Examining The Widow’s Offering | Mark 12:41-44 | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series)

Let's feed our joy, shall we, with the truth of God's Word.

Meet me in Mark chapter 12 as we examine the final verses of this

Mark 12 · chapter mention

chapter and are coming closer and closer to the end of our

series in the book of Mark. Can hardly believe it.

If you want to know which verses we are covering today, we're

beginning in verse 41. So meet me in verse 41 of Mark

Mark 12 · chapter mention

chapter 12 and let's read together.

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.

Lord, we ask that you help us understand these verses.

Oh Lord, we pray that you would give us the spirit of wisdom and

revelation. Now be exalted in our

understanding of the truth and be greatly exalted in our

application of the truths that we uncover.

Help us Lord, the same one who is able to give us joy is able

to give us a mind that can comprehend the deep things of

God. And we look to you now believing

that you will do just that. In Jesus name we pray.

Amen. Amen.

I want to go straight to it. What is the main point of this

passage? Why is this in our Bibles?

Why is this here in our Bibles? Does this testimony of the

widow's offering present to us a challenge to an unwavering

commitment to give within the church regardless of one's

circumstances? Is this a New Testament heart

stirring illustration for people to radically and sacrificially

tithe, or is there a deeper meaning that the Spirit of God

desires to convey? The answer to that question is

the aim of our time together, and we will seek to know the

mind of God by the help of the Holy Spirit.

If you've been in evangelical circles long enough, then you

might agree that this text is commonly handled as a quick

reference to inspire generosity in believers.

Right? And that is often the extent of

how the Bible is taught with this peculiar passage, which is

found only in Mark and in Luke. There is no doubt that this

scene that you and I just read carries instruction for us,

because look again at verse 43 says here.

And he called his disciples to him and said to them, truly, I

say to you, evidently the Lord in watching and observing this

poor widow longs to yield something and to drive it into

the hearts of his disciples then and his disciples even now.

But here's my question. What is Jesus Christ intending

to communicate as this widow demonstrates sacrificial giving.

Upon closer examination, you and I are going to discern that the

spirits inclusion of this passage.

Listen very carefully to this serves a dual purpose.

It serves a dual purpose, and that dual purpose is going to

divide our thoughts today. These are the categories in

which you and I are going to uncover what is God wanting to

convey here? Number one, this scene presents

a very significant contrast. Remember that word?

It presents a very significant contrast.

Second to that, it is a confirmation for condemnation.

It presents a significant contrast, number one and two, it

stands as a confirmation for condemnation.

And so let us look at this together.

Let us consider the contrast. If you read this passage in

isolation, you will have limited insight, but when you honor the

placement of this account, ah, there lies an accurate

conclusion awaiting to be experienced.

What was the last thing we saw the Lord doing or saying right

before we witnessed this widow appear in the narrative Jesus

Christ taught and gave a scathing condemnation for the

scribes, the scribes who will receive a greater condemnation.

That is the last thing that you and I observed.

The gatekeepers of the law who are professionals at what?

Flaunting their superficial spirituality and capitalizing on

their authority by what? Gaining and securing societal

status and excessive wealth. But in Jesus, describing their

physical and external prosperity, also notes their

spiritual bankruptcy. Yeah, they might have gained

much on the outside, but they are condemned.

How much worse can you be? How much worse can they get for

somebody, spiritually speaking? You might have taken advantage

of others. You might have gotten away with

a lot. But know this, you will indeed

face judgement. So you have these men describe

with and by long robes and seating in the best places and

making long prayers. And now you come to this passage

and what do you encounter? Someone who stands in complete

contrast to that group of people?

A widow. A widow?

No, not just a widow. Look back again at verse 42.

And a poor widow, not just a widow.

So relational deprivation is not the only thing that this poor

lady is enduring. We also read that she was

abandoned to physical destitution, a poor widow.

And yet her lack of material wealth, resources, property does

not reflect on her spiritual condition.

And that's what Christ alludes to in verse 43.

