1 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:08,920 Let's feed our joy, shall we, with the truth of God's Word. 2 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:15,120 Meet me in Mark chapter 12 as we examine the final verses of this 3 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:20,480 chapter and are coming closer and closer to the end of our 4 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:24,720 series in the book of Mark. Can hardly believe it. 5 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:31,080 If you want to know which verses we are covering today, we're 6 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:34,000 beginning in verse 41. So meet me in verse 41 of Mark 7 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,840 chapter 12 and let's read together. 8 00:00:44,150 --> 00:00:49,310 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people 9 00:00:49,310 --> 00:00:52,350 putting money into the offering box. 10 00:00:53,230 --> 00:00:58,510 Many rich people put in large sums, and a poor widow came and 11 00:00:58,510 --> 00:01:02,270 put in two small copper coins which make a penny. 12 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:07,440 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, Truly, I 13 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:12,520 say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who 14 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:16,840 are contributing to the offering box, for they all contributed 15 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:21,120 out of their abundance. But she out of her poverty has 16 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:26,720 put in everything she had, all she had to live on. 17 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:31,120 Lord, we ask that you help us understand these verses. 18 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:35,320 Oh Lord, we pray that you would give us the spirit of wisdom and 19 00:01:35,320 --> 00:01:38,600 revelation. Now be exalted in our 20 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:43,240 understanding of the truth and be greatly exalted in our 21 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,480 application of the truths that we uncover. 22 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:51,160 Help us Lord, the same one who is able to give us joy is able 23 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:54,720 to give us a mind that can comprehend the deep things of 24 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,160 God. And we look to you now believing 25 00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:00,200 that you will do just that. In Jesus name we pray. 26 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:01,840 Amen. Amen. 27 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:08,720 I want to go straight to it. What is the main point of this 28 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:12,840 passage? Why is this in our Bibles? 29 00:02:13,920 --> 00:02:18,760 Why is this here in our Bibles? Does this testimony of the 30 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:24,400 widow's offering present to us a challenge to an unwavering 31 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:30,440 commitment to give within the church regardless of one's 32 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:36,600 circumstances? Is this a New Testament heart 33 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:43,680 stirring illustration for people to radically and sacrificially 34 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:49,920 tithe, or is there a deeper meaning that the Spirit of God 35 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:54,760 desires to convey? The answer to that question is 36 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,800 the aim of our time together, and we will seek to know the 37 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:00,400 mind of God by the help of the Holy Spirit. 38 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:05,920 If you've been in evangelical circles long enough, then you 39 00:03:05,920 --> 00:03:10,440 might agree that this text is commonly handled as a quick 40 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:15,040 reference to inspire generosity in believers. 41 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:19,480 Right? And that is often the extent of 42 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:25,720 how the Bible is taught with this peculiar passage, which is 43 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:31,120 found only in Mark and in Luke. There is no doubt that this 44 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:35,520 scene that you and I just read carries instruction for us, 45 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,360 because look again at verse 43 says here. 46 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:42,280 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, truly, I 47 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:48,800 say to you, evidently the Lord in watching and observing this 48 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:54,200 poor widow longs to yield something and to drive it into 49 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:57,800 the hearts of his disciples then and his disciples even now. 50 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:02,440 But here's my question. What is Jesus Christ intending 51 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:08,320 to communicate as this widow demonstrates sacrificial giving. 52 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:14,000 Upon closer examination, you and I are going to discern that the 53 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:16,480 spirits inclusion of this passage. 54 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:19,519 Listen very carefully to this serves a dual purpose. 55 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:24,960 It serves a dual purpose, and that dual purpose is going to 56 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:28,080 divide our thoughts today. These are the categories in 57 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:32,640 which you and I are going to uncover what is God wanting to 58 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:37,080 convey here? Number one, this scene presents 59 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:40,920 a very significant contrast. Remember that word? 60 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:43,760 It presents a very significant contrast. 61 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:50,920 Second to that, it is a confirmation for condemnation. 62 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:57,040 It presents a significant contrast, number one and two, it 63 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:03,240 stands as a confirmation for condemnation. 64 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:06,400 And so let us look at this together. 65 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:11,040 Let us consider the contrast. If you read this passage in 66 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:17,840 isolation, you will have limited insight, but when you honor the 67 00:05:17,840 --> 00:05:23,520 placement of this account, ah, there lies an accurate 68 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,040 conclusion awaiting to be experienced. 69 00:05:27,280 --> 00:05:31,040 What was the last thing we saw the Lord doing or saying right 70 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:36,360 before we witnessed this widow appear in the narrative Jesus 71 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:42,120 Christ taught and gave a scathing condemnation for the 72 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:47,240 scribes, the scribes who will receive a greater condemnation. 73 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:49,760 That is the last thing that you and I observed. 74 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:56,120 The gatekeepers of the law who are professionals at what? 75 00:05:56,480 --> 00:06:01,720 Flaunting their superficial spirituality and capitalizing on 76 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:05,520 their authority by what? Gaining and securing societal 77 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:12,120 status and excessive wealth. But in Jesus, describing their 78 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:18,200 physical and external prosperity, also notes their 79 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:20,960 spiritual bankruptcy. Yeah, they might have gained 80 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:24,080 much on the outside, but they are condemned. 