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.”
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.”
Question 1
What is the impression we get from the writers?
Question 2
What’s different about the widow?
We heard in Mark 12:28-34 what true worship is – what God truly wants from us is to love Him with all our life, and to love others as ourselves. Today we are going to see two kinds of people and try to see who comes closest to what God desires.
The first example is the teachers of the law. The way Jesus describes them is like people who liked to wear long robes, and have people notice them wherever they went. They would deceive widows into giving all their money to the temple but keep it for themselves. Every time they prayed, the only thing they worried about was how they looked! Even though they appeared to be religious, respectable people who followed the law, inside they were completely dead.
The other example is of a widow. We don’t learn much about her, only that she comes to give money for God’s work in the temple. The people around her were contributing large amounts of money. When it’s her turn, she only has a little to give. But even though the value of the money is small, the truth is that she has given everything she had for God’s service, and so she receives praise from Jesus.
What is clear when looking at this passage is that what Jesus praises, and what God desires for us, is that we give everything we have to Him. God looks at the heart. Maybe you feel like you don’t have much to offer, that there are plenty of other people who can serve God better than you. But that’s not true at all – the good deed of the woman was seen favourably by Jesus. God accepts and can use anything we have to offer in faith, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Question 3
What gifts has God given you? How can you use them for the glory of Him?
Question 4
Do you act like the teachers of the law or the widow?
Pray
that your whole life would be lived in praise of the Lord Jesus Christ.
