1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,100 I want to talk on a subject that's really very important and 2 00:00:03,100 --> 00:00:05,200 really not talked about very much. 3 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:11,200 I want to talk about the subject of sacrificial, giving a long 4 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:15,400 long time ago, there was a woman that Jesus describes or teaches 5 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:19,600 his disciples about by her example, it was an unnamed Widow 6 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,500 who gave two months. Now we all know that story but 7 00:00:22,500 --> 00:00:24,300 there's so much more surrounding it. 8 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:27,800 And there's a whole lot by way of personal application when it 9 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,900 comes to your giving. And my Going today. 10 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:33,400 And we want to notice some of those things, some of those 11 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:36,300 wonderful qualities and characteristics that this 12 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:40,700 unnamed poor Widow had Our passage, by the way, will be 13 00:00:40,700 --> 00:00:44,700 taking in Mark chapter 12 and beginning in verse 41 now. 14 00:00:44,700 --> 00:00:48,500 Jesus, sat opposite the treasury and saw how people put in money 15 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:53,700 into the treasury and many who were Rich put in much, then one 16 00:00:53,700 --> 00:00:58,700 poor Widow came and threw in two months which make a quadrants. 17 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,100 So he called the disciples to him and said to him them 18 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:06,600 assuredly, I say to you that this poor Widow has put in more 19 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:11,100 than all those who have given to the Were they all put in out of 20 00:01:11,100 --> 00:01:15,000 their abundance? But she out of her poverty, put 21 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:19,900 in all that, she had her whole livelihood just a little 22 00:01:19,900 --> 00:01:21,700 background. Now, as we look at this 23 00:01:21,700 --> 00:01:25,300 narrative, we're talking now about the last week in the life 24 00:01:25,300 --> 00:01:28,100 of Jesus. You know, I did a study back in 25 00:01:28,100 --> 00:01:31,700 2018 on the last week in the life of Jesus and I got to tell 26 00:01:31,700 --> 00:01:34,700 you, it was one of the most enjoyable studies I have ever 27 00:01:34,700 --> 00:01:37,400 done. Amazing things in the hand of 28 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:40,700 God in the handiwork of God. God in everything that went on. 29 00:01:41,700 --> 00:01:44,300 But in the last week, in the life of Jesus, The Narrative 30 00:01:44,300 --> 00:01:47,300 that is before us Sunday, has now passed. 31 00:01:47,700 --> 00:01:50,900 And the Lord has already made his triumphal entry on the back 32 00:01:50,900 --> 00:01:53,200 of a Colt of a donkey into Jerusalem. 33 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:58,100 Monday has now passed to and now, Scholars, tell us when this 34 00:01:58,100 --> 00:02:02,600 happened, it was probably about Tuesday and Tuesday is often 35 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:04,700 referred to as the day of questions. 36 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:07,900 And on the day of questions, there were many people that were 37 00:02:07,900 --> 00:02:09,699 enemies. Jesus. 38 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:13,000 I want to make a point here about Jesus and enemies 39 00:02:14,100 --> 00:02:20,100 sometimes we think because we do good works or were a good person 40 00:02:20,900 --> 00:02:25,300 or we're likable that everybody is going to like us and 41 00:02:25,300 --> 00:02:27,800 everybody is going to appreciate what we've done. 42 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:33,200 That is not realistic. Do you know what? 43 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:37,400 Jesus was the greatest man that ever lived the greatest preacher 44 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:41,500 of the world ever knew and he had enemies that despised him 45 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:45,200 and hated him. In the last week in the life of 46 00:02:45,208 --> 00:02:48,600 Jesus on Tuesday, there were three different categories of 47 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:53,100 people that hated Jesus one was describes, one was the Pharisees 48 00:02:53,100 --> 00:02:56,200 and one was the Sadducees point of Interest here. 49 00:02:57,100 --> 00:03:00,900 You know the Sadducees were a division or sect of the Jews 50 00:03:01,100 --> 00:03:03,900 that didn't believe in the resurrection and the Pharisees 51 00:03:03,900 --> 00:03:07,300 were a division or a sect of the Jews that did believe in the 52 00:03:07,300 --> 00:03:09,500 resurrection. There were other differences 53 00:03:09,500 --> 00:03:11,700 too, but that was the main difference. 54 00:03:12,100 --> 00:03:16,000 And did you know that the He's in the Sadducees, couldn't stand 55 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:21,500 each other, but on this day, they come together Bound by the 56 00:03:21,500 --> 00:03:25,300 unity of hatred against Jesus, and they questioned him to 57 00:03:25,300 --> 00:03:28,700 challenge his authority. The master answers, all their 58 00:03:28,700 --> 00:03:32,500 questions, he beautifully answers all of their questions 59 00:03:32,500 --> 00:03:36,400 and then Jesus says this to the Pharisees, he says, this tell 60 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:39,500 me, what do you think about the Christ? 61 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,700 What a question. He said whose son is he? 62 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:46,900 Well you remember that the Pharisees had rejected that 63 00:03:46,900 --> 00:03:50,900 Jesus was the son of God but they did believe in a messiah, 64 00:03:51,100 --> 00:03:52,900 right. And they believed in the 65 00:03:52,908 --> 00:03:56,000 prophetic accounts about the Messiah to and what does the 66 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,600 Bible say? Or how does the bible describe 67 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:00,700 the Messiah in the Old Testament? 68 00:04:00,700 --> 00:04:04,400 What is he called? He's actually called the son of 69 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,500 David. So Jesus asks the question. 70 00:04:08,300 --> 00:04:11,200 He said, how is the Messiah? Both David? 71 00:04:11,300 --> 00:04:18,100 And son and David's Lord. He wasn't really asking them a 72 00:04:18,100 --> 00:04:20,899 question. He was making a point. 73 00:04:21,399 --> 00:04:23,400 They had rejected him. He was making a point. 74 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:27,300 Here was this point. The Messiah was fully human 75 00:04:27,900 --> 00:04:34,200 David son and he's fully Divine. David's Lord, similar Language, 76 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:39,000 by the way, is found 80 times in the gospels alone, the phrase 77 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:43,300 that Jesus is the son of man you know this already and when it 78 00:04:43,300 --> 00:04:46,100 says he's the son of man it means our Messiah was fully 79 00:04:46,100 --> 00:04:46,700 human. Ermine. 80 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:50,000 And when it says he's a Son of God, it means our Messiah was 81 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:52,400 fully Divine. That's what Jesus was making the 82 00:04:52,407 --> 00:04:55,100 point and you know, what happened to all those enemies. 