81 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:27,600 How much worse can you be? How much worse can they get for 82 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:31,920 somebody, spiritually speaking? You might have taken advantage 83 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:33,200 of others. You might have gotten away with 84 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:35,360 a lot. But know this, you will indeed 85 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:39,400 face judgement. So you have these men describe 86 00:06:39,840 --> 00:06:44,000 with and by long robes and seating in the best places and 87 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:47,400 making long prayers. And now you come to this passage 88 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:50,440 and what do you encounter? Someone who stands in complete 89 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:52,960 contrast to that group of people? 90 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:54,960 A widow. A widow? 91 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,520 No, not just a widow. Look back again at verse 42. 92 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:02,880 And a poor widow, not just a widow. 93 00:07:03,840 --> 00:07:06,800 So relational deprivation is not the only thing that this poor 94 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:10,320 lady is enduring. We also read that she was 95 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:14,840 abandoned to physical destitution, a poor widow. 96 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:23,560 And yet her lack of material wealth, resources, property does 97 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:26,200 not reflect on her spiritual condition. 98 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:30,760 And that's what Christ alludes to in verse 43. 99 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:33,720 Look at it with me again. And he called to his disciples 100 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:37,240 them and said to them, truly, I say to you, this poor widow has 101 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:41,320 put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering 102 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:48,000 box really in terms of monetary value that doesn't line up. 103 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:54,920 But Jesus here is saying and reminding his disciples and you 104 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:57,600 and I that there is a spiritual exchange rate that you can never 105 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:01,920 fail to take into account. And you have to remember that 106 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:04,440 spiritual exchange rate, especially when it comes to your 107 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:06,360 worship and devotion to the Kingdom of God. 108 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:10,800 You know, men might be impressed by these long robes and the 109 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,960 phylacteries and the long prayers and those who sit in the 110 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:17,040 best seats and are invited to the highest places in other 111 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:21,080 settings. But Christ is not moved by such 112 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:24,640 a standard. He looks for something else. 113 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:30,520 He perceives something else. Come back to verse 41 and he sat 114 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:33,960 down opposite the treasury and watch the people putting money 115 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:36,320 into the offering box. You know, I couldn't get past 116 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:38,280 verse 41 in my meditation this week. 117 00:08:40,159 --> 00:08:42,720 What a moving sight. And Jesus doesn't even say a 118 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:46,840 word. Jesus parks himself across from 119 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:48,840 the offering box within the temple courts. 120 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:51,640 And all we're told here by Mark with great detail is that he 121 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:55,680 watched the people. Doesn't that move you? 122 00:08:57,160 --> 00:09:01,560 Can you just envision it, the perfect servant of God sitting 123 00:09:01,560 --> 00:09:05,720 there and observing that line of people putting in their 124 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:10,480 different sums of money, and he's watching and watching 125 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:14,560 silently. Christ is watching. 126 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:18,800 Do you think this widow perceived Jesus watching? 127 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:22,320 No, she didn't. Do you often perceive when 128 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,680 Christ is watching? I hope you always walk with a 129 00:09:25,680 --> 00:09:28,160 conscious acknowledgement of His presence. 130 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:31,920 But let me remind you, just in case you forgot, He's watching 131 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:37,800 and Jesus here when he's watching is watching something 132 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:41,440 specific. Now if you have the NASB, the 133 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:44,440 new King James, or the King James versions, and I referenced 134 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:47,720 those versions because they are faithful word for word 135 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:52,120 translations. Those faithful translations add 136 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:56,120 a word to this verse that gives greater depth to what's taking 137 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,560 place. It says in those transition, the 138 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:00,560 ESP doesn't include it, but it says in those other 139 00:10:00,560 --> 00:10:04,360 translations. And he saw and he beheld and he 140 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:09,880 observed how the people put the money into the treasury, not 141 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:13,160 just the people putting it in. Those translations say how they 142 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:16,680 put it in. And if you want to know what 143 00:10:16,680 --> 00:10:22,800 Christ esteems the most out of man's worship above all else, it 144 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:26,240 is the heart of the worshipper. It's the heart of the worshipper 145 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:29,200 and that is a truth that you find consistently throughout the 146 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:31,080 Bible. You even find it in the 1st 147 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:34,360 place where the Bible mentions men offering something to God. 148 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:37,440 Let me take you there in Genesis, Genesis chapter 4, 149 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:41,480 Please meet me in verse three as we look at two brothers giving 150 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:47,000 something to the Lord near the inception of creation itself. 151 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:50,960 Genesis 4 beginning in verse three. 152 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:58,360 We'll read 2 verses together in the course of time. 153 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:01,920 Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the 154 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:07,960 ground, and Abel also brought of the first born of his flock, and 155 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:11,480 of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel 156 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:14,480 in his offering, but for Cain in his offering he had no regard. 