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Opening Prayer
As I thank you, Jesus, for your unlimited love and gracious favor, I ask that you help me respond with an open heart and hand to those around me.
Read MARK 12:35–44
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Whose Son Is the Messiah?
35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:
“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
under your feet.”’[a]
37 David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”
The large crowd listened to him with delight.
Warning Against the Teachers of the Law
38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
The Widow’s Offering
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Footnotes
- Mark 12:36 Psalm 110:1
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
If your church no longer passed offering plates, would your offerings be as consistent or generous?
‘All the world’s a stage,’ wrote Shakespeare in his comedy, As You Like It. Take today, for example. Did we deliberately choose the clothes we’re wearing in order to project an image, like an actor’s costume? Have we carefully chosen the words we’ve spoken and the actions we’ve taken so as to control the reactions of those who’ve been watching us? For many of us, to a greater or lesser extent, there has been an element of performance, if we’re honest. So it is, Jesus says, with the teachers of the Law. They wear their costume, take the dominant position, and make the carefully worded speeches, all for a show (v. 40). Watch them, but watch out! A similar drama unfolds as Jesus watches a crowd scene, where offerings are made into the temple treasury. Extravagant actions are displayed as large sums are deposited by those who can afford it. The money is thrown in, all for show. Then, by contrast, two small coins are slipped in by a poor widow. The action is hardly noticed. She’s probably embarrassed, not a scene stealer. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Calling his disciples to him out of the large crowd, Jesus teaches that in the kingdom of God money has no value in itself. The motives for the actions of those who are offering is what matters. Motive and opportunity. For the rich in this passage, their offering is merely a contribution. There is more where that came from. For the poor widow, her offering is a sacrifice. She returns to an empty home with an empty stomach.
Apply
Take a look at your motives for giving to church and to charity. How much is duty and how much is out of love?
Closing prayer
May the words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.1
1 Ps 19:14
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