Look at it with me again. And he called to his disciples

them 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 really in terms of monetary value that doesn't line up.

But Jesus here is saying and reminding his disciples and you

and I that there is a spiritual exchange rate that you can never

fail to take into account. And you have to remember that

spiritual exchange rate, especially when it comes to your

worship and devotion to the Kingdom of God.

You know, men might be impressed by these long robes and the

phylacteries and the long prayers and those who sit in the

best seats and are invited to the highest places in other

settings. But Christ is not moved by such

a standard. He looks for something else.

He perceives something else. Come back to verse 41 and he sat

down opposite the treasury and watch the people putting money

into the offering box. You know, I couldn't get past

verse 41 in my meditation this week.

What a moving sight. And Jesus doesn't even say a

word. Jesus parks himself across from

the offering box within the temple courts.

And all we're told here by Mark with great detail is that he

watched the people. Doesn't that move you?

Can you just envision it, the perfect servant of God sitting

there and observing that line of people putting in their

different sums of money, and he's watching and watching

silently. Christ is watching.

Do you think this widow perceived Jesus watching?

No, she didn't. Do you often perceive when

Christ is watching? I hope you always walk with a

conscious acknowledgement of His presence.

But let me remind you, just in case you forgot, He's watching

and Jesus here when he's watching is watching something

specific. Now if you have the NASB, the

new King James, or the King James versions, and I referenced

those versions because they are faithful word for word

translations. Those faithful translations add

a word to this verse that gives greater depth to what's taking

place. It says in those transition, the

ESP doesn't include it, but it says in those other

translations. And he saw and he beheld and he

observed how the people put the money into the treasury, not

just the people putting it in. Those translations say how they

put it in. And if you want to know what

Christ esteems the most out of man's worship above all else, it

is the heart of the worshipper. It's the heart of the worshipper

and that is a truth that you find consistently throughout the

Bible. You even find it in the 1st

place where the Bible mentions men offering something to God.

Let me take you there in Genesis, Genesis chapter 4,

Genesis 4 · chapter mention

Please meet me in verse three as we look at two brothers giving

something to the Lord near the inception of creation itself.

Genesis 4 beginning in verse three.

We'll read 2 verses together in the course of time.

Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the

ground, and Abel also brought of the first born of his flock, and

of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel

in his offering, but for Cain in his offering he had no regard.

So Cain was very angry and his face fell.

There's some debate around why it is that God accepted Abel's

offering and not Cain's. And what happens often is that

people try to compare the value of Abel's offering to what Cain

put together. And though that is an important

discussion to have, that is a factor that we must include in

the conversation and in the debate and investigation.

People often miss how the Spirit puts these truths together

because as much as what was being offered was important, the

Spirit wants to highlight that the offerers were evaluated, not

just the offerings saying, what do you mean?

We'll look back at verse four again, and it says here at the

last part of verse four. And the Lord had regard for

Abel, not Abel's offering for Abel and his offering, verse 5,

but for Cain's offering, No, but for Cain and his offering.

So you notice here that what's being presented is not just the

sacrifice, but the one who sacrificed.

And notice again the order. Both Cain and Abel are mentioned

before what they gave to the Lord.

Indicating what? That you better believe that the

Lord looks at the heart of the person before He looks at the

object of what's being given. So before any of us came in here

and as we entered into this place, guarantee that the Lord

looked at the inner chambers of your bosom before he heard your

lovely voice, or what we put in the plate, or how we're going to

serve after the service. He looked at Cain, He looked at

Abel before he looked at the offering.

And it's not until you go to Hebrews Chapter 11, verse 4

Hebrews 11:4

where you read what it is that God found in Abel that He did

not find in Cain. Do you know what it was says

here? By faith, Abel offered to God a

more acceptable sacrifice than Cain.

So when he looked at Abel, he saw faith.

When he looked at Cain, he did not find faith.

Evidently it wasn't about which sacrifice was more impressive,

but how and why it was sacrificed.