157 00:11:14,680 --> 00:11:17,480 So Cain was very angry and his face fell. 158 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:20,920 There's some debate around why it is that God accepted Abel's 159 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:25,120 offering and not Cain's. And what happens often is that 160 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:30,320 people try to compare the value of Abel's offering to what Cain 161 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:33,720 put together. And though that is an important 162 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:38,760 discussion to have, that is a factor that we must include in 163 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:41,360 the conversation and in the debate and investigation. 164 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:45,600 People often miss how the Spirit puts these truths together 165 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:50,000 because as much as what was being offered was important, the 166 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:56,600 Spirit wants to highlight that the offerers were evaluated, not 167 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:58,880 just the offerings saying, what do you mean? 168 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:02,280 We'll look back at verse four again, and it says here at the 169 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,280 last part of verse four. And the Lord had regard for 170 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:15,280 Abel, not Abel's offering for Abel and his offering, verse 5, 171 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:22,560 but for Cain's offering, No, but for Cain and his offering. 172 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:28,280 So you notice here that what's being presented is not just the 173 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:30,560 sacrifice, but the one who sacrificed. 174 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:35,920 And notice again the order. Both Cain and Abel are mentioned 175 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:38,360 before what they gave to the Lord. 176 00:12:38,560 --> 00:12:41,160 Indicating what? That you better believe that the 177 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:43,160 Lord looks at the heart of the person before He looks at the 178 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:49,920 object of what's being given. So before any of us came in here 179 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:52,840 and as we entered into this place, guarantee that the Lord 180 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:56,760 looked at the inner chambers of your bosom before he heard your 181 00:12:56,760 --> 00:13:01,920 lovely voice, or what we put in the plate, or how we're going to 182 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:06,440 serve after the service. He looked at Cain, He looked at 183 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:08,400 Abel before he looked at the offering. 184 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:11,920 And it's not until you go to Hebrews Chapter 11, verse 4 185 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:15,640 where you read what it is that God found in Abel that He did 186 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:19,520 not find in Cain. Do you know what it was says 187 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:23,600 here? By faith, Abel offered to God a 188 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:26,160 more acceptable sacrifice than Cain. 189 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:30,400 So when he looked at Abel, he saw faith. 190 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:34,560 When he looked at Cain, he did not find faith. 191 00:13:35,680 --> 00:13:41,280 Evidently it wasn't about which sacrifice was more impressive, 192 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:45,880 but how and why it was sacrificed. 193 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,800 And there must have been some kind of revelation that Abel was 194 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:52,960 working with, maybe through the instruction of his parents, who 195 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:58,440 experienced God sacrificing for them and clothing them with 196 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:01,880 garments. Whatever the case may be, Abel 197 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:05,200 had this understanding that God requires this. 198 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:08,480 And my goal in coming before the Lord is to please him, so I will 199 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:11,240 please him. Now Cain came with something in 200 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:14,120 his hands, but he had a different heart. 201 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:19,920 Is Christ any different in his evaluation of men? 202 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:24,640 You come back to Mark chapter 12 and realize where his piercing 203 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:29,160 eyes landed on. It wasn't necessarily the amount 204 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:32,920 that was being given, but what the amount meant for each 205 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:36,400 person. Notice he doesn't discredit 206 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:41,360 those who gave large sums, he doesn't condemn them, but he 207 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:44,840 considers what that sacrifice meant to each party. 208 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:49,080 And when it came to this widow, comparatively, what she gave 209 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:52,800 wouldn't move an inch of what would be contributed to the 210 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:56,360 temple. A penny, 2 copper coins. 211 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:59,680 What's that going to do? And what does that look like in 212 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:03,480 comparison to the mountainous money that was being piled into 213 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:06,840 those chests? Yeah, it might have been 214 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:11,160 insignificant to the onlooker, but it wasn't insignificant to 215 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:15,200 her. And Christ saw that, and Christ 216 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:17,600 registered that. He realized that there was great 217 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:20,920 sacrifice behind that surrender, and he took note of it. 218 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:25,560 And here's where you and I have to pause and meditate, please. 219 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:27,880 I'm talking to those who worship God. 220 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:31,680 No, I'm not talking to those who need to be stirred up to 221 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:33,080 worship. I'm talking to those who are 222 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:34,720 walking in that place of worship. 223 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:37,160 You love the Lord. You serve the Lord. 224 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:41,320 Realize here and be comforted to know that when Christ looks at 225 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:45,880 each of us according to the truth, that we are all living 226 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:49,480 sacrifices. Every Christian in here, whether 227 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:51,520 you realize it or not, and I hope you realize it because you 228 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:55,400 signed up for it, when you said yes to Jesus Christ, you put 229 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:59,720 your whole being on an altar and you are a living sacrifice every 230 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:01,600 single day for the pleasure of God. 231 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:07,640 But when you consider that, realize that Jesus Christ bears 232 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:10,920 in mind for each of you on an individual basis, your 233 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:14,000 circumstances, your abilities, and your resources. 