Who Will Receive The Greater Condemnation? | Mark 12:38-40 | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series)

Turn with me to Mark chapter 12. In our brief time together,

Mark 12 · chapter mention

we'll be looking at 2 verses beginning in verse 38 of Mark

Mark 12 · chapter mention

chapter 12. We don't have that much left for

this chapter before we get to Mark chapter 13.

Mark 13 · chapter mention

And Mark chapter 13 is the riveting teaching of Jesus on

Mark 13 · chapter mention

the Mount of Olives concerning the last days.

And so I'm looking forward to that series.

I trust you are as well, but we must honour our pace and so

we're here at verse 38 and let's read together.

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 honour at feasts, who devour widows houses and for

pretence make long prayers. They will receive the greater

condemnation. I usually don't share the title

of a message, but I will this time.

Today I want to speak to you answering the question who will

receive the greater condemnation?

Contrary to modern day opinion, Jesus Christ of Nazareth

believed, taught and warned about a coming judgement.

This judgement will be executed by God and it will determine the

fate of every human being concerning their eternal

destiny. What we rejoice in, US

Christians, are the truths that we've sung about and even

witnessed through the obedience of some that our judgement has

been settled at the cross of Jesus Christ.

We have no reason to fear this judgement that will arrive and

will be implemented upon everybody.

Christ drank the wrath. Christ took every single inch,

every single amount of your sin and satisfied the justice of

God. And through your repentant

faith, you are now accepted in the Beloved, and you are secure

in His hand. Nevertheless, understand this,

my dear Christian brother and sister, the Bible does teach

that there is still a judgement for Christians, and this

judgement will not determine your eternal state.

It will determine the degree of reward that you will enjoy in

another life, and that will be measured by how you and I lived

as forgiven people in the name of Jesus Christ.

Additionally, there is a judgement that will come upon

those who have rejected the Gospel, who have rejected the

mercy and grace of God in the person of Jesus.

And what people fail to understand is that judgement

will also determine the degree of punishment that unbelievers

will have to endure for all of eternity, depending upon the

wisdom of God and determining the severity of their sin.

And what you and I are reading today is just a glimpse, some

insights about what will take place, how and what will be

judged on that final day. More specifically, Jesus Christ

is actually highlighting those who will bear the heavy penalty

granted by God, one of the highest forms of divine

retribution that one can receive.

And that's made clear by the last part of verse 40.

He says they will receive the greater condemnation, not just

condemnation, but the greater one.

Who is the day that Jesus speaks of the scribes, the scribes, the

theologians of this time, the austere scholars, the esteemed

men who were revered by the general population as being in

tune with God and learned and experts in the mind of God.

Jesus underscores that it is this class of men who will

experience A level of judgement that is quite terrifying.

And when we come to this text, we might wonder, well, what

benefit does this prophetic declaration have for us?

And that would be an appropriate question.

But when you look at it from a different angle, when you look

at it from Luke's writing, you get your answer.

If you want to with me, turn to Luke 20 and verse 45 and Luke

2045 in the parallel account. Notice what the Scripture says

concerning the format of Jesus's teaching.

It says, and in the hearing of all the people, he said to his

disciples, beware of the scribes.

He said to his disciples, He wasn't saying this to the

scribes, He was saying this to his own followers.

Now the full comprehensive teaching that Jesus gives here

is provided in Matthew chapter 23 where you get a lengthy index

Matthew 23 · chapter mention

of woes that Jesus proclaims concerning the scribes and the

Pharisees. Comparatively, Mark and Luke

summarize that lengthy teaching in the way that we just read it

in these two verses. But I present to you today that

this has great benefit for the disciple of Christ, for him to

look at his own 12 and proclaim this teaching.

Yes, in the presence of a great crowd implies something super

important. Followers of Jesus are capable

of embracing the mentality and the practices of these scribes

who embody the opposite spirit of what a true disciple of

Christ must be. In other words, Jesus wants to

teach his own of the things that deeply displease him.

