Let's feed our joy, shall we, with the truth of God's Word.
Meet me in Mark chapter 12 as we examine the final verses of this
chapter and are coming closer and closer to the end of our
series in the book of Mark. Can hardly believe it.
If you want to know which verses we are covering today, we're
beginning in verse 41. So meet me in verse 41 of Mark
chapter 12 and let's read together.
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.
Lord, we ask that you help us understand these verses.
Oh Lord, we pray that you would give us the spirit of wisdom and
revelation. Now be exalted in our
understanding of the truth and be greatly exalted in our
application of the truths that we uncover.
Help us Lord, the same one who is able to give us joy is able
to give us a mind that can comprehend the deep things of
God. And we look to you now believing
that you will do just that. In Jesus name we pray.
Amen. Amen.
I want to go straight to it. What is the main point of this
passage? Why is this in our Bibles?
Why is this here in our Bibles? Does this testimony of the
widow's offering present to us a challenge to an unwavering
commitment to give within the church regardless of one's
circumstances? Is this a New Testament heart
stirring illustration for people to radically and sacrificially
tithe, or is there a deeper meaning that the Spirit of God
desires to convey? The answer to that question is
the aim of our time together, and we will seek to know the
mind of God by the help of the Holy Spirit.
If you've been in evangelical circles long enough, then you
might agree that this text is commonly handled as a quick
reference to inspire generosity in believers.
Right? And that is often the extent of
how the Bible is taught with this peculiar passage, which is
found only in Mark and in Luke. There is no doubt that this
scene that you and I just read carries instruction for us,
because look again at verse 43 says here.
And he called his disciples to him and said to them, truly, I
say to you, evidently the Lord in watching and observing this
poor widow longs to yield something and to drive it into
the hearts of his disciples then and his disciples even now.
But here's my question. What is Jesus Christ intending
to communicate as this widow demonstrates sacrificial giving.
Upon closer examination, you and I are going to discern that the
spirits inclusion of this passage.
Listen very carefully to this serves a dual purpose.
It serves a dual purpose, and that dual purpose is going to
divide our thoughts today. These are the categories in
which you and I are going to uncover what is God wanting to
convey here? Number one, this scene presents
a very significant contrast. Remember that word?
It presents a very significant contrast.
Second to that, it is a confirmation for condemnation.
It presents a significant contrast, number one and two, it
stands as a confirmation for condemnation.
And so let us look at this together.
Let us consider the contrast. If you read this passage in
isolation, you will have limited insight, but when you honor the
placement of this account, ah, there lies an accurate
conclusion awaiting to be experienced.
What was the last thing we saw the Lord doing or saying right
before we witnessed this widow appear in the narrative Jesus
Christ taught and gave a scathing condemnation for the
scribes, the scribes who will receive a greater condemnation.
That is the last thing that you and I observed.
The gatekeepers of the law who are professionals at what?
Flaunting their superficial spirituality and capitalizing on
their authority by what? Gaining and securing societal
status and excessive wealth. But in Jesus, describing their
physical and external prosperity, also notes their
spiritual bankruptcy. Yeah, they might have gained
much on the outside, but they are condemned.
How much worse can you be? How much worse can they get for
somebody, spiritually speaking? You might have taken advantage
of others. You might have gotten away with
a lot. But know this, you will indeed
face judgement. So you have these men describe
with and by long robes and seating in the best places and
making long prayers. And now you come to this passage
and what do you encounter? Someone who stands in complete
contrast to that group of people?
A widow. A widow?
No, not just a widow. Look back again at verse 42.
And a poor widow, not just a widow.
So relational deprivation is not the only thing that this poor
lady is enduring. We also read that she was
abandoned to physical destitution, a poor widow.
And yet her lack of material wealth, resources, property does
not reflect on her spiritual condition.
And that's what Christ alludes to in verse 43.
Look at it with me again. And he called to his disciples
them 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 really in terms of monetary value that doesn't line up.