234 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:18,880 If you can't be convinced of that, you're going to be 235 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:23,560 extremely frustrated and prone to perpetual discouragement in 236 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:27,120 your quest to worship, love, and give to the Lord. 237 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:29,280 And I'm not talking about just giving money. 238 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:32,880 Your life, your time, your energy, your plans. 239 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:39,960 I remember when that truth dawned on me many years ago. 240 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:43,840 It liberated me in a way in which I can never read this 241 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:49,720 passage the same way again, to know that Jesus Christ looks at 242 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:54,920 me uniquely, and he looks at the season of life that I'm in. 243 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:59,920 He looks at the situation, He looks at my liberties, my lack 244 00:16:59,920 --> 00:17:04,160 of whatever the case may be, and he considers that, evaluates 245 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:07,800 that, and he's honored by what I can do in that. 246 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:11,160 Do you know where I found inspiration for that truth? 247 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:19,359 Leviticus, Leviticus, Leviticus one turn there with me. 248 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:21,119 I want you to see it with your own eyes. 249 00:17:27,079 --> 00:17:30,760 I've heard people say that there is no value in this book as 250 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:32,840 Christians. Shame on them. 251 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:37,920 Leviticus, I want you to look at chapter one, verse five. 252 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:41,240 In this chapter we're given instructions about what God 253 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:43,320 demanded of the people concerning a particular 254 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:45,640 sacrifice. That sacrifice is called the 255 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:47,360 burnt offering. You know what was unique about 256 00:17:47,360 --> 00:17:50,440 that sacrifice? Everything about that beast was 257 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:53,880 given over to the altar. Everything was consumed, not 258 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:57,440 just bits and pieces. The whole beast was placed on 259 00:17:57,440 --> 00:17:59,400 the altar. No reservations. 260 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:02,680 And so it's a wonderful picture of the sacrifice of Christ. 261 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:05,040 And in terms of Christians, it's a wonderful picture of what 262 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:06,560 we're supposed to do with our lives. 263 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:08,520 But I want you to see this detail. 264 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:10,600 Look at verse five of Leviticus one. 265 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:16,080 Then he shall kill the bull before the Lord and Aaron's 266 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:18,080 sons. The priest shall bring the blood 267 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:20,600 and throw the blood against the sides of the altar. 268 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:23,040 This is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 269 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:25,520 What animal was supposed to be given for the burnt offering? 270 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:28,040 The bull? That's a big beast. 271 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:30,160 That's a costly beast, expensive. 272 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:34,320 A bull can do a lot for a household, for a business, but 273 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:37,120 it was to be given as an offering, and look what it would 274 00:18:37,120 --> 00:18:40,880 produce in verse 9. But its entrails and its legs he 275 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:44,600 shall wash with water, and the priests shall burn all of it on 276 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:49,080 the altar as a burnt offering, A food offering with a pleasing 277 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:52,120 aroma to the Lord. So the Lord would be pleased by 278 00:18:52,120 --> 00:18:55,040 the fragrance of this complete sacrifice. 279 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:57,120 Now if it ended there, we would understand. 280 00:18:57,120 --> 00:18:59,040 OK, everybody needs to get a bowl and give it to the Lord. 281 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:01,120 But the Lord doesn't end His instructions there. 282 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:04,280 You Scroll down and you read something else in verse 10 in 283 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:06,840 light of the fact that this is still about the burnt offering. 284 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:13,000 If his gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from the 285 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:17,560 sheep or goats, he shall bring a male without blemish. 286 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:18,920 Well, hold on. You told us about a bull. 287 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:24,160 But yeah, there's also the ability to give a goat or a 288 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:27,040 sheep. And if you were to give that, 289 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:28,200 what would the result of that be? 290 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:32,000 Look at verse 13. But the entrails and the legs he 291 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:35,320 shall wash with water, and the priest shall offer all of it and 292 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:37,360 burn it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food 293 00:19:37,360 --> 00:19:41,280 offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 294 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:46,000 Huh. So I can give an offering, a 295 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:48,680 burnt offering with a goat or a sheep? 296 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:52,560 Not just with a goat or a sheep. He's not done yet. 297 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:57,680 Look at verse 14. If his offering to the Lord is a 298 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:03,240 burnt offering of birds. Then he shall bring his offering 299 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:06,560 of turtle doves or pigeons. And what would be the result of 300 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:07,840 that? Look at verse 17. 301 00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:11,080 He shall tear it open by its wings, but shall not sever it 302 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:13,040 completely. And the priest shall burn it on 303 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:15,240 the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. 304 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:19,920 It is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma 305 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:26,600 to the Lord. So hold on, comparatively, in 306 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:30,280 that economy, would you rather own a bull or a bird? 307 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:32,560 Bull for me. Bull. 308 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:37,040 I'll take a bull any day. But check this out. 309 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:42,480 Whether you gave a bull or a goat or a sheep or a bird to the 310 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:46,840 Lord, it was all the same. Why these different options? 311 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:50,400 Because not everybody could afford a bull and not everybody 312 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:54,240 could afford a goat. And so the poorest of the poor 313 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:56,720 would have to blame on giving a bird. 314 00:20:57,440 --> 00:20:59,320 You know what the Lord is assuring in this chapter? 