And there must have been some kind of revelation that Abel was

working with, maybe through the instruction of his parents, who

experienced God sacrificing for them and clothing them with

garments. Whatever the case may be, Abel

had this understanding that God requires this.

And my goal in coming before the Lord is to please him, so I will

please him. Now Cain came with something in

his hands, but he had a different heart.

Is Christ any different in his evaluation of men?

You come back to Mark chapter 12 and realize where his piercing

Mark 12 · chapter mention

eyes landed on. It wasn't necessarily the amount

that was being given, but what the amount meant for each

person. Notice he doesn't discredit

those who gave large sums, he doesn't condemn them, but he

considers what that sacrifice meant to each party.

And when it came to this widow, comparatively, what she gave

wouldn't move an inch of what would be contributed to the

temple. A penny, 2 copper coins.

What's that going to do? And what does that look like in

comparison to the mountainous money that was being piled into

those chests? Yeah, it might have been

insignificant to the onlooker, but it wasn't insignificant to

her. And Christ saw that, and Christ

registered that. He realized that there was great

sacrifice behind that surrender, and he took note of it.

And here's where you and I have to pause and meditate, please.

I'm talking to those who worship God.

No, I'm not talking to those who need to be stirred up to

worship. I'm talking to those who are

walking in that place of worship.

You love the Lord. You serve the Lord.

Realize here and be comforted to know that when Christ looks at

each of us according to the truth, that we are all living

sacrifices. Every Christian in here, whether

you realize it or not, and I hope you realize it because you

signed up for it, when you said yes to Jesus Christ, you put

your whole being on an altar and you are a living sacrifice every

single day for the pleasure of God.

But when you consider that, realize that Jesus Christ bears

in mind for each of you on an individual basis, your

circumstances, your abilities, and your resources.

If you can't be convinced of that, you're going to be

extremely frustrated and prone to perpetual discouragement in

your quest to worship, love, and give to the Lord.

And I'm not talking about just giving money.

Your life, your time, your energy, your plans.

I remember when that truth dawned on me many years ago.

It liberated me in a way in which I can never read this

passage the same way again, to know that Jesus Christ looks at

me uniquely, and he looks at the season of life that I'm in.

He looks at the situation, He looks at my liberties, my lack

of whatever the case may be, and he considers that, evaluates

that, and he's honored by what I can do in that.

Do you know where I found inspiration for that truth?

Leviticus, Leviticus, Leviticus one turn there with me.

I want you to see it with your own eyes.

I've heard people say that there is no value in this book as

Christians. Shame on them.

Leviticus, I want you to look at chapter one, verse five.

In this chapter we're given instructions about what God

demanded of the people concerning a particular

sacrifice. That sacrifice is called the

burnt offering. You know what was unique about

that sacrifice? Everything about that beast was

given over to the altar. Everything was consumed, not

just bits and pieces. The whole beast was placed on

the altar. No reservations.

And so it's a wonderful picture of the sacrifice of Christ.

And in terms of Christians, it's a wonderful picture of what

we're supposed to do with our lives.

But I want you to see this detail.

Look at verse five of Leviticus one.

Then he shall kill the bull before the Lord and Aaron's

sons. The priest shall bring the blood

and throw the blood against the sides of the altar.

This is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.

What animal was supposed to be given for the burnt offering?

The bull? That's a big beast.

That's a costly beast, expensive.

A bull can do a lot for a household, for a business, but

it was to be given as an offering, and look what it would

produce in verse 9. But its entrails and its legs he

shall wash with water, and the priests shall burn all of it on

the altar as a burnt offering, A food offering with a pleasing

aroma to the Lord. So the Lord would be pleased by

the fragrance of this complete sacrifice.

Now if it ended there, we would understand.

OK, everybody needs to get a bowl and give it to the Lord.

But the Lord doesn't end His instructions there.

You Scroll down and you read something else in verse 10 in

light of the fact that this is still about the burnt offering.

If his gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from the

sheep or goats, he shall bring a male without blemish.