83 00:04:56,100 --> 00:05:00,000 They all retreat. And Jesus sits opposite. 84 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,300 The treasury going to get back to this in just a moment and he 85 00:05:03,300 --> 00:05:11,300 witnesses an incredible event. All right, we have to back up in 86 00:05:11,300 --> 00:05:15,000 order to understand the context and the comparison between the 87 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:19,500 scribes and between the Widow and her sacrificial, giving we 88 00:05:19,500 --> 00:05:22,500 have to back up. We got to go back to verse 38. 89 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:28,100 So we do that now in Mark 12 and 38, then he said to them, in his 90 00:05:28,100 --> 00:05:31,000 teaching, our Lord was always teaching. 91 00:05:31,100 --> 00:05:34,700 It is better rendered by the way, this in the course of his 92 00:05:34,700 --> 00:05:41,200 teaching, he said this He said, Beware of the scribes. 93 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:45,200 Very important. Remember last Sunday, we talked 94 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:48,000 about Jesus was referring in Matthew 23. 95 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,900 He was talking to the scribes and the Pharisees member that. 96 00:05:51,100 --> 00:05:55,300 And what did he say to them? Woe to you scribes and Pharisees 97 00:05:55,300 --> 00:05:59,200 and he calls them Hypocrites. We went into detail about that 98 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:01,800 last Sunday. Now he's going to talk about the 99 00:06:01,808 --> 00:06:04,400 Scribe specifically and he doesn't just leave it in 100 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,200 general. He says beware as he's teaching 101 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:10,300 his disciples in the course of all of his teaching he said 102 00:06:10,300 --> 00:06:14,900 Beware of Scribes. And now he's going to give six 103 00:06:14,900 --> 00:06:18,000 reasons. Six reasons to Beware of the 104 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,500 scribes. Number one reason who desire to 105 00:06:20,508 --> 00:06:22,900 go around in Long, robes, and you might look at that and say 106 00:06:22,900 --> 00:06:25,800 what is the big deal about wearing a long robe? 107 00:06:27,900 --> 00:06:31,300 What's the deal? He says, Beware of the scribes 108 00:06:31,300 --> 00:06:32,700 and number one of the six things. 109 00:06:32,700 --> 00:06:37,300 He says, they go around in Long robes. well, first of all, the 110 00:06:37,300 --> 00:06:40,000 reason they went around in Long robes you, who wore long robes, 111 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:46,000 back then, dignitaries Kings wore long robes, what the 112 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,800 scribes wanted to do, is they wanted to look like as Linwood 113 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:53,200 Smith used to say doctor big somebody, That's what they 114 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,000 wanted. And by the way, incidentally I 115 00:06:55,008 --> 00:06:57,700 read this to, you know, what they would do, they would walk 116 00:06:57,700 --> 00:07:01,700 around the streets of Jerusalem wearing these long robes, the 117 00:07:01,700 --> 00:07:05,700 Garb of dignitaries like they're about to do something special so 118 00:07:05,700 --> 00:07:07,900 other people can see them. Are you kind of getting the 119 00:07:07,900 --> 00:07:11,100 point As We Lay the foundation about what the problem was? 120 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,100 There's many more things we're going to talk about but it all 121 00:07:14,100 --> 00:07:19,900 began with that. Incidentally Jesus is King of 122 00:07:19,900 --> 00:07:25,900 Kings. Jesus is Lord of lords and Jesus 123 00:07:25,900 --> 00:07:32,700 never wore a long robe. Jesus wore a tunic and so did 124 00:07:32,700 --> 00:07:36,400 his disciples. That was the Garb of a common 125 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:39,600 person. Isn't that fitting about Jesus 126 00:07:39,700 --> 00:07:42,200 here with the Old Testament, says prophetically about Jesus 127 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:46,900 and his appearance. It says he has no form nor 128 00:07:46,900 --> 00:07:50,600 comeliness nor beauty that we should desire him. 129 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:53,700 In other words, there was nothing about the outward 130 00:07:53,700 --> 00:07:55,700 appearance of Jesus that attracted people. 131 00:07:55,700 --> 00:07:58,800 Nothing. They wanted to have an outward 132 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:01,400 appearance that attracted people to them, but Jesus didn't do 133 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:04,300 that. Everything Jesus did to attract 134 00:08:04,300 --> 00:08:08,100 people was by this, by the things that, which he taught, by 135 00:08:08,100 --> 00:08:13,500 the way that he lived and buy the things in, which he said, by 136 00:08:13,500 --> 00:08:17,400 the way, he was by the things, he taught by the things he said. 137 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:20,400 And by the things that he did and the Miracles, he performed. 138 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:23,300 Those are the things that attracted people to Jesus, not 139 00:08:23,300 --> 00:08:26,700 his outward appearance, these guys, they wanted to put on air. 140 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,400 Airs and so forth. I wanted to make a point about 141 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:33,900 clothing by might Okay, I'm standing before you now in a 142 00:08:33,900 --> 00:08:38,100 suit and a tie. If you see me during the rest of 143 00:08:38,100 --> 00:08:40,700 the week, you will not see me in a suit and a tie. 144 00:08:42,299 --> 00:08:46,700 You will see me in a pair of jeans, probably and a pair of 145 00:08:46,700 --> 00:08:52,900 boots, because that's what I am. I'm a preaching Cowboy that's 146 00:08:52,900 --> 00:08:56,700 me. I'm wearing a suit and tie today 147 00:08:56,700 --> 00:09:00,800 in the Pulpit, last Sunday, I preached to and I had a suit but 148 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:02,900 no time you got to wear a tie with Pulpit. 149 00:09:02,900 --> 00:09:05,500 No. Do you have to wear a suit in 150 00:09:05,500 --> 00:09:08,300 the Pulpit know? That is a custom that we've 151 00:09:08,300 --> 00:09:12,400 passed down with tradition. But you know what, everybody? 152 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:16,100 That teaches wears, a nice shirt, somebody wears a nice 153 00:09:16,100 --> 00:09:18,100 shirt. Nice nice slacks, nice shoes 154 00:09:18,300 --> 00:09:21,300 perfectly fine. The point is, we dress up a 155 00:09:21,308 --> 00:09:24,100 little bit out of respect for the position of the pulpit. 156 00:09:24,100 --> 00:09:28,700 Not to put on airs, it would be bad if I dressed up to put on 157 00:09:28,700 --> 00:09:30,800 airs that's the point. You see the point? 158 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:33,500 I love it, the Philippines bought by the way, it is 159 00:09:33,500 --> 00:09:35,200 comfortable, the preaching, the Philippines. 160 00:09:36,300 --> 00:09:40,100 We wear shirts, open color shirts, and nice, pants and 161 00:09:40,100 --> 00:09:41,600 shoes, and it's very comfortable. 162 00:09:42,100 --> 00:09:44,800 That's their dress up. It would be inappropriate for us 163 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:46,500 to roll in there with a suit and a tie. 164 00:09:47,100 --> 00:09:50,500 Okay. So clothing is not the point. 