But Jesus here is saying and reminding his disciples and you
and I that there is a spiritual exchange rate that you can never
fail to take into account. And you have to remember that
spiritual exchange rate, especially when it comes to your
worship and devotion to the Kingdom of God.
You know, men might be impressed by these long robes and the
phylacteries and the long prayers and those who sit in the
best seats and are invited to the highest places in other
settings. But Christ is not moved by such
a standard. He looks for something else.
He perceives something else. Come back to verse 41 and he sat
down opposite the treasury and watch the people putting money
into the offering box. You know, I couldn't get past
verse 41 in my meditation this week.
What a moving sight. And Jesus doesn't even say a
word. Jesus parks himself across from
the offering box within the temple courts.
And all we're told here by Mark with great detail is that he
watched the people. Doesn't that move you?
Can you just envision it, the perfect servant of God sitting
there and observing that line of people putting in their
different sums of money, and he's watching and watching
silently. Christ is watching.
Do you think this widow perceived Jesus watching?
No, she didn't. Do you often perceive when
Christ is watching? I hope you always walk with a
conscious acknowledgement of His presence.
But let me remind you, just in case you forgot, He's watching
and Jesus here when he's watching is watching something
specific. Now if you have the NASB, the
new King James, or the King James versions, and I referenced
those versions because they are faithful word for word
translations. Those faithful translations add
a word to this verse that gives greater depth to what's taking
place. It says in those transition, the
ESP doesn't include it, but it says in those other
translations. And he saw and he beheld and he
observed how the people put the money into the treasury, not
just the people putting it in. Those translations say how they
put it in. And if you want to know what
Christ esteems the most out of man's worship above all else, it
is the heart of the worshipper. It's the heart of the worshipper
and that is a truth that you find consistently throughout the
Bible. You even find it in the 1st
place where the Bible mentions men offering something to God.
Let me take you there in Genesis, Genesis chapter 4,
Please meet me in verse three as we look at two brothers giving
something to the Lord near the inception of creation itself.
Genesis 4 beginning in verse three.
We'll read 2 verses together in the course of time.
Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the
ground, and Abel also brought of the first born of his flock, and
of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel
in his offering, but for Cain in his offering he had no regard.
So Cain was very angry and his face fell.
There's some debate around why it is that God accepted Abel's
offering and not Cain's. And what happens often is that
people try to compare the value of Abel's offering to what Cain
put together. And though that is an important
discussion to have, that is a factor that we must include in
the conversation and in the debate and investigation.
People often miss how the Spirit puts these truths together
because as much as what was being offered was important, the
Spirit wants to highlight that the offerers were evaluated, not
just the offerings saying, what do you mean?
We'll look back at verse four again, and it says here at the
last part of verse four. And the Lord had regard for
Abel, not Abel's offering for Abel and his offering, verse 5,
but for Cain's offering, No, but for Cain and his offering.
So you notice here that what's being presented is not just the
sacrifice, but the one who sacrificed.
And notice again the order. Both Cain and Abel are mentioned
before what they gave to the Lord.
Indicating what? That you better believe that the
Lord looks at the heart of the person before He looks at the
object of what's being given. So before any of us came in here
and as we entered into this place, guarantee that the Lord
looked at the inner chambers of your bosom before he heard your
lovely voice, or what we put in the plate, or how we're going to
serve after the service. He looked at Cain, He looked at
Abel before he looked at the offering.
And it's not until you go to Hebrews Chapter 11, verse 4
where you read what it is that God found in Abel that He did
not find in Cain. Do you know what it was says
here? By faith, Abel offered to God a
more acceptable sacrifice than Cain.
So when he looked at Abel, he saw faith.
When he looked at Cain, he did not find faith.
Evidently it wasn't about which sacrifice was more impressive,
but how and why it was sacrificed.
And there must have been some kind of revelation that Abel was
working with, maybe through the instruction of his parents, who
experienced God sacrificing for them and clothing them with
garments. Whatever the case may be, Abel
had this understanding that God requires this.
