It's all pretend.
And when you peel through the layers of public show, there's
nothing. Nothing.
I don't get people who are caught up in that.
Let me say this boldly. What does it matter if you fool
everybody but end up in hell for eternity for it?
So these are the things I know this is a heavier one for a
baptism service, but what do we begin the service with John
telling us that he rejoices those who walk in the truth.
A true disciple wants the whole truth.
And these are the things that Jesus our Lord, precious name of
God, our Savior, our Master hates.
And I want to let you know today that if you were like the
scribes in any way, the same Jesus who condemned these things
can change your heart. He can't.
You might have played the fool for years.
You might even fooled your spouse.
You might have fooled your kids. You might have fooled your
pastors. You can't fool God.
And God at this very moment is willing to change.
Why do you think this is in the Word?
To just seal the fate of those who are living this way?
No, may not be so of you. May this be the invitation of
true Christianity and believers, though, yes, we are saved.
Beware of these things too. Don't condemn yourself when
you're visited by those thoughts and temptations, but by the
power of the Spirit, swatted away when it comes.
That's not, that's not true spirituality.
And here's one of the marks of you growing in the faith, my
precious brother and sister. As you grow, you become less
concerned about public validation and more and more
concerned about what God has to say.
That's one of the marks of growth.
You become more and more detached.
Not that you're careless with your character.
No, no, I'm not talking about that.
But you don't find your prize and the praises of others.
You get more consumed by God. You come more aware of His all
seeing eye and His all listening ear and the ultimate reward at
the end where you will stare at those eyes and hear from that
saving mouth. Well done my good and faithful
servant. May that be said of all of us.
By His grace. Can we pray and ask Him to
cleanse us of anything that He would condemn?
Lord, thank you that you can even save hypocrites.
And Lord, we know that the testimony of the scribes is the
testimonies of so many who've experienced your grace and
mercy. Lord #1 as disciples of you, we
want to live in greater purity and humility and grace.
Can you help us, please, to do that?
Please, Lord, help us. And when we're visited by these
vices that try to latch on to the throne of our will or our
affections or ambitions, Lord, may the truth that we just heard
today just be one of the many ammunitions that would shoot
those things down. We, we want to be more like the
disciples you have purchased us to be.
Thank you, Lord, that we can even bend our knee before you
and say, Lord, for some reason I'm craving the praise of man.
Help me deliver me from this and you will.
Thank you, O Lord, that we can come to you and and we can admit
that there are things that you don't want, that we for some
reason want and you can destroy it by your grace and power.
Thank you for that. But Lord, we secondly pray for
the person in here who might be defined exactly like these
scribes. They have no true born again
experience. They have no true private
devotion. They have no true holiness.
It's all a mask. It's all superficial.
It's all surface level, Lord. May they hear the resounding
words of this book, of this particular passage, and may it
set them free. May they know that they can be
transferred from condemnation to commendation forever and ever if
they just admit their guilt and come to the foot of the cross.
Lord, we as a family come to you saying thank you for all that
you had to say. And we ask Lord, that these
things would help us walk in the truth in Jesus name, Amen.
Amen. Let's stand.
Let's stand and worship the Lord together as the praise team
comes and serves us in that way. I want to encourage you, if
you're a person here who's visiting and you don't know
Jesus Christ, you can know salvation today.
You can have all of your sins forgiven today.
You can be a new creature today. You can know everlasting life
for sure today. What you have to do is
acknowledge that you are a Sinner and also acknowledge that
Christ is the only Saviour and be willing to say this sin that
I know condemns me. I put it aside, I repent of it,
and I receive the payment that Jesus made for all my sin.
I'm telling you today, listen, you can leave this place going
to bed with the assurance that you have peace with God and you
can wake up tomorrow and the day after and the years to come
knowing for certain no matter what comes my way, I have this
inheritance. I am a child of God.
Why would you throw away that gift?
Why would you relinquish it? Why would you dismiss it?
Why would you even delay on that?
It's a free gift and God wants to give it to you today and it's
Providence. You're hearing the gospel maybe
for the first time, maybe for the 100th time.
Here's why I'm saying this at this point, even while we're
singing, you can, in your own words, speak to the Lord and ask
Him to forgive you of everything.
The things that you do know about the things that you don't
know about, the things that you're ashamed to talk about.
And listen, if you are truly repentant in this place, you
will know a supernatural experience of forgiveness that
cannot be explained apart from the truth of this book.
I want that for you. More importantly, God in heaven
wants that for you. And I pray that you would make
that choice before you leave this place.
It's a free gift. Don't leave it here whenever
you're ready, guys.