Mark chapter 12 today and I will make a few short comments because there is just so much in this chapter.
Jesus tells a parable that describes the Pharisees to a tee so they send for the Big Guns!
13. And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.
Next come the Sadducees!
18. Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,
Next comes a scribe!
28. And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
And the scribes answer to Jesus!
32. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
33. And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Jesus’ recognition of the scribes understanding.
34. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
Jesus recognizes the Holy Ghost in the prophesy of David!
35. And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?
36. For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
37. David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.
I have always heard verses 41 and 42 quoted in sermons dedicated to preaching on giving. I would like to ask a question.
In verses 38 – 40 Jesus is specifically identifying a practice of the scribes and one of them is they “devour widow’s houses” is it simply coincidence that the next scene is that of Jesus standing and watching as they come in to put their monies in the treasury?
Was Jesus waiting at the well, so to speak, as he did for the woman of Samaria?
Or is Jesus once again contrasting the hardened heart of those who gave much, with the dependence of the heart of the woman who gave her all?
Can we trust Jesus with everything? Are we willing to trust Jesus with everything?
Jesus is watching as we give our lives.
38. And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
39. And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
40. Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
41. And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
42. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44. For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
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You, I just noticed something here too. Jesus is watching the people putting in their tithe and offerings there, well, it doesn't say that. It says how they cast there money into the treasury. I dont know it the rich were putting in a tenth or not. Probably, I would imagine. (their tenth is just more impressive than others) then comes this widow and she puts in her farthing's worth into the treasury.
Now, I dont think that i am reaching here when I say that Jesus does not tell his disciples, there with him, that they are to give everything they have, or that they are supposed to give out of money that is needed for bills or whatever. However, he does make clear that she (the widow) has given more than the rich have because she has given out of her want while the others were giving out of there extra.
Is this instruction on how to give? Sure, but I think that this is an example of the heart of how God sees things and how things work in the kingdom of heaven. Is he telling everyone to give out of their want? Well...Why., are you giving out of your want. Did someone tell you that you should so that God knows for sure that you are "serious"? The heart is what is being pointed out here. How nice to to know that our God does understand where each individual is and how one situation is reletive to the next when it comes to people.
SO...Jesus is simply helping us see that the quantity of our giving is not important compared to the quality. The way we would normally value things, is not neccesarily the way that God does. He sees our heart. For real.
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