And my goal in coming before the Lord is to please him, so I will
please him. Now Cain came with something in
his hands, but he had a different heart.
Is Christ any different in his evaluation of men?
You come back to Mark chapter 12 and realize where his piercing
eyes landed on. It wasn't necessarily the amount
that was being given, but what the amount meant for each
person. Notice he doesn't discredit
those who gave large sums, he doesn't condemn them, but he
considers what that sacrifice meant to each party.
And when it came to this widow, comparatively, what she gave
wouldn't move an inch of what would be contributed to the
temple. A penny, 2 copper coins.
What's that going to do? And what does that look like in
comparison to the mountainous money that was being piled into
those chests? Yeah, it might have been
insignificant to the onlooker, but it wasn't insignificant to
her. And Christ saw that, and Christ
registered that. He realized that there was great
sacrifice behind that surrender, and he took note of it.
And here's where you and I have to pause and meditate, please.
I'm talking to those who worship God.
No, I'm not talking to those who need to be stirred up to
worship. I'm talking to those who are
walking in that place of worship.
You love the Lord. You serve the Lord.
Realize here and be comforted to know that when Christ looks at
each of us according to the truth, that we are all living
sacrifices. Every Christian in here, whether
you realize it or not, and I hope you realize it because you
signed up for it, when you said yes to Jesus Christ, you put
your whole being on an altar and you are a living sacrifice every
single day for the pleasure of God.
But when you consider that, realize that Jesus Christ bears
in mind for each of you on an individual basis, your
circumstances, your abilities, and your resources.
If you can't be convinced of that, you're going to be
extremely frustrated and prone to perpetual discouragement in
your quest to worship, love, and give to the Lord.
And I'm not talking about just giving money.
Your life, your time, your energy, your plans.
I remember when that truth dawned on me many years ago.
It liberated me in a way in which I can never read this
passage the same way again, to know that Jesus Christ looks at
me uniquely, and he looks at the season of life that I'm in.
He looks at the situation, He looks at my liberties, my lack
of whatever the case may be, and he considers that, evaluates
that, and he's honored by what I can do in that.
Do you know where I found inspiration for that truth?
Leviticus, Leviticus, Leviticus one turn there with me.
I want you to see it with your own eyes.
I've heard people say that there is no value in this book as
Christians. Shame on them.
Leviticus, I want you to look at chapter one, verse five.
In this chapter we're given instructions about what God
demanded of the people concerning a particular
sacrifice. That sacrifice is called the
burnt offering. You know what was unique about
that sacrifice? Everything about that beast was
given over to the altar. Everything was consumed, not
just bits and pieces. The whole beast was placed on
the altar. No reservations.
And so it's a wonderful picture of the sacrifice of Christ.
And in terms of Christians, it's a wonderful picture of what
we're supposed to do with our lives.
But I want you to see this detail.
Look at verse five of Leviticus one.
Then he shall kill the bull before the Lord and Aaron's
sons. The priest shall bring the blood
and throw the blood against the sides of the altar.
This is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
What animal was supposed to be given for the burnt offering?
The bull? That's a big beast.
That's a costly beast, expensive.
A bull can do a lot for a household, for a business, but
it was to be given as an offering, and look what it would
produce in verse 9. But its entrails and its legs he
shall wash with water, and the priests shall burn all of it on
the altar as a burnt offering, A food offering with a pleasing
aroma to the Lord. So the Lord would be pleased by
the fragrance of this complete sacrifice.
Now if it ended there, we would understand.
OK, everybody needs to get a bowl and give it to the Lord.
But the Lord doesn't end His instructions there.
You Scroll down and you read something else in verse 10 in
light of the fact that this is still about the burnt offering.
If his gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from the
sheep or goats, he shall bring a male without blemish.
Well, hold on. You told us about a bull.