165 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:53,200 The point is, are you wearing the clothing to put on airs? 166 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:54,700 And that's exactly what they did? 167 00:09:54,700 --> 00:09:56,800 But there's more and this is what else they did. 168 00:09:56,900 --> 00:09:59,900 As they walked up and down the streets of Jerusalem, they love 169 00:09:59,900 --> 00:10:03,100 greetings in the marketplace. And at first, we look at this, 170 00:10:03,100 --> 00:10:05,400 we wonder what's the big deal. What's the problem? 171 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:08,600 What's wrong? The greeting, the new King James 172 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:14,500 says, greetings the Old. King James, says salutations I 173 00:10:14,500 --> 00:10:18,100 walked in the building and I greeted some of you. 174 00:10:19,300 --> 00:10:21,100 I would have loved to greet all of you. 175 00:10:21,300 --> 00:10:23,800 I could not do that and have time I had to get set up. 176 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:28,100 That's not the greeting. We're talking about this work 177 00:10:28,100 --> 00:10:30,700 greeting in its Origins, literally means this and this is 178 00:10:30,700 --> 00:10:32,200 what Jesus was saying about them. 179 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:38,000 It's talking about, greetings, meaning, long-winded, worldly, 180 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:44,300 compliments and titles such as Rabbi rabona. 181 00:10:44,300 --> 00:10:50,100 I and Abba, or I don't know, I've learned maybe it's a bomb, 182 00:10:50,700 --> 00:10:56,100 I don't know. They wanted the title walking 183 00:10:56,100 --> 00:10:59,400 around in Long robes, get in the Pat's, on the back, and they 184 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:01,700 loved the title. That's the greetings. 185 00:11:01,700 --> 00:11:04,000 The Lord was talking about. By the way, you're a rabbi 186 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:09,000 means, they call Jesus Rabbi. Rabbi means Jewish scholar, 187 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:14,400 rabona. I means Master teacher and ebbe, 188 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:16,900 by the way, the word means father, but in the New 189 00:11:16,900 --> 00:11:22,000 Testament, the word Abba, or ABBA is an intimate name for God 190 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:23,400 and that's why in the New Testament, what? 191 00:11:23,500 --> 00:11:29,900 I say we call God Abba, Father. What's the difference? 192 00:11:31,100 --> 00:11:35,100 Father, the second word, father, there is the fact that God is 193 00:11:35,100 --> 00:11:38,900 our heavenly father. He is the heavenly father, but 194 00:11:38,900 --> 00:11:42,400 if you're a Christian guess what to you, he's more than just a 195 00:11:42,408 --> 00:11:45,800 heavenly father. He is Abba, Father. 196 00:11:46,300 --> 00:11:51,100 That means he's your father. I have children. 197 00:11:51,100 --> 00:11:53,500 So people might say Frank is a father. 198 00:11:54,700 --> 00:11:59,600 But to my kids, I'm dad. Big difference. 199 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:03,800 And if you are a child of God and you're a Christian, you have 200 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:07,000 that same relationship. That's the intimate relationship 201 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:08,600 that you have. That's the ab apart. 202 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:11,500 What these scribes wanted, though? 203 00:12:11,500 --> 00:12:16,000 They wanted to be called, Rabbi rabona call me, father, as they 204 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,500 walked up and down the streets of Jerusalem. 205 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:22,500 And Jesus says, watch out for them. 206 00:12:22,500 --> 00:12:26,500 Big coveted pretentious displays of respect and recognition, but 207 00:12:26,500 --> 00:12:29,800 then there's more.they coveted. Also, the best seats in the 208 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:32,500 synagogue. Now, in the synagogue at the 209 00:12:32,500 --> 00:12:36,900 Jerusalem End, by the way. In the Jerusalem and the 210 00:12:36,908 --> 00:12:39,200 synagogue, there was a platform kind of like this. 211 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:44,700 On the platform, stood the scripture reader and the prayer 212 00:12:44,700 --> 00:12:47,900 leader, okay. The chief seats in the 213 00:12:47,900 --> 00:12:49,800 synagogues, by the way, we're right there. 214 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:52,600 They were right there with their backs to the stage. 215 00:12:53,700 --> 00:12:56,900 And the point was everybody that's in the audience would not 216 00:12:56,900 --> 00:13:00,700 only be looking at the people or looking at the scripture reader 217 00:13:00,700 --> 00:13:04,000 or the prayer leader, but they would also have to be also 218 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:08,200 seeing those people sitting in the chief couches sitting in the 219 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:13,800 chief places of Honor. Jesus didn't say it was wrong to 220 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:15,600 have a seat like that in the synagogue. 221 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:18,100 What he was saying is it's wrong to covet that seat. 222 00:13:19,300 --> 00:13:22,800 I want to share something with you in the Philippines. 223 00:13:22,900 --> 00:13:27,500 They have Chief seeks and I don't like it. 224 00:13:28,700 --> 00:13:31,100 It makes me very, very uncomfortable. 225 00:13:32,300 --> 00:13:34,500 We come in the American preachers traveling with the 226 00:13:34,500 --> 00:13:36,100 Filipino creatures that we travel with. 227 00:13:36,100 --> 00:13:41,000 And you know what out of respect to us, they give us the cheap 228 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:44,000 seat, the chief seats and often times, we are facing the 229 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,900 audience, I'd rather be in the audience face the speaker like 230 00:13:46,900 --> 00:13:50,500 everybody else. They just do it out of respect. 231 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:54,400 The problem isn't the seat, the problem is coveting. 232 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:56,100 The seat. What else do they do? 233 00:13:57,200 --> 00:13:59,000 It? One of the best places in, at 234 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:03,200 the feast, by the way, best places is better translated from 235 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:08,600 the original as Chief couches. You got the Banquets going on, 236 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:10,900 right? People come to eat people. 237 00:14:10,900 --> 00:14:14,900 Come to enjoy the party. They had what they called, Chief 238 00:14:14,900 --> 00:14:19,400 couches or best places. You know, James Miller James 239 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:23,600 said about that James condemned, given the rich guy, the best 240 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,600 spot and putting the poor guy on the floor. 241 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:32,300 And can you imagine if you were a person that coveted the best 242 00:14:32,300 --> 00:14:36,000 seat in the synagogue? The chief couches at the feast. 243 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:38,400 There is a complete lack of humility there. 