Well, hold on. You told us about a bull.

But yeah, there's also the ability to give a goat or a

sheep. And if you were to give that,

what would the result of that be?

Look at verse 13. But the entrails and the legs he

shall wash with water, and the priest shall offer all of it and

burn it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food

offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

Huh. So I can give an offering, a

burnt offering with a goat or a sheep?

Not just with a goat or a sheep. He's not done yet.

Look at verse 14. If his offering to the Lord is a

burnt offering of birds. Then he shall bring his offering

of turtle doves or pigeons. And what would be the result of

that? Look at verse 17.

He shall tear it open by its wings, but shall not sever it

completely. And the priest shall burn it on

the altar, on the wood that is on the fire.

It is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma

to the Lord. So hold on, comparatively, in

that economy, would you rather own a bull or a bird?

Bull for me. Bull.

I'll take a bull any day. But check this out.

Whether you gave a bull or a goat or a sheep or a bird to the

Lord, it was all the same. Why these different options?

Because not everybody could afford a bull and not everybody

could afford a goat. And so the poorest of the poor

would have to blame on giving a bird.

You know what the Lord is assuring in this chapter?

Whatever it is that you give me, I take into consideration what

you can give me and it's all a pleasing aroma to me saying

please help me apply Leviticus one in 2024.

I can tell you how to apply to me in a very busy season of my

life where there was so much happening was studying for my

masters. All these things and my days of

devotion at that time did not look that same when I was in

Canada without a full time job with more laid back classes.

You know what I found myself doing when it came to Leviticus

one and this dawned on me. I found myself saying to the

Lord, Lord, I was once able to give you a bull but for this

season I can only give you a sheep.

I want to give you a bull but this season right now in these

circumstances won't allow me. Please Lord, either remove the

circumstances and give me the ability to give you a bull or

please be satisfied with this goat that set me free.

And there are times where I don't know about you.

Even a common cold will knock me out and sometimes it used to be

change my diet and stuff which helped.

I could be out for weeks and it would debilitate me in so many

ways. You know what I found myself

doing in those days, Lord? You see me?

I'm giving you a bird. Please take this bird and be

satisfied. You know what Leviticus One

says, whether it's a bird or a bull, it's a pleasing aroma to

me. And I know many people, mothers

with newborns, people who are trying to take care of family

members and it's just so overwhelming.

And they feel guilty and they feel ashamed and they feel as

though there is this excel sheet that God has in heaven.

And if you don't meet that quota and if you don't do it this way,

if you don't give that amount, amount of time, it amounts to

nothing. Well, what about this one with

two copper coins? How does Jesus evaluate?

He says she gave more than everybody else.

Now, this is not a truth that should excuse or justify

downgraded devotion, weak devotion.

No, no, no, no, no. Because a true worshipper will

say I would want to give everything I can to the Lord.

But they're also understand that that's not always the case.

And so they come and they are comforted by the fact that the

Lord looks, and he looks more than just the amount.

He looks at what that meant for the person who gave it.

Does that set you free? What about the woman?

I often refer to this, It's a New Testament example, the woman

who broke the alabaster flask and poured on the feet of Jesus.

The disciples criticized her and Jesus defended her.

She didn't even open her mouth. When you're truly walking with

the Lord, you don't need to defend yourself all the time.

Christ defends her and this is what he says to those disciples.

She did what she could. She did what she could.

So we look at the contrast, the contrast with what this woman's

pure, simple piety in comparison to the fake carnal, externally

focused spirituality of the scribes.

That's the flow of thought after condemning these men.

Now we come in, the spotlight falls on this woman and we see

that this woman, though she was shabby and maybe she shuffled

her way into the temple. Jesus can say to his disciples,

check this out. I just told you about another

thing to check on. I'm saying those guys are going

to get the worst of the worst in judgment day.

But let me show you someone else who gave more than everybody.

That must have been shocking, but Jesus interprets and

evaluates and esteems way differently than we do.