But yeah, there's also the ability to give a goat or a
sheep. And if you were to give that,
what would the result of that be?
Look at verse 13. But the entrails and the legs he
shall wash with water, and the priest shall offer all of it and
burn it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food
offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
Huh. So I can give an offering, a
burnt offering with a goat or a sheep?
Not just with a goat or a sheep. He's not done yet.
Look at verse 14. If his offering to the Lord is a
burnt offering of birds. Then he shall bring his offering
of turtle doves or pigeons. And what would be the result of
that? Look at verse 17.
He shall tear it open by its wings, but shall not sever it
completely. And the priest shall burn it on
the altar, on the wood that is on the fire.
It is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma
to the Lord. So hold on, comparatively, in
that economy, would you rather own a bull or a bird?
Bull for me. Bull.
I'll take a bull any day. But check this out.
Whether you gave a bull or a goat or a sheep or a bird to the
Lord, it was all the same. Why these different options?
Because not everybody could afford a bull and not everybody
could afford a goat. And so the poorest of the poor
would have to blame on giving a bird.
You know what the Lord is assuring in this chapter?
Whatever it is that you give me, I take into consideration what
you can give me and it's all a pleasing aroma to me saying
please help me apply Leviticus one in 2024.
I can tell you how to apply to me in a very busy season of my
life where there was so much happening was studying for my
masters. All these things and my days of
devotion at that time did not look that same when I was in
Canada without a full time job with more laid back classes.
You know what I found myself doing when it came to Leviticus
one and this dawned on me. I found myself saying to the
Lord, Lord, I was once able to give you a bull but for this
season I can only give you a sheep.
I want to give you a bull but this season right now in these
circumstances won't allow me. Please Lord, either remove the
circumstances and give me the ability to give you a bull or
please be satisfied with this goat that set me free.
And there are times where I don't know about you.
Even a common cold will knock me out and sometimes it used to be
change my diet and stuff which helped.
I could be out for weeks and it would debilitate me in so many
ways. You know what I found myself
doing in those days, Lord? You see me?
I'm giving you a bird. Please take this bird and be
satisfied. You know what Leviticus One
says, whether it's a bird or a bull, it's a pleasing aroma to
me. And I know many people, mothers
with newborns, people who are trying to take care of family
members and it's just so overwhelming.
And they feel guilty and they feel ashamed and they feel as
though there is this excel sheet that God has in heaven.
And if you don't meet that quota and if you don't do it this way,
if you don't give that amount, amount of time, it amounts to
nothing. Well, what about this one with
two copper coins? How does Jesus evaluate?
He says she gave more than everybody else.
Now, this is not a truth that should excuse or justify
downgraded devotion, weak devotion.
No, no, no, no, no. Because a true worshipper will
say I would want to give everything I can to the Lord.
But they're also understand that that's not always the case.
And so they come and they are comforted by the fact that the
Lord looks, and he looks more than just the amount.
He looks at what that meant for the person who gave it.
Does that set you free? What about the woman?
I often refer to this, It's a New Testament example, the woman
who broke the alabaster flask and poured on the feet of Jesus.
The disciples criticized her and Jesus defended her.
She didn't even open her mouth. When you're truly walking with
the Lord, you don't need to defend yourself all the time.
Christ defends her and this is what he says to those disciples.
She did what she could. She did what she could.
So we look at the contrast, the contrast with what this woman's
pure, simple piety in comparison to the fake carnal, externally
focused spirituality of the scribes.
That's the flow of thought after condemning these men.
Now we come in, the spotlight falls on this woman and we see
that this woman, though she was shabby and maybe she shuffled
her way into the temple. Jesus can say to his disciples,
check this out. I just told you about another
thing to check on. I'm saying those guys are going
to get the worst of the worst in judgment day.
But let me show you someone else who gave more than everybody.
That must have been shocking, but Jesus interprets and
evaluates and esteems way differently than we do.