244 00:14:40,100 --> 00:14:43,200 I always loved it. I always loved it. when you're 245 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:46,800 on a public transit of some sort of kind, maybe like in Dallas at 246 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:49,200 the airport when you get on that thing, you know, you go around 247 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:52,800 to the different Gates and I always think it's great when I 248 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:55,900 see somebody that's been sitting down, especially a man sitting 249 00:14:55,900 --> 00:14:59,600 down and a woman comes in an older lady or perhaps and it 250 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:03,900 gets up and gives her the seat That's humility. 251 00:15:04,900 --> 00:15:09,400 Its way, it ought to be. The problem folks is coveting, 252 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:12,600 the seat. There's a lack of humility. 253 00:15:13,100 --> 00:15:16,600 He said, watch out for these scribes because they do all of 254 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:18,600 these things. They want the place of the 255 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:21,700 esteemed attendance. What else? 256 00:15:22,700 --> 00:15:27,900 Now it's going to get worse. In verse 40 who devour widows 257 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:30,400 houses. And this is very important 258 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:32,700 because we're talking about the difference between an unnamed 259 00:15:32,700 --> 00:15:35,600 Widow in. Just a moment, a precious Widow 260 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:39,000 that gave all she had to the scribes and many of these 261 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:41,900 scribes devoured their houses. And what's that mean? 262 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:46,000 They took their money. They took advantage of them, 263 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:51,900 they exploited their generosity. And this was done, especially by 264 00:15:51,900 --> 00:15:53,900 the scribes, taking advantage of them. 265 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:56,100 I'm going to say something about widows. 266 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:02,100 Widows are not to be exploited. Widows are not to be taken 267 00:16:02,100 --> 00:16:05,400 advantage of. Widows are not to be taken 268 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:07,500 advantage of because of their generosity. 269 00:16:07,500 --> 00:16:12,000 We have a number of widows in this congregation And you know, 270 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:14,900 if you look up the definition of a widow, it says a woman that 271 00:16:14,900 --> 00:16:19,500 has lost her husband. Widows in the Bible, it is 272 00:16:19,500 --> 00:16:22,100 scriptural for a Christian Widow, to be even helped 273 00:16:22,100 --> 00:16:25,000 financially, but here's the criteria. 274 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:29,300 The King James version says if they are a widow indeed. 275 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:36,300 Other translation says, if they are truly a widow, Now, you 276 00:16:36,300 --> 00:16:38,400 might say, wait a minute, we do indeed, they're either a widow 277 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:42,700 with or not, right? No, a widow. 278 00:16:42,700 --> 00:16:45,300 Indeed is somebody that has no one else. 279 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:50,200 If a widow in a congregation, by the way, is in need, but has 280 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:52,800 family. The family helps the Widow first 281 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:57,100 that scriptural. If the Widow does not have 282 00:16:57,100 --> 00:17:00,400 family to help or the family has no means to help the widow. 283 00:17:00,500 --> 00:17:05,700 She becomes a widow indeed. Therefore, it is scriptural for 284 00:17:05,700 --> 00:17:09,099 the treasury, the money given in the contribution to help and 285 00:17:09,099 --> 00:17:11,500 assist the Widow. She's now an ed synced in that. 286 00:17:12,300 --> 00:17:14,000 Widows are never to be exploited. 287 00:17:14,599 --> 00:17:17,000 They exploited these widows devouring their houses but 288 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:21,099 notice what they did as a pretense made long prayers. 289 00:17:22,300 --> 00:17:25,800 I can't even imagine this one scholar said, they took the 290 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:30,500 sacred Act of prayer and they used it to serve the devil. 291 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:33,600 I can't even imagine such a thing. 292 00:17:34,900 --> 00:17:38,700 Long prayers, you know, Jesus talked about long prayers. 293 00:17:38,900 --> 00:17:41,500 He said, sometimes people think they're going to be heard for 294 00:17:41,500 --> 00:17:46,500 their much speaking. Can I just make a little side 295 00:17:46,500 --> 00:17:51,500 point about a long prayer? I appreciated our brother this 296 00:17:51,500 --> 00:17:56,100 morning, his prayer was just right and I'm not the judge of 297 00:17:56,100 --> 00:17:59,000 that. But let me just say this, I have 298 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:00,700 been a play. I was at a place one time when 299 00:18:00,700 --> 00:18:05,400 the brother prayed so long. People fell asleep. 300 00:18:07,100 --> 00:18:09,600 What's the good in that? What's the purpose in that? 301 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:13,000 Are you praying just to be heard for their much speaking? 302 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:16,500 When you lead a public prayer me, I just give you this little 303 00:18:16,500 --> 00:18:19,400 bit of advice, when you lead a public prayer in the assembly, 304 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:22,000 you have two responsibilities. Number one, you have the 305 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:25,700 responsibility of holding the attention of everybody there. 306 00:18:26,300 --> 00:18:30,000 Just like the speaker. You must hold their attention 307 00:18:30,900 --> 00:18:33,600 and you must pray for things that are pertinent to everybody 308 00:18:34,700 --> 00:18:38,800 and it doesn't have to be long. Some of the most beautiful 309 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:41,100 prayers I have ever heard whereby a humble brother who 310 00:18:41,100 --> 00:18:45,400 prayed a short prayer to God in Jesus name from his heart and we 311 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:50,700 all hardly said, amen. Did you know that God heard that 312 00:18:50,700 --> 00:18:52,300 short prayer. Just like you heard the long 313 00:18:52,300 --> 00:18:54,400 one. You don't have to pray. 314 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:58,300 Long prayers to be heard by God. These guys intentionally as a 315 00:18:58,300 --> 00:19:03,500 pretense made long prayers to get advantage of those poor 316 00:19:03,500 --> 00:19:06,500 widows so that they could take their money. 317 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:09,300 The Amplified version, by the way, puts these two things 318 00:19:09,300 --> 00:19:13,900 together who devour widows houses and to cover it up. 319 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:19,000 They made long prayers. All right. 320 00:19:19,700 --> 00:19:24,100 Jesus says this, these will receive greater condemnation 321 00:19:24,100 --> 00:19:25,500 that phrase greater condemnation. 