315 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:03,000 Whatever it is that you give me, I take into consideration what 316 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:08,560 you can give me and it's all a pleasing aroma to me saying 317 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:11,280 please help me apply Leviticus one in 2024. 318 00:21:12,120 --> 00:21:14,680 I can tell you how to apply to me in a very busy season of my 319 00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:18,720 life where there was so much happening was studying for my 320 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:21,280 masters. All these things and my days of 321 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:24,200 devotion at that time did not look that same when I was in 322 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:29,800 Canada without a full time job with more laid back classes. 323 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:32,840 You know what I found myself doing when it came to Leviticus 324 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:35,680 one and this dawned on me. I found myself saying to the 325 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:41,360 Lord, Lord, I was once able to give you a bull but for this 326 00:21:41,360 --> 00:21:43,040 season I can only give you a sheep. 327 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:48,360 I want to give you a bull but this season right now in these 328 00:21:48,360 --> 00:21:51,080 circumstances won't allow me. Please Lord, either remove the 329 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:54,040 circumstances and give me the ability to give you a bull or 330 00:21:54,040 --> 00:22:01,520 please be satisfied with this goat that set me free. 331 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:04,360 And there are times where I don't know about you. 332 00:22:04,360 --> 00:22:07,600 Even a common cold will knock me out and sometimes it used to be 333 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:09,120 change my diet and stuff which helped. 334 00:22:10,120 --> 00:22:14,400 I could be out for weeks and it would debilitate me in so many 335 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:15,680 ways. You know what I found myself 336 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:19,200 doing in those days, Lord? You see me? 337 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:25,000 I'm giving you a bird. Please take this bird and be 338 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:26,440 satisfied. You know what Leviticus One 339 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:30,200 says, whether it's a bird or a bull, it's a pleasing aroma to 340 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:34,400 me. And I know many people, mothers 341 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:38,400 with newborns, people who are trying to take care of family 342 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:40,320 members and it's just so overwhelming. 343 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:46,000 And they feel guilty and they feel ashamed and they feel as 344 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:49,040 though there is this excel sheet that God has in heaven. 345 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:51,200 And if you don't meet that quota and if you don't do it this way, 346 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:53,400 if you don't give that amount, amount of time, it amounts to 347 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:55,000 nothing. Well, what about this one with 348 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:59,200 two copper coins? How does Jesus evaluate? 349 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:01,600 He says she gave more than everybody else. 350 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:07,680 Now, this is not a truth that should excuse or justify 351 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:11,400 downgraded devotion, weak devotion. 352 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:13,280 No, no, no, no, no. Because a true worshipper will 353 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:16,800 say I would want to give everything I can to the Lord. 354 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:20,160 But they're also understand that that's not always the case. 355 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:22,520 And so they come and they are comforted by the fact that the 356 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:25,840 Lord looks, and he looks more than just the amount. 357 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:29,040 He looks at what that meant for the person who gave it. 358 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:35,240 Does that set you free? What about the woman? 359 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:37,920 I often refer to this, It's a New Testament example, the woman 360 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:40,520 who broke the alabaster flask and poured on the feet of Jesus. 361 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:43,080 The disciples criticized her and Jesus defended her. 362 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:46,200 She didn't even open her mouth. When you're truly walking with 363 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:49,800 the Lord, you don't need to defend yourself all the time. 364 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:53,280 Christ defends her and this is what he says to those disciples. 365 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:59,600 She did what she could. She did what she could. 366 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:08,480 So we look at the contrast, the contrast with what this woman's 367 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:19,840 pure, simple piety in comparison to the fake carnal, externally 368 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:23,880 focused spirituality of the scribes. 369 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:28,200 That's the flow of thought after condemning these men. 370 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:32,520 Now we come in, the spotlight falls on this woman and we see 371 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:35,400 that this woman, though she was shabby and maybe she shuffled 372 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:39,200 her way into the temple. Jesus can say to his disciples, 373 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:42,560 check this out. I just told you about another 374 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:44,680 thing to check on. I'm saying those guys are going 375 00:24:44,680 --> 00:24:47,000 to get the worst of the worst in judgment day. 376 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:49,320 But let me show you someone else who gave more than everybody. 377 00:24:49,360 --> 00:24:53,720 That must have been shocking, but Jesus interprets and 378 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:56,080 evaluates and esteems way differently than we do. 379 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:02,680 But I told you in the beginning of this message that there is a 380 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:08,080 dual purpose to this passage. The first, yes, being that there 381 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:13,560 is a contrast, but second to that, this story stands as a 382 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:20,360 confirmation for condemnation. And this is where I believe I'm 383 00:25:20,360 --> 00:25:23,240 persuaded that it's about this more than anything else. 384 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:26,320 So let's consider not the contrast, but the condemnation. 385 00:25:27,360 --> 00:25:29,680 You know, to most, this woman's sacrifice is limited to an 386 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:34,120 inspirational act of generosity. But to the student of the 387 00:25:34,120 --> 00:25:38,760 Scriptures, this text, what you just read about this widow, you 388 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:45,360 know what it should done? Alarm us, alarm us, alarm us. 389 00:25:45,360 --> 00:25:47,360 Why? Look again at what this donation 390 00:25:47,360 --> 00:25:50,920 would cost this poor lady in verse 44, for they all 391 00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:55,200 contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her 392 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:57,440 poverty. So she's already poor coming in, 393 00:25:57,720 --> 00:26:02,000 but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had. 394 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:05,520 This is not exaggeration. She gave everything she had to 395 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:08,440 what point all she had to live on. 396 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:12,840 You know what these two copper coins would equate to in modern 397 00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:15,800 day currency, like a little bit over a dollar. 