But I told you in the beginning of this message that there is a
dual purpose to this passage. The first, yes, being that there
is a contrast, but second to that, this story stands as a
confirmation for condemnation. And this is where I believe I'm
persuaded that it's about this more than anything else.
So let's consider not the contrast, but the condemnation.
You know, to most, this woman's sacrifice is limited to an
inspirational act of generosity. But to the student of the
Scriptures, this text, what you just read about this widow, you
know what it should done? Alarm us, alarm us, alarm us.
Why? Look again at what this donation
would cost this poor lady in verse 44, for they all
contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her
poverty. So she's already poor coming in,
but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had.
This is not exaggeration. She gave everything she had to
what point all she had to live on.
You know what these two copper coins would equate to in modern
day currency, like a little bit over a dollar.
So she gave all that she had check this out to live on.
So she could have gone to the grocery store and bought a
chocolate bar to satisfy her belly for the day, but instead
she goes to the temple and she puts it in the offering box.
That is to say, she literally gave up her last penny.
Not for the day, by the way, but she emptied her bank account.
What's the problem with that? The problem with that is because
the Lord created preventative measures in His law that would
protect widows from spiraling into a place of being neglected
and abandoned, into poverty and starvation.
God has a special place in His heart for widows, and you see it
throughout the Old Testament. And more than just having
certain affections for them, He established certain measures and
laws and commands in society so that they would be sustained and
that they would escape coming to such a point in their lives.
Here's one example. Turn with me to Deuteronomy
chapter 14. I want you to see with your own
eyes with me. Deuteronomy 14, verse 28.
This is what God give to the people of Israel before they
even step foot into the Promised land.
And here's what He says concerning the tithe.
Again, if you've been in evangelical circles long enough,
you've probably heard many teachings on tithing.
I'm pretty confident you didn't hear this one about tithing.
Deuteronomy 142829 We think tithing is just 10% of your
income. That's not the only tie that you
find in the Bible. Here's one other one in
Deuteronomy 1428. At the end of every three years,
you shall bring out of all the tide of your produce in the same
year and lay it up within your towns.
So notice, this is not just a regular tithe.
This is a tithe, a special tithe that takes place every three
years. And where were they to bring
this tithe of their produce? Not to the House of God, but to
designated local towns, And they would drop off a portion of
their produce and their resources.
For what purpose? Verse 29 And the Levite, because
he has no portion or inheritance with you.
And the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who
are within your town shall come and eat and be filled, that the
Lord your God may bless you and all the work of your hands that
you do. So there are members of society
who can't take care of themselves to the same degree
that others who are more and more profitable positions.
And so God created a culture in which the wider population would
be able to make contributions so that those who are less
fortunate can be nurtured, can be taken care of.
And one of the ways, this is not the only way, but one of the
ways widows would benefit from this, is that every three years
there would be a great deposit within these towns so that those
who are destitute and those who are vulnerable and those who are
weak can can ensure some kind of aid.
Now listen, this is again not the only measure, but it is a
major way in which God expresses His compassion for these least
fortunate ones. And since this was inscribed in
the law, you know what that means?
The teachers of the law had to exhort the people.
Don't forget about the fatherless.
Don't forget about the sojourner, don't forget about
the ministers, because they don't have land.
There's no tribal allotment to the Levites.
They are in these designated towns, but they don't have
boundaries like you do. So take care of the ministers
and take care of the widow. One of the ways you can do that
is every three years you just read it.
You're going to come to these towns and you're going to drop
off a produce with joy. God's going to bless you for
that. And so serious is God's law for
such people that the Lord made a serious warning within the same
book to the same people who are about to enter into a world
where they had to honor such wishes.
Look at Deuteronomy 27 verse 19 with me.
You want to see how serious it is when widows are neglected?
Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the
sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.
And all the people shall say Amen.
You want to know what happens if you suspend justice?
If you pervert justice, if you ignore or take advantage of such
people curse, That's what you're going to inherit.
And all the people shall say Amen.