But I told you in the beginning of this message that there is a

dual purpose to this passage. The first, yes, being that there

is a contrast, but second to that, this story stands as a

confirmation for condemnation. And this is where I believe I'm

persuaded that it's about this more than anything else.

So let's consider not the contrast, but the condemnation.

You know, to most, this woman's sacrifice is limited to an

inspirational act of generosity. But to the student of the

Scriptures, this text, what you just read about this widow, you

know what it should done? Alarm us, alarm us, alarm us.

Why? Look again at what this donation

would cost this poor lady in verse 44, for they all

contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her

poverty. So she's already poor coming in,

but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had.

This is not exaggeration. She gave everything she had to

what point all she had to live on.

You know what these two copper coins would equate to in modern

day currency, like a little bit over a dollar.

So she gave all that she had check this out to live on.

So she could have gone to the grocery store and bought a

chocolate bar to satisfy her belly for the day, but instead

she goes to the temple and she puts it in the offering box.

That is to say, she literally gave up her last penny.

Not for the day, by the way, but she emptied her bank account.

What's the problem with that? The problem with that is because

the Lord created preventative measures in His law that would

protect widows from spiraling into a place of being neglected

and abandoned, into poverty and starvation.

God has a special place in His heart for widows, and you see it

throughout the Old Testament. And more than just having

certain affections for them, He established certain measures and

laws and commands in society so that they would be sustained and

that they would escape coming to such a point in their lives.

Here's one example. Turn with me to Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 14 · chapter mention

chapter 14. I want you to see with your own

eyes with me. Deuteronomy 14, verse 28.

Deuteronomy 14:28

This is what God give to the people of Israel before they

even step foot into the Promised land.

And here's what He says concerning the tithe.

Again, if you've been in evangelical circles long enough,

you've probably heard many teachings on tithing.

I'm pretty confident you didn't hear this one about tithing.

Deuteronomy 142829 We think tithing is just 10% of your

income. That's not the only tie that you

find in the Bible. Here's one other one in

Deuteronomy 1428. At the end of every three years,

you shall bring out of all the tide of your produce in the same

year and lay it up within your towns.

So notice, this is not just a regular tithe.

This is a tithe, a special tithe that takes place every three

years. And where were they to bring

this tithe of their produce? Not to the House of God, but to

designated local towns, And they would drop off a portion of

their produce and their resources.

For what purpose? Verse 29 And the Levite, because

he has no portion or inheritance with you.

And the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who

are within your town shall come and eat and be filled, that the

Lord your God may bless you and all the work of your hands that

you do. So there are members of society

who can't take care of themselves to the same degree

that others who are more and more profitable positions.

And so God created a culture in which the wider population would

be able to make contributions so that those who are less

fortunate can be nurtured, can be taken care of.

And one of the ways, this is not the only way, but one of the

ways widows would benefit from this, is that every three years

there would be a great deposit within these towns so that those

who are destitute and those who are vulnerable and those who are

weak can can ensure some kind of aid.

Now listen, this is again not the only measure, but it is a

major way in which God expresses His compassion for these least

fortunate ones. And since this was inscribed in

the law, you know what that means?

The teachers of the law had to exhort the people.

Don't forget about the fatherless.

Don't forget about the sojourner, don't forget about

the ministers, because they don't have land.

There's no tribal allotment to the Levites.

They are in these designated towns, but they don't have

boundaries like you do. So take care of the ministers

and take care of the widow. One of the ways you can do that

is every three years you just read it.

You're going to come to these towns and you're going to drop

off a produce with joy. God's going to bless you for

that. And so serious is God's law for

such people that the Lord made a serious warning within the same

book to the same people who are about to enter into a world

where they had to honor such wishes.

Look at Deuteronomy 27 verse 19 with me.

Deuteronomy 27:19

You want to see how serious it is when widows are neglected?

Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the

sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.

And all the people shall say Amen.

You want to know what happens if you suspend justice?