322 00:19:25,500 --> 00:19:29,300 I believe is the assessment. The Lord places on somebody that 323 00:19:29,300 --> 00:19:33,300 would do such a thing. I don't think it means That the 324 00:19:33,300 --> 00:19:36,900 sentence in hell is different. I think if somebody's lost 325 00:19:36,900 --> 00:19:39,100 they're just lost. I don't think the punishment is 326 00:19:39,100 --> 00:19:41,200 different. I think the phrase greater 327 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:44,900 condemnation is just the emphasis the Lord is placing on 328 00:19:44,900 --> 00:19:48,900 what happens to a person or what he thinks if a person does those 329 00:19:48,900 --> 00:19:51,200 things the scribes were guilty of. 330 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:58,000 Now we come to verse 41 The verse 41, and we get a clear 331 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:01,100 picture now between a distinction between hypocrisy 332 00:20:01,100 --> 00:20:04,800 and greed of the scribes and this poor Widow. 333 00:20:05,700 --> 00:20:10,400 Notice what Jesus does he sat opposite the treasury. 334 00:20:10,500 --> 00:20:13,300 Now notice this picture here. As you can see up here is the 335 00:20:13,300 --> 00:20:14,700 beautiful gate. And I put that up there that 336 00:20:14,700 --> 00:20:17,000 because this is the beautiful gate. 337 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:21,300 So a little background of what's happening on this day. 338 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:26,100 Jesus was out here number 12 in the court of the Gentiles. 339 00:20:26,100 --> 00:20:28,800 When all this is happening, it's time. 340 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:32,300 Now for Jesus to depart and he does show and he passes through 341 00:20:32,300 --> 00:20:35,300 the beautiful gate and he goes into here and this area right 342 00:20:35,300 --> 00:20:39,200 here to the court of women, and he sits opposite the temple 343 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:43,900 treasury which was right there. He sits down on a bench and he's 344 00:20:43,900 --> 00:20:46,200 observing. Now. 345 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:53,000 He's observing. The word treasury is a compound 346 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:55,200 word and I don't profess to know how to pronounce it. 347 00:20:55,200 --> 00:21:00,500 It's a great, big giant work. And by the way, a compound word, 348 00:21:00,500 --> 00:21:04,400 just means a word that comes from two different words. the 349 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:08,100 first word, I'm told, as a Persian word and that word 350 00:21:08,100 --> 00:21:12,800 actually means, Treasure their second part of that word means 351 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:15,900 guard or Safeguard. So, in other words, money or 352 00:21:15,900 --> 00:21:19,400 Treasures were placed in this area here. 353 00:21:20,300 --> 00:21:22,100 Just be safe guarded and protected. 354 00:21:22,100 --> 00:21:24,200 We have that to, you know, that's called a bank. 355 00:21:25,700 --> 00:21:28,600 We have the collection, the contribution, we take the money, 356 00:21:28,700 --> 00:21:32,200 we put it where we call it the treasury. 357 00:21:32,900 --> 00:21:35,400 It's a place to be safeguarded and kept. 358 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,000 It's a place where you have valuable things like money and 359 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:41,300 it's kept in the treasury. That was where this was right 360 00:21:41,300 --> 00:21:44,600 here in the Jerusalem, Temple, and Jesus is sitting in the 361 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:47,500 court of the women and he's watching now, according to the 362 00:21:47,500 --> 00:21:53,700 mishnah, There were 13, trumpet shaped containers, and people 363 00:21:53,700 --> 00:21:57,300 would come to any one of those 13 shaped trumpet shaped 364 00:21:57,300 --> 00:22:01,500 containers and put in money. I've also read that every one of 365 00:22:01,500 --> 00:22:06,200 them was marked by one letter in the Hebrew, alphabet and it all 366 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:09,300 meant, something different. For example, let's just say, oh, 367 00:22:09,300 --> 00:22:12,300 number one over here. That was the one that you put 368 00:22:12,300 --> 00:22:16,200 the money in to take care of things for sacrifices like oil 369 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:21,600 and incense for example or wood Let's say number two, that was 370 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:24,500 for another purpose. It was for daily sacrifices or 371 00:22:24,500 --> 00:22:26,800 for the general work of the Temple. 372 00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:30,500 Interesting. Trumpet shaped. 373 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:35,300 Jesus is now sitting back and he's watching, he's watching 374 00:22:35,300 --> 00:22:38,700 what's going on. He's seeing how people gave and 375 00:22:38,700 --> 00:22:41,400 put money in the treasury. I think that is so important. 376 00:22:43,500 --> 00:22:46,000 I read that rich people would do this, by the way, because how 377 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:48,900 you put it in, please get this because how you give matters? 378 00:22:49,100 --> 00:22:51,700 Yes, the Lord is watching, you give even today. 379 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:58,400 The rich people would bring a trumpet ear with them, and the 380 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:00,700 trumpetear would accompany them. And about the time, they're 381 00:23:00,700 --> 00:23:04,500 going to put the money in the heat start blasting, the trumpet 382 00:23:05,700 --> 00:23:09,400 To draw attention to the one that's about to give usually 383 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:13,700 large amounts. No wonder our Master. 384 00:23:13,700 --> 00:23:16,100 Our lord said Don't Blow Your Horn. 385 00:23:16,100 --> 00:23:19,700 When you do your giving, no doubt he was reflecting on a 386 00:23:19,708 --> 00:23:23,100 custom that the rich people did. So he sitting in the court of 387 00:23:23,100 --> 00:23:26,500 the women opposite the treasury and he's watching how people put 388 00:23:26,500 --> 00:23:30,100 money in. Now. 389 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:36,000 Hendrickson said this. I thought it was rather 390 00:23:36,700 --> 00:23:42,300 interesting. he said on this occasion, the Lord's watching 391 00:23:42,300 --> 00:23:46,500 people and how they give. And in a sense, isn't he doing 392 00:23:46,500 --> 00:23:52,800 the exact same thing with us? Even now he wants to know how we 393 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:56,600 give, he wants to know, what does the Bible say about are 394 00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:59,400 giving in second Corinthians chapter 9. 395 00:24:02,500 --> 00:24:07,200 Beginning in verse 6, but this I say who sow sparingly will also 396 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:10,300 reap sparingly and he which soweth bountifully will also 397 00:24:10,300 --> 00:24:13,300 reap bountifully. So let each one give as he 398 00:24:13,300 --> 00:24:16,800 purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity for 399 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:20,900 God, loves a cheerful Giver. What about Hebrews 4:13 and 400 00:24:20,900 --> 00:24:22,900 there is no creature hidden in your sight. 401 00:24:23,300 --> 00:24:27,500 But all things are naked and open to the eyes of him in whom 402 00:24:27,500 --> 00:24:30,800 we must give an account. Aunt. 403 00:24:32,500 --> 00:24:34,700 Just a little side note here. You know, when it says that 404 00:24:34,700 --> 00:24:37,600 Jesus watch people putting in money, you know that word money. 405 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:42,000 It's actually became a word that was a general word for money and 406 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:46,300 all money but in its Origins it probably meant brass or copper. 