And so, to our benefit, when Christ speaks about this issue,

he's not vague. He's surgically precise in his

denunciation. And I come to this text and I'm

reading. I'm thinking, OK, I know that

I'm wonderfully saved by the grace of God, but I also see the

mind of my Savior. And what I learned here is what

He greatly condemns, what is deplorable to him.

I know we rejoice in the truth that God is love.

But remember, God also hates. He hates and there are things

that He hates more than other things, including this.

And so these evils that you and I just mentioned that seem to be

culturally bound, when you actually consider the heart

behind it, you'll realize that these appetites and these

actions are actually universal. They apply today.

So yes, these scribes acted in a certain way that deserve such

judgement, but they can re replicate it and imitate it even

now in 2024. So in this brief time together,

I want to show you by way of categorizing these things, four

things, four things that the Lord Jesus Christ greatly

condemns #1 Jesus Christ greatly condemns showy attention seeking

spirituality. Where do we get that from?

We see here in verse 38 and in his teaching he said beware of

the scribes who like to walk around in long robes.

Pause. Jesus is not criticizing a style

of apparel. He is pointing out a mindset

behind the application of certain garments.

Not much is given to us by Mark about what these long robes

signify, but again, it's when you go to Matthew's explanation

where you get some additional insights that helps us

understand what Christ is getting at.

So you have to turn to Matthew 23 and you have to see it here

in verse five of Matthew 23. Jesus expounds upon what He

means here about these lengthy robes that these scribes wore

all the time. Matthew 23, verse five, He says

about the same group of people. They do all their deeds to be

seen by others, for they make their phylacteries broad and

their fringes long. What are these two items?

Phylacteries are things that devout Jews today even apply.

They're those small leather boxes, have you seen them, that

are placed in the hands or on the forehead of devout Jews?

And they are strapped by leather ties.

And in those leather boxes are verses and scriptures.

You say, well, why would they do that?

Well, they derive that by literally interpreting and

observing what Deuteronomy 68 says.

And that passage tells us that God commanded the law to be

bound as a sign on your hand, as shall be frontlets between your

eyes. So they took that and they

literally applied it. We're going to put the Word of

God here and put the Word of God in our hands.

And then you read about these fringes that they were made

long. It does not have biblical basis.

Absolutely, it has biblical basis.

When you read in Numbers 15, you actually see it in verse 38 and

39 where God commanded the common Jew to make certain

tassels on the corners of their garments, and these tassels at

the end of their garments would serve as object lessons to

remember to obey and walk in the commands of God.

So everything that Jesus is describing here is actually

biblical. It's not inherently wrong.

He's not condemning the presence of these leather boxes and these

fringes and these tassels. What is he?

What is he criticizing? Then read the verse again, for

they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.

And why did they look for the biggest leather box that they

can hold on their hand? Why did they try to find the

most noticeable thing to place on their face?

The first part of the verse they do all their deeds to be seen by

others. The Lord Jesus, can I just talk

to you plain and straight? He hates when the commands of

God are pursued, an exercise to maintain an image of super

spirituality. He hates it.

Notice again that it was in the presence of these items, but the

motivation behind them. And unfortunately, what these

scribes did is possible for us to do today.

Not only with your address, but with your words, with your

actions. When we act in a certain way

because we want not to please God, not to genuinely bless

those around us, but with the goal for the outcome of

onlookers to say to themselves and others, and maybe even to

you, you're holy, you're godly, you're like the real deal,

right? You're the real deal.

And when that becomes the aim of your adornment of truth, Jesus

says that deserves great condemnation.

All of this reminds me of a certain man from the Old

Testament. By the way, the Old Testament is

the best illustration book for New Testament truths.

I'm reminded of a certain king by the name of Jehu.

And he was commanded by God. He was commissioned by God to

clean house, to remove all of Baal worship from the land of

promise. And he did so with great zeal

and obedience. And at some point he bumps into

another man named Jehanadad. And I want you to read or hear

these words in Second Kings 10/16, when this man now is on

this mission and he is succeeding.

Notice the words that he says. He says the quiet part out loud.