If you pervert justice, if you ignore or take advantage of such

people curse, That's what you're going to inherit.

And all the people shall say Amen.

And they ended up saying Amen. But This is why we study the

Hebrew Scriptures. What do we learn about the same

people that they honor such an Amen?

Have they always been faithful to uphold justice for such

people? Was their leadership always

mindful of those who are in need and to be assured that they'd be

taken care of? Answer no.

And that is clearly seen when Isaiah the prophet arrives early

in his writings and he presents these scathing woes to the same

nation of Israel. You'll see it in Isaiah 10,

verse one. Woe to those who decree

iniquitous decrees and the writers who keep writing

oppression to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob

the poor of my people of their right that widows may be their

spoil and that they may make the fatherless their prey.

What will you do on the day of punishment in the ruin that will

come from afar? To whom will you flee for help,

and where will you leave your wealth?

So at this point in Israel's history, they have created

iniquitous decrees. They have wrote, written these

different oppressive laws and demands that ended up making

widows into their spoil and through exploiting the truth and

their position and demanding from widows in such a way they

were able to accumulate wealth, abnormal measures of wealth.

Isaiah indicates that at the end of verse 3, where are you going

to leave your wealth? In what context?

Judgments coming. You ignored the widow you you

abused the widow. You know what's on its way?

Invasion. And when the invasion comes,

where are you going to put all your money?

What's going to happen now once you've been caught fleecing the

sheep? And so we see here that Isaiah

assured the people that judgment was coming.

And one of the reasons is because widows were made into

their spoil. And so instead of caring and

helping, it took advantage. And we see here that that is a

consistent rebuke throughout the Old Testament.

Here's another one of Malachi 3/5.

Then I will draw near to you for judgement.

I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against

the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those

who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the

fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner.

And do not fear me, says the Lord of Hosts.

Now you might be here going to these passages and wondering

what's your point? What's the point of this?

Why are we looking at these things?

And I'm going to answer that question with another question.

Doesn't this backdrop what I always say, the foundation for

understanding the New Testament? Does not these truths create a

concern for you when you realize the nature and condition of that

widow who went into the House of God and gave 2 copper coins?

When she let go of those two things and they clinked and

clanged, she gave all that she had, everything that she could

give. She was impoverished when she

walked in, and she was more impoverished when she left.

And you should, in light of all those things with me, realize,

huh, should she be in such a state.

What did you and I learn last week when we studied about Jesus

condemnation of the scribes? Go back with me to Mark 12 and

look at verse 38 on the same day before this widow enters into

the narrative we read right before Mark 1238.

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, in the

places of honor at feast verse 40, who devour widows houses, Uh

oh, and for pretence make long prayers, they will receive the

greater condemnation. Is this a coincidence?

Is it a coincidence that after the Lord Jesus mentions the

scribes devouring widows houses, a destitute widows walks on the

scene making a final donation to the same religious system that

Jesus just finished condemning? This is not coincidence.

No, no, no, no, no. This is confirmation.

Confirmation to what? Of the wicked spiritual

institution that preyed on the ones that God said you have to

take care of and nurture. You have to watch over and

serve. You have to give and not take.

Yeah, this window widow. Widow.

She's acting in simple faith. You ready for this shocking

statement? Simple faith, Yes, but she's a

victim to corruption more than anything else.

What are you saying? Here's what I'm saying, that

this widow who gave absolutely everything she had, listen for

her survival, for her survival, did so because the perverted

interpreters of the law demanded it from her.

So she serves an illustration of what Jesus just finished

criticizing in the previous verses.

And you may not be convinced of this, but consider the strategic

authorship of the Spirit when He put this story where He put this

story. What comes after the story of

the widow and her offering a new chapter, Mark 13.

But the chapter inclusions and the verse references are not

inspired. They were included later for our

benefit, but they are not a part of the original writings.

And if you're not mindful of that consistently, what can

happen to your reading and understanding of God's words?

When you come to a chapter break, you think there's a break

in the thought or break in the theme.