And they ended up saying Amen. But This is why we study the
Hebrew Scriptures. What do we learn about the same
people that they honor such an Amen?
Have they always been faithful to uphold justice for such
people? Was their leadership always
mindful of those who are in need and to be assured that they'd be
taken care of? Answer no.
And that is clearly seen when Isaiah the prophet arrives early
in his writings and he presents these scathing woes to the same
nation of Israel. You'll see it in Isaiah 10,
verse one. Woe to those who decree
iniquitous decrees and the writers who keep writing
oppression to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob
the poor of my people of their right that widows may be their
spoil and that they may make the fatherless their prey.
What will you do on the day of punishment in the ruin that will
come from afar? To whom will you flee for help,
and where will you leave your wealth?
So at this point in Israel's history, they have created
iniquitous decrees. They have wrote, written these
different oppressive laws and demands that ended up making
widows into their spoil and through exploiting the truth and
their position and demanding from widows in such a way they
were able to accumulate wealth, abnormal measures of wealth.
Isaiah indicates that at the end of verse 3, where are you going
to leave your wealth? In what context?
Judgments coming. You ignored the widow you you
abused the widow. You know what's on its way?
Invasion. And when the invasion comes,
where are you going to put all your money?
What's going to happen now once you've been caught fleecing the
sheep? And so we see here that Isaiah
assured the people that judgment was coming.
And one of the reasons is because widows were made into
their spoil. And so instead of caring and
helping, it took advantage. And we see here that that is a
consistent rebuke throughout the Old Testament.
Here's another one of Malachi 3/5.
Then I will draw near to you for judgement.
I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against
the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those
who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the
fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner.
And do not fear me, says the Lord of Hosts.
Now you might be here going to these passages and wondering
what's your point? What's the point of this?
Why are we looking at these things?
And I'm going to answer that question with another question.
Doesn't this backdrop what I always say, the foundation for
understanding the New Testament? Does not these truths create a
concern for you when you realize the nature and condition of that
widow who went into the House of God and gave 2 copper coins?
When she let go of those two things and they clinked and
clanged, she gave all that she had, everything that she could
give. She was impoverished when she
walked in, and she was more impoverished when she left.
And you should, in light of all those things with me, realize,
huh, should she be in such a state.
What did you and I learn last week when we studied about Jesus
condemnation of the scribes? Go back with me to Mark 12 and
look at verse 38 on the same day before this widow enters into
the narrative we read right before Mark 1238.
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, in the
places of honor at feast verse 40, who devour widows houses, Uh
oh, and for pretence make long prayers, they will receive the
greater condemnation. Is this a coincidence?
Is it a coincidence that after the Lord Jesus mentions the
scribes devouring widows houses, a destitute widows walks on the
scene making a final donation to the same religious system that
Jesus just finished condemning? This is not coincidence.
No, no, no, no, no. This is confirmation.
Confirmation to what? Of the wicked spiritual
institution that preyed on the ones that God said you have to
take care of and nurture. You have to watch over and
serve. You have to give and not take.
Yeah, this window widow. Widow.
She's acting in simple faith. You ready for this shocking
statement? Simple faith, Yes, but she's a
victim to corruption more than anything else.
What are you saying? Here's what I'm saying, that
this widow who gave absolutely everything she had, listen for
her survival, for her survival, did so because the perverted
interpreters of the law demanded it from her.
So she serves an illustration of what Jesus just finished
criticizing in the previous verses.
And you may not be convinced of this, but consider the strategic
authorship of the Spirit when He put this story where He put this
story. What comes after the story of
the widow and her offering a new chapter, Mark 13.
But the chapter inclusions and the verse references are not
inspired. They were included later for our
benefit, but they are not a part of the original writings.
And if you're not mindful of that consistently, what can
happen to your reading and understanding of God's words?
When you come to a chapter break, you think there's a break
in the thought or break in the theme.
