I'm Special, Your Common

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 and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” 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.”

Beware of Those Who Love to be Important

Jesus tells us to beware of those who love to be important and want status. (12:38-39)

The scribes/scholars

The scribes wore very extravagant robes, that were very noticeable.

It was Jewish custom to wear a prayer shawl, but the scribes prayer shawl was different then the common Jew. Their shawl was longer, it stretched to the ground, and had ornate tassels on the ends. It showed status.

It was customary for people to rise in the presence of a dignified scholar such as a scribe.

In the synagogues, the best seats in the house were the benches along the wall, where the scribes would sit. The common people sat on the floor.

At feasts, they sat at the head table. They loved to be noticed and seen as important.

This is still common today.

Pastor’s who love to be called pastor. Doctor’s who loved to be called doctor. We love status.

Many live life based on achieving status, wealth and leaving a legacy.

We seek status in the church for all the wrong reasons.

We even evaluate peoples ability to pray “a good prayer”

They took advantage of the Widows and prayed long prayers

The bible reveals to us that God has a special care for widows and orphans.

James 1:27 NIV

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

ii. Among the Jews, the widows and orphans were the most vulnerable. The scribes were known to take advantage of them, by using their authority to milk them for money.

d. They pray long extravagant prayers.

i. The scribes would pray in public to show how intelligent and important they were.

ii. Their prayers are not to honor God, they are to gain more status and respect from the people.

e. The Result

i. Jesus clearly states what this kind of behavior receives.

Mark 12:40 ESV

who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

ii. The scribes had failed to lead the people into truth and had failed to serve people with humility. Therefore, those who have been entrusted with the truths of God, they will incur harsher condemnation.

A Stark Contrast

Those who Serve God with Hypocrisy and Those Who Serve God with True Spiritual Devotion. (12:41-44)

After Jesus warns about the scribes, he gives us an illustration showing the contrast between those who serve God with hypocrisy and those who serve Him with true spiritual devotion.

Jesus sit’s and watches as people give.

The concept of giving gifts to God was established in the days and weeks after God brought the people out of Egypt. God commanded the people to bring gifts to be used for the construction of the tabernacle, the first sanctuary. (Ex. 25:1-8)

Later God gave the people instruction for tithing.

God set a standard for how people were suppose to give, and think about giving. (Deut. 14:22-29).

The standard that God was trying to teach was sacrificial. We are to sacrifice, so others have their needs met. (Deut 26:12).

In Jesus’ time, donations were brought to the Temple. The Temple treasury was suppose to be used to help others. This had become corrupt.

An Unusual Value System

Jesus See’s a Teaching Moment (12:43-44)

Jesus couldn’t resist pointing out the contrasting difference.

the wealthy people were giving out of their abundance. They gave to God what they could spare.

the widow had nothing to spare, she gave everything she had.

What is the teaching point?

The vast majority of the people giving that day, were not giving sacrificially. They could afford to give what they had left.

Their gift cost them nothing, because they met their needs first and then gave to God.

The poor widow by contrast, made a huge sacrifice, she gave up everything. Trusting that God would look after her.

How Do These Two Stories Teach the Same Principle?

The scribes were self-centered and thought of their own reputations first. Using Religion to leverage their status.

They didn’t sacrifice anything for anyone, they actually took from widows and didn’t care for others. They took advantage of people.

Those giving out of abundance were also thinking of self first.

They were not making a sacrifice, they were giving out of obligation, and giving what was left over after their needs were met.

Jesus points to the widow who was willing to give up everything because she trusted her life to God.

The contrast is simple, God wants us to make sacrifices for others. He wants us to place our whole trust in Him. He wants us to live our lives others centered instead of self centered. This is true humility, that shows the love of Jesus. It is exactly how Jesus lived, he sacrificed everything for us!

Big Idea: Give up everything for God. Give up your need for status and importance, and make sacrifices in your life. This is the beginning of living a life centered on Jesus.

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