He says what these scribes felt inside.

He perhaps is saying what some feel even in Christendom today

in their pursuit of spirituality.

Second Kings 1016 and he said, come with me and see my zeal for

the Lord. So you had him ride in his

chariot. So what's the big deal with

that? Here's what it would translate

that. Imagine a pastor coming to you

before Sunday service calling you saying, hey, can I pick you

up? I want you to hear how

passionate I am for God. How does that sound?

And now you taste it, right? That's exactly what he's saying.

Come and see my zeal for the Lord.

I have an extra seat in my chariot.

What's happening here? Well, you have this man who is

confessing a passion for God, but that passion for God has

become his platform for self promotion.

So it's not for God's sake, it's for my sake.

And I have no problem using my consecration, my gifting, my

influence, yes, in the name of God, but for you to really love

my name and to talk about me, you know, a true preacher will

be more disappointed if people walk out of the service talking

about him more than Jesus. But there are many like this man

and many like the scribes who actually are fishing.

They're fishing for the praise. They're fishing for the pat on

the back. They're fishing for the

comparison where you are incomparable, where you're the

next this and you're the next that.

Jesus hates showy, attention seeking spirituality, but it's

not the only things that he he condemns.

There's a second thing that Jesus greatly condemns.

Jesus condemns #2 spiritual status as a means for personal

advantage. Come back to verse 38 of Mark

12. And in his teaching, he said

beware of the scribes who who like to walk around in long

robes and like greetings in the marketplaces.

Pause there. That's elaborated in Matthew 23,

where they love to be called by titles rabbi and father and all

these different they they got a kick out of that and they would

get upset if you didn't. But besides the point, look at

verse 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places

of honour at feast. So listen the these scribes were

not just fishing for respect verbally expressed, no, they

employed their spirituality also to gain social advantage like

tangible perks. And so they wielded their pious

positions with that in mind. And again this might sound

strange, the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour

at feast. What kind of feast?

It can be any kind of feast, including wedding feasts.

And so it may seem formed, but it's not formed because lust for

power and authority is not alien within Christendom.

It's not. And these scribes remind us that

we are all in danger. All of us are in danger, He told

his disciples. He told his followers.

We are all in danger of developing the attitude of a

master rather than of a servant within the sphere of the church.

And you've been here long enough to hear so many sermons about

Christ elevating and promoting and teaching His own to pursue

servanthood. If you're really going to be

great spiritually, you're going to serve.

What do these scribes do? They did the exact opposite.

They they, in the pursuit of greatness, measured that by the

privileges that they were able to attain and secure because of

their positions of power and their spiritual influence.

This is exactly what Christ is getting at, the danger of

developing an attitude of being a Lord instead of being a slave.

And the ugliness here is when we are now leveraging our gifts,

leveraging our knowledge, leveraging our personality,

leveraging our influence to collect perks rather than to

serve others. And so when you begin to think

in this way, I deserve this, I deserve this because I am this

or I do this, you're treading on condemnable ground because Jesus

hates this. In fact, He teaches in another

place something that elaborates on this warning.

Turn with me to Luke again. But look here at verse seven of

chapter 14, Luke 14, verse 7, because again, we can look at

Luke 14:7

this in a negative, but we also have to see it in the positive.

If this is what Christ condemns, then what is He after?

What does He want us to pursue as disciples of His?

This is what He's asking of you, that no matter your position,

you and I have to daily, daily clothe the inner man with a

garment of servanthood every single day.

As you put on your physical clothes, you're also putting on

the inner garments of servanthood and expect to be

treated as such, saying, what are you talking?

This is discipleship. This is what it means to follow

Christ. And look what Christ does when

he was invited to a feast, Luke 14 verse seven.

Now he told a parable to those who were invited when he noticed

how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, so Can

you imagine that, right? You have all these prolific,

influential people who invite Jesus and you know what Jesus

noticed when he came to dinner? I can just see it, these

Pharisees and these scribes entering into the place and

bumping into each other and racing to the best seats in the

house. And Christ noticed that like

little kids, He says, you know what, since I'm here, let me

teach on a parable about this very thing.