407 00:24:47,100 --> 00:24:49,600 And Scholars say that's probably exactly what they were putting 408 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:51,100 in. They were putting in pieces of 409 00:24:51,100 --> 00:24:54,500 brass and copper because one scholar also added. 410 00:24:54,500 --> 00:24:57,600 He said it was probably highly unlikely they were giving silver 411 00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:01,100 so it was probably brass and copper being put in and Jesus is 412 00:25:01,100 --> 00:25:03,900 watching them. Put in all of that. 413 00:25:04,500 --> 00:25:09,700 Now, as we said, Jesus, sat opposite, the treasure. 414 00:25:09,700 --> 00:25:12,400 He saw how people were putting in and many of those that were 415 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:17,300 Rich put in much. You know, the Passover was at 416 00:25:17,300 --> 00:25:20,600 hand. There were thousands of pilgrims 417 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:22,500 who were about to come to the temple to worship. 418 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:29,500 Many gave liberal contributions. Now, watch this. 419 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:38,900 In the midst of all this. Then one poor Widow came. 420 00:25:41,700 --> 00:25:46,500 In the midst of it all. obviously, her house had been 421 00:25:46,500 --> 00:25:50,000 devoured, if not by the scribes, but by the circumstances of life 422 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:55,900 And she's poor. And she comes in and Jesus 423 00:25:55,900 --> 00:25:59,400 watches. What she gets, what a contrast 424 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:01,800 between the scribes and her. What she do. 425 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:04,400 She threw into mites. What in the world is a mite. 426 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:08,700 What's a Mite? A Mite comes from the word 427 00:26:08,700 --> 00:26:11,600 lefta. It's the smallest of All Greek 428 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:15,400 coins. Stay with me on this, it'll be 429 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:17,500 kind of confusing with the words, but when we get to the 430 00:26:17,500 --> 00:26:22,100 end you'll know exactly how much she gave in comparison to our 431 00:26:22,100 --> 00:26:24,200 monetary measures. Okay? 432 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:25,600 We're going to exactly how much she gave. 433 00:26:26,700 --> 00:26:29,600 She gave two months. One might is the smallest Greek 434 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:32,900 coin, two mites. According to Mark, is a 435 00:26:32,900 --> 00:26:39,200 quadrants, what is it quadrant? I quadrant is 1/4 of a Roman, a 436 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:40,900 serious. What is that? 437 00:26:42,300 --> 00:26:47,000 And the serious is 1/16 of a Denarius. 438 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:50,700 Stay With Me. It's going to get good in a 439 00:26:50,700 --> 00:26:56,900 minute. A Denarius is an average daily 440 00:26:57,000 --> 00:27:00,900 wage. You worked all day where to get 441 00:27:00,900 --> 00:27:04,500 a Denarius when Jesus gave the parable of the vineyard. 442 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:08,000 He said you worked all day where they get a penny, the word Penny 443 00:27:08,300 --> 00:27:13,500 was Denarius a day's wages. Remember last Sunday, when we 444 00:27:13,500 --> 00:27:16,800 said the Good Samaritan took that, man, he took him into the 445 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:19,900 any reaches into his pouch. The next day, he gives him out 446 00:27:19,900 --> 00:27:24,400 of his pouch to Denari. I that would have been two days 447 00:27:24,500 --> 00:27:28,100 wages. How much is that? 448 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:36,100 A Denarius or average daily wage in our monetary measures would 449 00:27:36,100 --> 00:27:40,300 have been 16 to 18 cents. All right. 450 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:45,500 On a serious. Is about a penny. 451 00:27:47,300 --> 00:27:51,300 Okay. So how much is a quadrants how 452 00:27:51,300 --> 00:27:57,000 much is two mites? One fourth of a penny. 453 00:27:59,700 --> 00:28:05,500 This poor Widow in comparison to all that the rich were giving. 454 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:11,200 She gave 1/4. Of a penny. 455 00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:18,100 Not very much, is it? Your Jesus said about that, 456 00:28:18,100 --> 00:28:21,400 though. By the way, what did it look 457 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:22,100 like? I don't know. 458 00:28:22,100 --> 00:28:24,100 This is what I googled. This is what it said. 459 00:28:24,100 --> 00:28:28,300 It could have looked like maybe like that she threw into those 460 00:28:28,300 --> 00:28:32,600 guys she threw in a quadrants this would have been the 461 00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:37,800 estimate of fourth of a penny. But now it's teaching time for 462 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:39,600 Jesus. They were not with Jesus's 463 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:44,400 disciples, he calls his disciples to him, they weren't 464 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:46,600 with him at that time. It's a valuable lesson that they 465 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:49,200 need to learn in. Please get this today, it's a 466 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:51,700 valuable lesson. That you and I need to learn to 467 00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:55,700 he calls them to him and he says, to them, I say to you a 468 00:28:55,700 --> 00:29:00,400 Shirley, I say to you. Meaning what I have to say, I 469 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:03,400 solemnly declare to you is extremely important. 470 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:08,800 Take it to heart. He said she put in more Quarter 471 00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:12,700 of a penny. But what she did, she put in 472 00:29:12,700 --> 00:29:16,500 more than all the others combined who gave to the 473 00:29:16,508 --> 00:29:18,300 treasury, that's what that means. 474 00:29:18,300 --> 00:29:21,200 By the way, when it says, they gave all more than all that was 475 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:23,600 given in the treasury. It means this she gave and her 476 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:30,400 gift more in the eyes of God. Than all the others combined. 477 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:33,500 Why? And why was that? 478 00:29:36,700 --> 00:29:41,000 Here's why for they put in out of their abundance. 479 00:29:42,700 --> 00:29:46,400 But she out of her poverty. She gave all that. 480 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:51,800 She had her whole livelihood. I'm going to get personal guys. 481 00:29:55,500 --> 00:29:57,700 Do you know what God's looking at when you give? 482 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:03,900 Right here. The spirit of The Giver. 483 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:13,900 And the sacrifice involved. you mean to tell me preacher, we got 484 00:30:13,900 --> 00:30:24,200 to sacrifice when we give Yes. If a gift given has no sacrifice 485 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:25,600 at all. What's the meaning of it? 486 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:31,900 And may I say this to all of us, we sacrifice whatever we want. 487 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:36,200 If we want something, you know what we do, we make it happen 488 00:30:36,700 --> 00:30:39,200 and I'm guilty as charged on top of the list. 489 00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:41,900 If I want to do something or I want something, I'll make it 490 00:30:41,900 --> 00:30:45,000 happen. I'll make this sacrifice, I'll 491 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:48,900 juggle whatever. But when it comes to giving to 492 00:30:48,900 --> 00:30:51,500 God, you know, he's looking at the Spirit of The Giver. 