398 00:26:18,360 --> 00:26:23,160 So she gave all that she had check this out to live on. 399 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:28,400 So she could have gone to the grocery store and bought a 400 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:34,560 chocolate bar to satisfy her belly for the day, but instead 401 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:37,440 she goes to the temple and she puts it in the offering box. 402 00:26:40,120 --> 00:26:42,680 That is to say, she literally gave up her last penny. 403 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:49,000 Not for the day, by the way, but she emptied her bank account. 404 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:54,640 What's the problem with that? The problem with that is because 405 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:59,640 the Lord created preventative measures in His law that would 406 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:04,560 protect widows from spiraling into a place of being neglected 407 00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:06,720 and abandoned, into poverty and starvation. 408 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:12,680 God has a special place in His heart for widows, and you see it 409 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:16,280 throughout the Old Testament. And more than just having 410 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:20,720 certain affections for them, He established certain measures and 411 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:27,640 laws and commands in society so that they would be sustained and 412 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:32,120 that they would escape coming to such a point in their lives. 413 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:35,160 Here's one example. Turn with me to Deuteronomy 414 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:37,800 chapter 14. I want you to see with your own 415 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:40,920 eyes with me. Deuteronomy 14, verse 28. 416 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:52,520 This is what God give to the people of Israel before they 417 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:54,360 even step foot into the Promised land. 418 00:27:55,320 --> 00:27:57,840 And here's what He says concerning the tithe. 419 00:27:59,360 --> 00:28:01,600 Again, if you've been in evangelical circles long enough, 420 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:03,840 you've probably heard many teachings on tithing. 421 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:08,000 I'm pretty confident you didn't hear this one about tithing. 422 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:13,400 Deuteronomy 142829 We think tithing is just 10% of your 423 00:28:13,400 --> 00:28:14,920 income. That's not the only tie that you 424 00:28:14,920 --> 00:28:17,560 find in the Bible. Here's one other one in 425 00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:21,680 Deuteronomy 1428. At the end of every three years, 426 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:27,560 you shall bring out of all the tide of your produce in the same 427 00:28:27,560 --> 00:28:30,880 year and lay it up within your towns. 428 00:28:31,640 --> 00:28:34,120 So notice, this is not just a regular tithe. 429 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:37,280 This is a tithe, a special tithe that takes place every three 430 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:39,080 years. And where were they to bring 431 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:42,080 this tithe of their produce? Not to the House of God, but to 432 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:47,320 designated local towns, And they would drop off a portion of 433 00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:48,920 their produce and their resources. 434 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:52,760 For what purpose? Verse 29 And the Levite, because 435 00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:54,840 he has no portion or inheritance with you. 436 00:28:55,320 --> 00:29:01,160 And the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who 437 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:04,320 are within your town shall come and eat and be filled, that the 438 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:07,640 Lord your God may bless you and all the work of your hands that 439 00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:11,920 you do. So there are members of society 440 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:15,360 who can't take care of themselves to the same degree 441 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:17,760 that others who are more and more profitable positions. 442 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:22,160 And so God created a culture in which the wider population would 443 00:29:22,160 --> 00:29:25,640 be able to make contributions so that those who are less 444 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:30,320 fortunate can be nurtured, can be taken care of. 445 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:33,440 And one of the ways, this is not the only way, but one of the 446 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:36,840 ways widows would benefit from this, is that every three years 447 00:29:36,840 --> 00:29:41,920 there would be a great deposit within these towns so that those 448 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:44,280 who are destitute and those who are vulnerable and those who are 449 00:29:44,280 --> 00:29:48,720 weak can can ensure some kind of aid. 450 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:53,000 Now listen, this is again not the only measure, but it is a 451 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:56,560 major way in which God expresses His compassion for these least 452 00:29:56,560 --> 00:30:00,200 fortunate ones. And since this was inscribed in 453 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:01,320 the law, you know what that means? 454 00:30:01,320 --> 00:30:04,320 The teachers of the law had to exhort the people. 455 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:06,560 Don't forget about the fatherless. 456 00:30:06,560 --> 00:30:09,040 Don't forget about the sojourner, don't forget about 457 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:11,120 the ministers, because they don't have land. 458 00:30:11,480 --> 00:30:13,560 There's no tribal allotment to the Levites. 459 00:30:13,560 --> 00:30:17,320 They are in these designated towns, but they don't have 460 00:30:17,320 --> 00:30:19,840 boundaries like you do. So take care of the ministers 461 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:22,560 and take care of the widow. One of the ways you can do that 462 00:30:22,560 --> 00:30:23,840 is every three years you just read it. 463 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:25,520 You're going to come to these towns and you're going to drop 464 00:30:25,520 --> 00:30:27,600 off a produce with joy. God's going to bless you for 465 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:33,040 that. And so serious is God's law for 466 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:37,120 such people that the Lord made a serious warning within the same 467 00:30:37,120 --> 00:30:40,680 book to the same people who are about to enter into a world 468 00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:42,440 where they had to honor such wishes. 469 00:30:42,600 --> 00:30:45,120 Look at Deuteronomy 27 verse 19 with me. 470 00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:50,520 You want to see how serious it is when widows are neglected? 471 00:30:53,360 --> 00:30:57,440 Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the 472 00:30:57,440 --> 00:31:01,120 sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. 473 00:31:03,040 --> 00:31:04,880 And all the people shall say Amen. 474 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:09,920 You want to know what happens if you suspend justice? 