And so now you kind of just create a blank canvas in your

mind. And you said, OK, I'm done with

chapter 12 Now to come to chapter 13.

What's what's tucked into this chapter that that's not helpful?

So what do you have before the widow's offering yet Jesus

condemning the religious leader and out of all the many evils

that he could have brought up, one of the main things he brings

forward is how they ate up and devoured and consumed widows.

Their greed took advantage of those who are most vulnerable.

Then you have this widow who comes on the scene and she goes

into her pocket, pulls out 2 copper coins and Jesus says she

gave absolutely everything she had to live on.

And what do you find in Mark 13 verse one?

And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples

said to him, look teacher, what wonderful stones and what

wonderful buildings. And Jesus said to him, do you

see these great buildings? There will not be left here.

One stone upon another that will not be thrown down.

Judgment, judgment before the widow gave her offering.

The widow gives her offering, judgment after she gives her

offering. So when you come here, you

realize there is a strong theme being communicated here.

And so we see here that there is confirmation for what Jesus said

he would condemn. And it's as though this is so

important. This widow's plight is presented

to us as one of the final evidences for the verdict of

Jerusalem's downfall. So what's the main point of this

passage? Is it to demand people to give

to religious ministries and institutions regardless of one's

poverty or their desperate need? Not at all.

I believe it provides some inspiration for those who want

to serve God, but maybe are tempted to feel that this is

insignificant in light of what other people are doing and

you're assured by Christ. Calling his disciples and saying

she gave more that he appraises, appraises things differently

than we do and that others do. Yes, be inspired by that because

Jesus says something here about that.

But more than that, it shows us that the watching eye of Jesus

Christ is not just upon the offerers and those who

sacrifice, but it's upon what? What did we see here in verse

41? Jesus sat across the offering

box and he watched the people. You know also he's watching

corruption, corruption in the House of God.

He is looking at sacrifice in the House of God, and he is

going to shock the Church of Jesus Christ when we all stand

at the judgement seat of Christ and realize what really Jesus

was after all along. But his eye, his watching eyes

also upon those who exploit and abuse and take advantage of

those that leaders in the church are supposed to help and serve

and love. So Jesus is watching.

He's not just watching widows. He's watching what scribes and

leaders and speakers are doing. 2 widows.

And this is the truth of this passage.

It speaks of a contrast and speaks of a confirmation for

condemnation. And the overarching truth is

this. The Lord Jesus Christ is

watching. And that is an extremely

encouraging thing for those who feel like they are overlooked,

feel like they're not doing anything for the Kingdom of God.

And it's a terrifying truth for those who think that they're

going to get away by abusing and hurting and lying to those whom

God said take care of. May we fear Him and love him,

for He is worthy. Lord, we look to you together,

and we thank you for opening our hearts to the complete truth of

your Word. Lord, thank you for the

assurance that your eye is upon the Sparrow and if it's upon an

insignificant creature such as a little bird, how much more us

created in your image. Thank you Lord, that your eyes

not just on how we serve you, but it's on our suffering, it's

on our praying, it's on our holiness, it's on our fears,

it's on our worries. Lord, you're watching us, and in

moments where we feel as though we are just a number, help us

realize that you are one who praises that which men miss.

But Lord, we also thank you for the assurance that you're

watching the evil that seems to be taking place with no

consequence. You will make that which is

wrong, right? You will bring correction where

there seems to be no retribution for.

And Lord, we just are thankful that there is a time coming

where you will judge. But we also, Lord, ask that you

would convict those who have for a long time or even even now in

entertaining the thought of trying to take advantage of the

gospel, the church, the people in the church for their own

personal gain. May this truth resound in their

hearts that you are watching. And Lord, we just pray that with

this truth you would hallow our hearts to be refueled with joy

because we are to be the most joyful concerning the fact that

we are in the truth. We love your truth, we love you,

and we're here to worship you together in Jesus name, Amen.

Amen. Let's stand and worship the Lord

together.