493 00:30:51,500 --> 00:30:52,900 That's your heart. He wants to know that. 494 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:54,800 And number two, the sacrifice involved. 495 00:30:56,600 --> 00:31:00,800 Is it a sacrifice to you? She gave out of her poverty they 496 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:05,200 gave out of their abundance. JW McGarvey said this. 497 00:31:05,500 --> 00:31:09,300 We are disposed to measure the value of actions quantitatively 498 00:31:09,500 --> 00:31:13,400 rather than qualitatively. Moreover, we are better judges 499 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:17,400 of actions than motives and can see the outward conduct much 500 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:22,000 clearer than in word character, but God's word constantly 501 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:25,500 teaches that he looks inward in the case of the value of the 502 00:31:25,500 --> 00:31:28,300 woman's gift. It was measured by quality and 503 00:31:28,300 --> 00:31:32,500 not by quantity in quantity. It was two months, a quarter of 504 00:31:32,500 --> 00:31:34,900 a penny. In quality. 505 00:31:35,300 --> 00:31:40,800 It was the gift of all she had. Do you remember when Jesus said, 506 00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:44,600 it's easier for a rich man to go through the eye of a needle then 507 00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:46,500 they get into heaven, remember that? 508 00:31:46,500 --> 00:31:49,300 It's easy for a, for a rich man, to for a camel to get through an 509 00:31:49,300 --> 00:31:51,900 eye of a needle than a rich man. He didn't have a member that 510 00:31:52,900 --> 00:31:54,800 this is what. By the way, McMillan said about 511 00:31:54,800 --> 00:31:59,900 that, it's more difficult for a rich man to enter Heaven, not 512 00:31:59,900 --> 00:32:02,800 impossible, but it's more difficult for a rich man. 513 00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:05,000 To enter Heaven Sent Simply because of a virtual 514 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:09,200 impossibility of his making any real sacrifice and thereby 515 00:32:09,200 --> 00:32:13,900 coming to know the devotion of that kind of discipleship large 516 00:32:13,900 --> 00:32:16,700 gifts out of abundant simply cannot be compared with the 517 00:32:16,700 --> 00:32:20,300 total gift of one's poverty. One more quote, how about 518 00:32:20,300 --> 00:32:24,000 Cranfield would Cranfield say the gifts of the rich though, 519 00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:27,500 large? Were easy gifts. 520 00:32:28,900 --> 00:32:31,900 The Widow's gift though, tiny met a real surrendered of 521 00:32:31,900 --> 00:32:36,200 herself to God and trust in him. And therefore, an honoring of 522 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:42,200 God as God as the one to whom we belong, completely and who is 523 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:51,900 able to care for us. folks, we either trust God or we don't We 524 00:32:51,900 --> 00:32:58,300 need to trust God to provide a. We don't in closing. 525 00:32:59,300 --> 00:33:04,100 Don't grab a song books. In closing. 526 00:33:06,100 --> 00:33:08,400 Just a word or two about the contribution, please. 527 00:33:10,700 --> 00:33:13,200 Do you remember last Sunday? I made mention that in the Old 528 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:18,600 Testament. God said, when you produce with 529 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:21,400 the land produces what all the land produces, you are going to 530 00:33:21,400 --> 00:33:23,700 give a tithe or a tenth of the land. 531 00:33:24,100 --> 00:33:29,100 That was a requirement. We are no longer under the tenth 532 00:33:29,100 --> 00:33:31,600 or tithes requirement under the Old Law. 533 00:33:32,400 --> 00:33:34,900 We are under the new law, the new log Jesus Christ. 534 00:33:36,100 --> 00:33:37,900 And in the new law of Jesus Christ, here are the 535 00:33:37,900 --> 00:33:43,800 requirements as we have been prospered and as we purpose in 536 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:46,700 our heart, let me tell you, where we go wrong, is when we 537 00:33:46,700 --> 00:33:50,500 mess up, we think as we purpose in our heart, all that means is 538 00:33:50,500 --> 00:33:53,600 just do what you want. And that's good and the Lord 539 00:33:53,600 --> 00:33:54,900 happy with this tie, whatever you feel. 540 00:33:54,900 --> 00:33:57,000 Like just we think that's what that means. 541 00:33:57,000 --> 00:34:01,300 That's not what that means. Remember the spirit of The 542 00:34:01,308 --> 00:34:04,600 Giver? And the sacrifices being made. 543 00:34:05,900 --> 00:34:10,900 so, Let me ask you this, what is more strict and what is more 544 00:34:10,900 --> 00:34:14,100 stringent? What is more difficult under the 545 00:34:14,100 --> 00:34:18,100 Old Law of Moses? When what was judged was a 546 00:34:18,100 --> 00:34:22,500 percentage? Or the new law of Jesus Christ. 547 00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:25,800 When what is judged now is the heart. 548 00:34:27,900 --> 00:34:31,000 You tell me. It's the heart. 549 00:34:33,500 --> 00:34:35,900 Folks I'm going to tell you the contribution is a command. 550 00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:40,000 I love what my son-in-law says. I love what my son-in-law says 551 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:42,300 when he talks about when he waits on the table, we get to 552 00:34:42,300 --> 00:34:44,199 the contribution. He always says this to visitors 553 00:34:44,199 --> 00:34:47,699 that are in the audience and I'm glad he does, it's not a cover 554 00:34:47,699 --> 00:34:50,300 charge. Don't feel like if you're a 555 00:34:50,308 --> 00:34:54,300 busier that you have to give don't feel like that, don't feel 556 00:34:54,300 --> 00:34:56,900 obligated do whatever you want to do, that's fine. 557 00:34:57,400 --> 00:35:00,400 But don't feel obligated like many affiliations do with. 558 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:01,900 They just keep passing around the basket. 559 00:35:01,900 --> 00:35:04,000 Just give give give and make it all about money. 560 00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:07,200 I appreciate that. He says that But two members of 561 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:09,800 the church, folks. Please listen, it's a command. 562 00:35:10,900 --> 00:35:13,200 It is one of the five acts of worship. 563 00:35:13,400 --> 00:35:18,000 The five items of worship. It is a responsibility. 564 00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:23,600 It is an obligation. but, Have you ever stopped to consider 565 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:25,200 that? It is a wonderful blessing and 566 00:35:25,200 --> 00:35:27,300 privilege. Wow. 567 00:35:29,500 --> 00:35:32,100 How when you give, no matter how much it is, don't you. 568 00:35:32,100 --> 00:35:36,900 Realize, you're now part of the work, you're part of something 569 00:35:36,900 --> 00:35:41,400 that's bigger than you just forgiving at the contribution. 570 00:35:42,800 --> 00:35:47,800 Amazing something else too, by the way. when you give of your 571 00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:53,900 means on the first day of the week, And a preacher goes out 572 00:35:53,900 --> 00:35:58,400 and preaches, the gospel. And souls are saved. 