475 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:14,080 If you pervert justice, if you ignore or take advantage of such 476 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:18,640 people curse, That's what you're going to inherit. 477 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:22,160 And all the people shall say Amen. 478 00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:26,120 And they ended up saying Amen. But This is why we study the 479 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:29,120 Hebrew Scriptures. What do we learn about the same 480 00:31:29,120 --> 00:31:32,360 people that they honor such an Amen? 481 00:31:32,360 --> 00:31:35,000 Have they always been faithful to uphold justice for such 482 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:37,800 people? Was their leadership always 483 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:43,640 mindful of those who are in need and to be assured that they'd be 484 00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:45,600 taken care of? Answer no. 485 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:50,000 And that is clearly seen when Isaiah the prophet arrives early 486 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:53,840 in his writings and he presents these scathing woes to the same 487 00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:57,320 nation of Israel. You'll see it in Isaiah 10, 488 00:31:57,480 --> 00:32:00,400 verse one. Woe to those who decree 489 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:04,320 iniquitous decrees and the writers who keep writing 490 00:32:04,320 --> 00:32:09,360 oppression to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob 491 00:32:09,360 --> 00:32:14,880 the poor of my people of their right that widows may be their 492 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:18,880 spoil and that they may make the fatherless their prey. 493 00:32:19,280 --> 00:32:22,640 What will you do on the day of punishment in the ruin that will 494 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:25,840 come from afar? To whom will you flee for help, 495 00:32:26,040 --> 00:32:28,000 and where will you leave your wealth? 496 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:34,160 So at this point in Israel's history, they have created 497 00:32:34,160 --> 00:32:36,560 iniquitous decrees. They have wrote, written these 498 00:32:36,560 --> 00:32:40,160 different oppressive laws and demands that ended up making 499 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:45,880 widows into their spoil and through exploiting the truth and 500 00:32:45,880 --> 00:32:49,880 their position and demanding from widows in such a way they 501 00:32:49,880 --> 00:32:54,240 were able to accumulate wealth, abnormal measures of wealth. 502 00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:57,400 Isaiah indicates that at the end of verse 3, where are you going 503 00:32:57,400 --> 00:32:58,960 to leave your wealth? In what context? 504 00:32:59,160 --> 00:33:03,080 Judgments coming. You ignored the widow you you 505 00:33:03,080 --> 00:33:04,880 abused the widow. You know what's on its way? 506 00:33:04,880 --> 00:33:06,960 Invasion. And when the invasion comes, 507 00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:08,360 where are you going to put all your money? 508 00:33:10,040 --> 00:33:13,320 What's going to happen now once you've been caught fleecing the 509 00:33:13,320 --> 00:33:16,680 sheep? And so we see here that Isaiah 510 00:33:16,680 --> 00:33:19,040 assured the people that judgment was coming. 511 00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:22,320 And one of the reasons is because widows were made into 512 00:33:22,320 --> 00:33:26,320 their spoil. And so instead of caring and 513 00:33:26,320 --> 00:33:29,480 helping, it took advantage. And we see here that that is a 514 00:33:29,480 --> 00:33:33,240 consistent rebuke throughout the Old Testament. 515 00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:35,520 Here's another one of Malachi 3/5. 516 00:33:39,040 --> 00:33:41,480 Then I will draw near to you for judgement. 517 00:33:42,680 --> 00:33:47,000 I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against 518 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:50,720 the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those 519 00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:55,320 who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the 520 00:33:55,320 --> 00:33:59,840 fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner. 521 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:02,920 And do not fear me, says the Lord of Hosts. 522 00:34:02,920 --> 00:34:06,280 Now you might be here going to these passages and wondering 523 00:34:06,280 --> 00:34:10,400 what's your point? What's the point of this? 524 00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:12,280 Why are we looking at these things? 525 00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:14,320 And I'm going to answer that question with another question. 526 00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:20,760 Doesn't this backdrop what I always say, the foundation for 527 00:34:20,760 --> 00:34:25,440 understanding the New Testament? Does not these truths create a 528 00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:30,719 concern for you when you realize the nature and condition of that 529 00:34:30,719 --> 00:34:34,360 widow who went into the House of God and gave 2 copper coins? 530 00:34:38,360 --> 00:34:41,920 When she let go of those two things and they clinked and 531 00:34:41,920 --> 00:34:48,239 clanged, she gave all that she had, everything that she could 532 00:34:48,239 --> 00:34:50,440 give. She was impoverished when she 533 00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:53,199 walked in, and she was more impoverished when she left. 534 00:34:54,840 --> 00:34:58,200 And you should, in light of all those things with me, realize, 535 00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:03,720 huh, should she be in such a state. 536 00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:12,360 What did you and I learn last week when we studied about Jesus 537 00:35:12,360 --> 00:35:16,440 condemnation of the scribes? Go back with me to Mark 12 and 538 00:35:16,440 --> 00:35:26,960 look at verse 38 on the same day before this widow enters into 539 00:35:26,960 --> 00:35:30,320 the narrative we read right before Mark 1238. 540 00:35:30,800 --> 00:35:33,360 And in his teaching, he said beware of the scribes who like 541 00:35:33,360 --> 00:35:36,080 to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the 542 00:35:36,080 --> 00:35:39,280 marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues, in the 543 00:35:39,280 --> 00:35:46,760 places of honor at feast verse 40, who devour widows houses, Uh 544 00:35:46,800 --> 00:35:53,720 oh, and for pretence make long prayers, they will receive the 545 00:35:53,720 --> 00:35:58,040 greater condemnation. Is this a coincidence? 546 00:35:59,960 --> 00:36:02,560 Is it a coincidence that after the Lord Jesus mentions the 547 00:36:02,560 --> 00:36:09,040 scribes devouring widows houses, a destitute widows walks on the 548 00:36:09,040 --> 00:36:14,240 scene making a final donation to the same religious system that 549 00:36:14,240 --> 00:36:23,060 Jesus just finished condemning? This is not coincidence. 550 00:36:23,420 --> 00:36:26,100 No, no, no, no, no. This is confirmation. 551 00:36:27,380 --> 00:36:31,160 Confirmation to what? Of the wicked spiritual 552 00:36:31,160 --> 00:36:34,080 institution that preyed on the ones that God said you have to 553 00:36:34,080 --> 00:36:39,240 take care of and nurture. You have to watch over and 554 00:36:39,240 --> 00:36:44,680 serve. You have to give and not take. 555 00:36:48,520 --> 00:36:49,920 Yeah, this window widow. Widow. 556 00:36:49,920 --> 00:36:53,560 She's acting in simple faith. You ready for this shocking 557 00:36:53,560 --> 00:36:56,560 statement? Simple faith, Yes, but she's a 558 00:36:56,560 --> 00:36:58,920 victim to corruption more than anything else. 559 00:37:01,440 --> 00:37:04,800 What are you saying? Here's what I'm saying, that 560 00:37:04,800 --> 00:37:08,840 this widow who gave absolutely everything she had, listen for 561 00:37:08,840 --> 00:37:16,080 her survival, for her survival, did so because the perverted 562 00:37:16,080 --> 00:37:19,200 interpreters of the law demanded it from her. 563 00:37:21,840 --> 00:37:24,640 So she serves an illustration of what Jesus just finished 564 00:37:25,600 --> 00:37:28,360 criticizing in the previous verses. 