And so on. Verse 8, When you are invited by

someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of

honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be

invited by him. And he who invited you both will

come and say to you, give your place to this person, and you

will begin with shame to take the lowest place.

But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that

when your host comes, he may say to you, friend, move up higher.

Then you will be honoured in the presence of all who sit at table

with you, that there is a gospel truth tucked into us, but we

don't have time to break it down.

In fact, there are many, many points to make from this

parable. Can I just make one for the sake

of making it memorable? Here's a practical tip for

discipleship for you and I. It is this.

Whenever I walk into a room, I am to never think that I am the

most important person there. Any room, any setting, any

amount of people. Here's one of the practical

truths. We want to be practical.

Yeah. Here's one of the practical

truths of I want to please Christ as a disciple of his.

I am to register, remind myself I am not the most important

person in this room. Even if you serve God

sacrificially, even if you're a radical follower of his, do not

allow your heart to ever get to the place where you think you

earn an advantage over another. This is discipleship saying,

well, what should my heart be like then?

I serve God. I, I do much for God.

I, I, I think I'm the most active person actually in my

local church. Shouldn't I get something?

Here's what you do. You're still in Luke, right?

Go to 17 and look at verse 10. Jesus actually instructed you

what you should do when you're even serving God and are

recognized for it. Look at Luke 17, verse 10.

Luke 17:10

This is Christ speaking and I pray that this would mark the

heart of every person at NBC. So you also, when you have done

all that you were commanded, say we are unworthy servants, we

have only done what was our duty.

That's what you say. Not just I'm a servant, I'm

actually unworthy to serve. It's one thing to be invited to

a high position or to be recognized and praised and say

I'm unworthy. No, no, no, you're actually

unworthy when you serve. Like it's such a privilege and

an honour to serve God in any capacity.

We should have the revelation that it's a privilege and an

honour to do so. You say what kind of thinking of

it? This is not the world, but this

is the church. This is the Kingdom.

I'm an unworthy servant. I don't get to.

I don't deserve this. This is the opposite of what

Jesus is condemning here. Jesus hates the Lord.

Jesus hates when spiritual status is used to manipulate and

gain personal advantage. And it's very close to the third

thing that Jesus greatly condemns from our main passage

#3 Jesus our King condemns greed being satisfied through

spiritual manipulation. Come back to our main text,

please. Look at verse 40 of Mark 12.

These scribes who also devour widows houses.

Pause. I I really do.

I actually feel a fear for those who have No Fear in exploiting

people with their spiritual authority to make money.

I fear for those people because Jesus said such people will

receive the greater condemnation.

And this would be so important for the disciples to hear

because they were soon ready to be sent out into the four

corners of the earth. And they were going to preach

the gospel, and God was going to enable them to do miracles.

And they're going to plant churches, and they're going to

bless thousands upon thousands of people.

And as much as it might be an honor to be such a person, yes,

these apostles were unique in their authority and in their

ministry. But on any level, to touch

people's lives, as much as that might be a privilege, it is a

tremendous responsibility. Because here's the thing, from a

leadership standpoint, one of the things that you gain very

easily, even within the church, is people's trust, people's

trust. And what begins to happen then

if you're not careful and you allow this flesh to be

unharnessed and not to be under the control of the Holy Spirit,

is that the love of money can creep in.

And now you are able to convince yourself and even convince

yourself to benefit from others who sit under your ministry and

believe that you are a man of integrity and serve God

wholeheartedly. It's a tremendous

responsibility. And we look at this and Jesus

highlights this, and I believe it's more than just to keep a

watch out for perverted leaders. It's worth mentioning here that

financial manipulation is not limited to prosperity preachers

or those who embezzle church donations.

Let me say this way, there are many people who are not behind

pulpits like this, who don't have TV programs, but see the

church as a benevolent institution.

And they will come into the church and find a way to exploit

the sheep. Get this as fellow sheep.

Paul speaks of such people here. It is in Second Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians 3 · chapter mention

chapter 3 and verse 10. It's a very brief epistle.