573 00:35:59,000 --> 00:36:03,800 Do you realize what happens? Those Souls have now become 574 00:36:03,800 --> 00:36:06,400 fruit. That is credited to your 575 00:36:06,400 --> 00:36:09,600 account. You've never met them but 576 00:36:09,600 --> 00:36:14,900 they're going to heaven. And it's fruit credited to your 577 00:36:15,300 --> 00:36:21,100 account all for what being part of the contribution and giving 578 00:36:21,100 --> 00:36:24,900 of your means. I didn't just grab that other. 579 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:29,200 Clear blue. Paul said that Philippians 4 17. 580 00:36:29,200 --> 00:36:32,900 He says, not that I seek a gift. He wasn't saying, I want a gift 581 00:36:32,900 --> 00:36:36,000 from you. By the way it is scriptural to 582 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:38,100 support a preacher. When he preaches the gospel. 583 00:36:38,200 --> 00:36:40,200 The Bible says that a man that preaches, the gospel ought to 584 00:36:40,207 --> 00:36:44,000 live by the gospel. Paul was saying that I am not 585 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:47,000 seeking a gift. What I really want is, as you 586 00:36:47,000 --> 00:36:50,300 support me and preaching the gospel, I seek the fruit that 587 00:36:50,300 --> 00:36:54,400 abounds to your account. It's a Wonderful blessing, 588 00:36:54,400 --> 00:36:55,900 folks. It's not just a responsibility 589 00:36:55,900 --> 00:37:01,100 as a wonderful blessing when you give give sacrificially. 590 00:37:02,200 --> 00:37:04,000 Give with the right heart and the right spirit. 591 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:08,500 Think about that folks. And it doesn't hurt to sacrifice 592 00:37:08,500 --> 00:37:13,300 just a little bit, all of us. Guess what me too. 593 00:37:15,100 --> 00:37:16,400 I'm going to go home and do the same thing. 594 00:37:16,500 --> 00:37:17,800 I'm gonna think about that real hard. 595 00:37:19,500 --> 00:37:22,100 Let's give with the right Spirit but let's also give 596 00:37:22,100 --> 00:37:26,600 sacrificially that's which the Widow did and she was praised by 597 00:37:26,600 --> 00:37:31,200 Jesus and she trusted that God could provide even though she 598 00:37:31,200 --> 00:37:33,500 gave everything she had that God could still provide. 599 00:37:33,500 --> 00:37:35,800 Let's have that kind of Faith to I'm finished. 600 00:37:36,400 --> 00:37:40,500 I'm finished today. Folks, it's now time for the 601 00:37:40,500 --> 00:37:44,700 invitation. We always extend an invitation. 602 00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:48,900 To somebody that might be subject to the gospel call, and 603 00:37:48,900 --> 00:37:50,100 I'm going to ask you one question. 604 00:37:50,100 --> 00:37:52,300 It's the most important question that could ever be asked. 605 00:37:52,300 --> 00:37:57,300 That's this, are you safe? If the question is know that 606 00:37:57,300 --> 00:38:00,000 nothing in the world matters and I know the world has all kinds 607 00:38:00,000 --> 00:38:01,900 of ideas on what it means to be saved. 608 00:38:01,900 --> 00:38:03,600 I just want to know what the Bible says, if you want to be 609 00:38:03,600 --> 00:38:05,600 saved, guess what? You can is very simple. 610 00:38:05,700 --> 00:38:08,700 You got to obey the gospel. That's what you got to do. 611 00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:10,900 How do you obey the gospel? Let's look to the Bible. 612 00:38:10,900 --> 00:38:15,700 And by the way, if you've noticed since August 15th, When 613 00:38:15,700 --> 00:38:18,400 I extended an invitation, I no longer just ramble through it. 614 00:38:19,500 --> 00:38:21,300 I'm putting the scriptures on the screen because it's that 615 00:38:21,300 --> 00:38:23,100 important. I'm not telling you what to do 616 00:38:23,100 --> 00:38:25,700 teachers, but I'll tell you what I'm going to do is that 617 00:38:25,700 --> 00:38:29,200 important To obey the gospel. You got to hear the word of God, 618 00:38:29,200 --> 00:38:32,100 Romans 10:17. So then faith comes by hearing 619 00:38:32,100 --> 00:38:35,100 and hearing by the word of God upon hearing the word of God. 620 00:38:35,100 --> 00:38:37,700 You have a choice, you got to believe with all your heart, 621 00:38:37,700 --> 00:38:41,300 Hebrews 11:6 without faith. It's impossible to please him 622 00:38:41,400 --> 00:38:42,700 for. He who comes to God, must 623 00:38:42,700 --> 00:38:45,700 believe that he is, and that he is, a rewarder of those who 624 00:38:45,700 --> 00:38:48,900 diligently seek him. Let me ask you something. 625 00:38:50,100 --> 00:38:51,400 Do you believe with all your heart? 626 00:38:52,600 --> 00:38:56,100 Surely you do? If you're willing to do that 627 00:38:56,100 --> 00:38:57,500 they maybe you're willing to do this. 628 00:38:57,700 --> 00:39:00,300 How about change your life? Sure, let's do that. 629 00:39:00,400 --> 00:39:02,500 It's change our life. You got to repent of your sins 630 00:39:02,500 --> 00:39:05,900 acts 17 and 30, truly these sign that these times of ignorance, 631 00:39:05,900 --> 00:39:09,000 God overlooked, but now commands, all men everywhere to 632 00:39:09,000 --> 00:39:13,600 repent And then you get to say the greatest words you will ever 633 00:39:13,600 --> 00:39:17,600 say we had to baptisms last Sunday and two new Sisters. 634 00:39:17,600 --> 00:39:21,300 In Christ said these words, the greatest words will ever say you 635 00:39:21,300 --> 00:39:24,300 got to confess Jesus as the Son of God acts 8:37. 636 00:39:24,500 --> 00:39:27,200 Then Philip said if you believe with all your heart, you may and 637 00:39:27,200 --> 00:39:30,400 he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of 638 00:39:30,400 --> 00:39:33,400 God. Upon taking these steps of 639 00:39:33,400 --> 00:39:35,000 obedience. You're now able to go to the 640 00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:38,700 point of Salvation And complete obedience to the gospel. 641 00:39:38,700 --> 00:39:42,100 In here, it is to be saved. You must do this. 642 00:39:42,900 --> 00:39:45,200 You must be baptized for the remission of your sins. 643 00:39:45,200 --> 00:39:49,000 Mark 16:16. He who believes and is baptized, 644 00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:51,800 will be saved, but he who does not believe. 645 00:39:52,900 --> 00:39:54,800 Will be condemned. If you've not taken those steps 646 00:39:54,800 --> 00:39:56,800 of obedience, we'd love to assist you in that today. 647 00:39:56,900 --> 00:40:00,400 Maybe have maybe you've drifted, maybe there are things in your 648 00:40:00,400 --> 00:40:01,300 life. You need to correct. 649 00:40:01,300 --> 00:40:03,200 We can help you do that. Repent of those things, get 650 00:40:03,200 --> 00:40:05,200 best. Those things will pray with you 651 00:40:05,200 --> 00:40:08,100 and for you and God will forgive be want to be the class come 652 00:40:08,100 --> 00:40:11,000 forward. While we stand bow, saying, We 653 00:40:11,000 --> 00:40:13,900 thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the Church of 654 00:40:13,900 --> 00:40:19,200 Christ at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you 655 00:40:19,200 --> 00:40:22,300 would like any additional information, or you would like 656 00:40:22,300 --> 00:40:25,500 to receive a free Bible correspondence, course by mail. 657 00:40:26,100 --> 00:40:29,900 Please email us at info at her Church of Christ 658 00:40:29,900 --> 00:40:33,900 Bakersfield.com. Our service times are on Sundays 659 00:40:33,900 --> 00:40:39,500 at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. 660 00:40:40,200 --> 00:40:43,700 Please make plans to join us. We would love for you to be our 661 00:40:43,700 --> 00:40:44,600 honored guest.