565 00:37:29,880 --> 00:37:32,360 And you may not be convinced of this, but consider the strategic 566 00:37:32,360 --> 00:37:36,400 authorship of the Spirit when He put this story where He put this 567 00:37:36,400 --> 00:37:40,320 story. What comes after the story of 568 00:37:40,320 --> 00:37:44,880 the widow and her offering a new chapter, Mark 13. 569 00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:50,240 But the chapter inclusions and the verse references are not 570 00:37:50,240 --> 00:37:53,480 inspired. They were included later for our 571 00:37:53,480 --> 00:37:56,120 benefit, but they are not a part of the original writings. 572 00:37:57,160 --> 00:37:59,440 And if you're not mindful of that consistently, what can 573 00:37:59,440 --> 00:38:01,720 happen to your reading and understanding of God's words? 574 00:38:01,720 --> 00:38:04,160 When you come to a chapter break, you think there's a break 575 00:38:04,160 --> 00:38:07,080 in the thought or break in the theme. 576 00:38:07,880 --> 00:38:11,720 And so now you kind of just create a blank canvas in your 577 00:38:11,720 --> 00:38:12,840 mind. And you said, OK, I'm done with 578 00:38:12,840 --> 00:38:14,400 chapter 12 Now to come to chapter 13. 579 00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:18,440 What's what's tucked into this chapter that that's not helpful? 580 00:38:19,800 --> 00:38:22,480 So what do you have before the widow's offering yet Jesus 581 00:38:22,480 --> 00:38:25,480 condemning the religious leader and out of all the many evils 582 00:38:25,480 --> 00:38:27,960 that he could have brought up, one of the main things he brings 583 00:38:27,960 --> 00:38:33,000 forward is how they ate up and devoured and consumed widows. 584 00:38:34,120 --> 00:38:37,240 Their greed took advantage of those who are most vulnerable. 585 00:38:38,160 --> 00:38:41,160 Then you have this widow who comes on the scene and she goes 586 00:38:41,160 --> 00:38:45,120 into her pocket, pulls out 2 copper coins and Jesus says she 587 00:38:45,120 --> 00:38:48,360 gave absolutely everything she had to live on. 588 00:38:51,560 --> 00:38:54,160 And what do you find in Mark 13 verse one? 589 00:38:54,920 --> 00:38:57,760 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples 590 00:38:57,760 --> 00:39:00,320 said to him, look teacher, what wonderful stones and what 591 00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:02,640 wonderful buildings. And Jesus said to him, do you 592 00:39:02,640 --> 00:39:05,160 see these great buildings? There will not be left here. 593 00:39:05,160 --> 00:39:07,840 One stone upon another that will not be thrown down. 594 00:39:10,560 --> 00:39:16,640 Judgment, judgment before the widow gave her offering. 595 00:39:16,720 --> 00:39:19,400 The widow gives her offering, judgment after she gives her 596 00:39:19,400 --> 00:39:24,120 offering. So when you come here, you 597 00:39:24,120 --> 00:39:28,040 realize there is a strong theme being communicated here. 598 00:39:28,040 --> 00:39:33,120 And so we see here that there is confirmation for what Jesus said 599 00:39:33,120 --> 00:39:35,320 he would condemn. And it's as though this is so 600 00:39:35,320 --> 00:39:38,320 important. This widow's plight is presented 601 00:39:38,320 --> 00:39:41,000 to us as one of the final evidences for the verdict of 602 00:39:41,000 --> 00:39:47,040 Jerusalem's downfall. So what's the main point of this 603 00:39:47,040 --> 00:39:49,440 passage? Is it to demand people to give 604 00:39:49,440 --> 00:39:52,960 to religious ministries and institutions regardless of one's 605 00:39:52,960 --> 00:39:56,600 poverty or their desperate need? Not at all. 606 00:39:57,920 --> 00:40:03,160 I believe it provides some inspiration for those who want 607 00:40:03,160 --> 00:40:06,960 to serve God, but maybe are tempted to feel that this is 608 00:40:06,960 --> 00:40:09,240 insignificant in light of what other people are doing and 609 00:40:09,240 --> 00:40:13,200 you're assured by Christ. Calling his disciples and saying 610 00:40:13,200 --> 00:40:17,920 she gave more that he appraises, appraises things differently 611 00:40:17,920 --> 00:40:21,320 than we do and that others do. Yes, be inspired by that because 612 00:40:21,320 --> 00:40:23,280 Jesus says something here about that. 613 00:40:24,320 --> 00:40:27,520 But more than that, it shows us that the watching eye of Jesus 614 00:40:27,520 --> 00:40:31,200 Christ is not just upon the offerers and those who 615 00:40:31,200 --> 00:40:34,840 sacrifice, but it's upon what? What did we see here in verse 616 00:40:34,840 --> 00:40:36,760 41? Jesus sat across the offering 617 00:40:36,760 --> 00:40:39,120 box and he watched the people. You know also he's watching 618 00:40:39,280 --> 00:40:45,360 corruption, corruption in the House of God. 619 00:40:45,360 --> 00:40:48,800 He is looking at sacrifice in the House of God, and he is 620 00:40:48,800 --> 00:40:52,960 going to shock the Church of Jesus Christ when we all stand 621 00:40:52,960 --> 00:40:56,040 at the judgement seat of Christ and realize what really Jesus 622 00:40:56,040 --> 00:41:00,720 was after all along. But his eye, his watching eyes 623 00:41:00,720 --> 00:41:07,640 also upon those who exploit and abuse and take advantage of 624 00:41:07,640 --> 00:41:12,160 those that leaders in the church are supposed to help and serve 625 00:41:12,160 --> 00:41:17,440 and love. So Jesus is watching. 626 00:41:18,680 --> 00:41:25,600 He's not just watching widows. He's watching what scribes and 627 00:41:25,600 --> 00:41:29,760 leaders and speakers are doing. 2 widows. 628 00:41:32,600 --> 00:41:34,880 And this is the truth of this passage. 629 00:41:35,280 --> 00:41:38,960 It speaks of a contrast and speaks of a confirmation for 630 00:41:38,960 --> 00:41:41,880 condemnation. And the overarching truth is 631 00:41:41,880 --> 00:41:46,560 this. The Lord Jesus Christ is 632 00:41:46,560 --> 00:41:49,560 watching. And that is an extremely 633 00:41:49,560 --> 00:41:53,040 encouraging thing for those who feel like they are overlooked, 634 00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:56,240 feel like they're not doing anything for the Kingdom of God. 635 00:41:57,040 --> 00:41:59,600 And it's a terrifying truth for those who think that they're 636 00:41:59,600 --> 00:42:04,680 going to get away by abusing and hurting and lying to those whom 637 00:42:04,680 --> 00:42:09,840 God said take care of. May we fear Him and love him, 638 00:42:10,440 --> 00:42:29,570 for He is worthy. Lord, we look to you together, 639 00:42:33,130 --> 00:42:38,250 and we thank you for opening our hearts to the complete truth of 640 00:42:38,250 --> 00:42:41,810 your Word. Lord, thank you for the 641 00:42:41,810 --> 00:42:46,960 assurance that your eye is upon the Sparrow and if it's upon an 642 00:42:46,960 --> 00:42:50,080 insignificant creature such as a little bird, how much more us 643 00:42:50,080 --> 00:42:54,120 created in your image. Thank you Lord, that your eyes 644 00:42:54,120 --> 00:42:58,520 not just on how we serve you, but it's on our suffering, it's 645 00:42:58,520 --> 00:43:06,280 on our praying, it's on our holiness, it's on our fears, 646 00:43:06,280 --> 00:43:10,800 it's on our worries. Lord, you're watching us, and in 647 00:43:10,800 --> 00:43:13,920 moments where we feel as though we are just a number, help us 648 00:43:13,920 --> 00:43:19,160 realize that you are one who praises that which men miss. 649 00:43:21,000 --> 00:43:24,320 But Lord, we also thank you for the assurance that you're 650 00:43:24,320 --> 00:43:28,320 watching the evil that seems to be taking place with no 651 00:43:28,320 --> 00:43:34,000 consequence. You will make that which is 652 00:43:34,000 --> 00:43:36,760 wrong, right? You will bring correction where 653 00:43:36,760 --> 00:43:40,800 there seems to be no retribution for. 654 00:43:42,400 --> 00:43:44,720 And Lord, we just are thankful that there is a time coming 655 00:43:44,720 --> 00:43:49,120 where you will judge. But we also, Lord, ask that you 656 00:43:49,120 --> 00:43:53,920 would convict those who have for a long time or even even now in 657 00:43:54,120 --> 00:43:57,840 entertaining the thought of trying to take advantage of the 658 00:43:57,840 --> 00:44:01,360 gospel, the church, the people in the church for their own 659 00:44:01,360 --> 00:44:05,640 personal gain. May this truth resound in their 660 00:44:05,640 --> 00:44:11,800 hearts that you are watching. And Lord, we just pray that with 661 00:44:11,800 --> 00:44:16,440 this truth you would hallow our hearts to be refueled with joy 662 00:44:18,160 --> 00:44:21,080 because we are to be the most joyful concerning the fact that 663 00:44:21,080 --> 00:44:25,520 we are in the truth. We love your truth, we love you, 664 00:44:26,000 --> 00:44:29,640 and we're here to worship you together in Jesus name, Amen. 665 00:44:29,960 --> 00:44:31,520 Amen. Let's stand and worship the Lord 666 00:44:31,520 --> 00:44:31,960 together.