And so now you kind of just create a blank canvas in your
mind. And you said, OK, I'm done with
chapter 12 Now to come to chapter 13.
What's what's tucked into this chapter that that's not helpful?
So what do you have before the widow's offering yet Jesus
condemning the religious leader and out of all the many evils
that he could have brought up, one of the main things he brings
forward is how they ate up and devoured and consumed widows.
Their greed took advantage of those who are most vulnerable.
Then you have this widow who comes on the scene and she goes
into her pocket, pulls out 2 copper coins and Jesus says she
gave absolutely everything she had to live on.
And what do you find in Mark 13 verse one?
And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples
said to him, look teacher, what wonderful stones and what
wonderful buildings. And Jesus said to him, do you
see these great buildings? There will not be left here.
One stone upon another that will not be thrown down.
Judgment, judgment before the widow gave her offering.
The widow gives her offering, judgment after she gives her
offering. So when you come here, you
realize there is a strong theme being communicated here.
And so we see here that there is confirmation for what Jesus said
he would condemn. And it's as though this is so
important. This widow's plight is presented
to us as one of the final evidences for the verdict of
Jerusalem's downfall. So what's the main point of this
passage? Is it to demand people to give
to religious ministries and institutions regardless of one's
poverty or their desperate need? Not at all.
I believe it provides some inspiration for those who want
to serve God, but maybe are tempted to feel that this is
insignificant in light of what other people are doing and
you're assured by Christ. Calling his disciples and saying
she gave more that he appraises, appraises things differently
than we do and that others do. Yes, be inspired by that because
Jesus says something here about that.
But more than that, it shows us that the watching eye of Jesus
Christ is not just upon the offerers and those who
sacrifice, but it's upon what? What did we see here in verse
41? Jesus sat across the offering
box and he watched the people. You know also he's watching
corruption, corruption in the House of God.
He is looking at sacrifice in the House of God, and he is
going to shock the Church of Jesus Christ when we all stand
at the judgement seat of Christ and realize what really Jesus
was after all along. But his eye, his watching eyes
also upon those who exploit and abuse and take advantage of
those that leaders in the church are supposed to help and serve
and love. So Jesus is watching.
He's not just watching widows. He's watching what scribes and
leaders and speakers are doing. 2 widows.
And this is the truth of this passage.
It speaks of a contrast and speaks of a confirmation for
condemnation. And the overarching truth is
this. The Lord Jesus Christ is
watching. And that is an extremely
encouraging thing for those who feel like they are overlooked,
feel like they're not doing anything for the Kingdom of God.
And it's a terrifying truth for those who think that they're
going to get away by abusing and hurting and lying to those whom
God said take care of. May we fear Him and love him,
for He is worthy. Lord, we look to you together,
and we thank you for opening our hearts to the complete truth of
your Word. Lord, thank you for the
assurance that your eye is upon the Sparrow and if it's upon an
insignificant creature such as a little bird, how much more us
created in your image. Thank you Lord, that your eyes
not just on how we serve you, but it's on our suffering, it's
on our praying, it's on our holiness, it's on our fears,
it's on our worries. Lord, you're watching us, and in
moments where we feel as though we are just a number, help us
realize that you are one who praises that which men miss.
But Lord, we also thank you for the assurance that you're
watching the evil that seems to be taking place with no
consequence. You will make that which is
wrong, right? You will bring correction where
there seems to be no retribution for.
And Lord, we just are thankful that there is a time coming
where you will judge. But we also, Lord, ask that you
would convict those who have for a long time or even even now in
entertaining the thought of trying to take advantage of the
gospel, the church, the people in the church for their own
personal gain. May this truth resound in their
hearts that you are watching. And Lord, we just pray that with
this truth you would hallow our hearts to be refueled with joy
because we are to be the most joyful concerning the fact that
we are in the truth. We love your truth, we love you,
and we're here to worship you together in Jesus name, Amen.
Amen. Let's stand and worship the Lord
together.