And he writes For even when we were with you, we would give you

this command. If anyone is not willing to

work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you

walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busy bodies.

Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus

Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

So Paul here is highlighting a different danger.

He's not speaking about the top down, but he's speaking about

those on the same field. And he's saying here that we

hear. So there's something now that's

arrived to the attention of the apostle.

It's become a concern in this particular church.

Paul is not speaking about the church not taking care of those

who are genuinely in need within the church.

You and I's brothers and sisters must look out for those who are

suffering and who are in seasons of need and to come to their

aid. That's our call as Christians.

This is not what he is getting at.

Paul is speaking about those who have ample opportunity and great

ability but refuse to provide for themselves.

They refuse to do so. Now, why would some within the

church who have opportunity and have ability refuse to work?

Because Christians are loving and they're generous and they're

compassionate, and instead of being mindful of their own

needs, they have no hesitation to take advantage of that

compassion. And so Paul is highlighting a

mindset that is not justifiable. Again, let me reiterate here.

Let me emphasize there are going to be people in your life in the

church who do need help, and we are not to put them under this

category. You know what's so interesting

about these kind of people, though, who are exercising

idleness? It actually could be because of

their faulty view of the last days.

When you read this epistle, Paul is also correcting a faulty view

of the teaching of the things to come.

And it could be that some in the wrong theology interpreted and

applied the last days for them to say, well, what's the point

of working? Just quit your job.

Just wait. The end of all things is near.

And so you remove yourself from your daily duties.

But what tends to happen? What happened in this case?

These people who might have believed that we're waiting and

waiting and waiting and other stomachs are grumbling, but

there's nothing in the bank account because you haven't

worked in months. So what happens now?

In the name of spirituality, they're becoming a burden to the

church. And so Paul comes in and he

says, no, no, no. We talked about this and I'm

ready to talk about it again. This is this is serious.

So from any angle to financially take advantage of the church as

a leader or not is a dangerous game to play.

Jesus hates when greed is satisfied through spiritual

manipulation. There's one more thing that he

condemns from this passage Mark 12.

Let's look at verse 40 once more.

Who devour widows houses and for a pretence make long prayers.

It's as though the Lord is reinforcing his absolute disdain

for showy spirituality because it it's very similar to the

first point. Who who wear long robes, right?

Look at me, look at me, look at me.

And instead of doing it with their garments, they're doing it

with their voices. But there's a deeper layer to

Jesus mentioning this kind of praying because he says here who

for pretence make long prayers pretend simply means to pretend.

So what is he putting his finger on those who not are just

praying to get attention, but those who are pretending while

they pray there there's something that they're not

though they're presenting themselves in a certain manner

through praying. And so Christ here, lastly, not

only condemns showy spirituality, not only condemns

those who use their spiritual status to take advantage of

others, not who only through satisfying their greed will

manipulate spiritually, but lastly, Jesus condemns

spirituality without substance. This pretense and pretense

making long prayers is more than just showy spirituality.

It's spirituality without substance.

And Jesus talks about this in so many different ways.

And you're familiar with that passage in Matthew chapter 6

Matthew 6 · chapter mention

where he also condemns early in his ministry, a type of prayer

that is drawn out and framed and shaped in a way so that people

can hear you instead of God hearing you.

And do you remember what Jesus's answer to that kind of praying

was? Do you remember what he says he

looked for instead? Matthew 66 But when you pray, go

into your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is

in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

That is not to say that Christ is against public prayer

meetings. But you know what?

He is against public prayer meetings without personal

intimate relationship. Who for pretense make long

prayers where the heart is. I want people to know that I

have a connection with God. I want people to know that I am

indeed deep, passionate, sold out.

Call it what you will, but your room has cobwebs and the prayer

closet has not felt the warmth of your hand on its knob.

That's what Jesus condemns. So that's in particular with

prayer. But let's broaden it, right?

What does Christ want from people who call upon his name?

Substance. What is substance defined by

private, real, secret intimacy with the Lord, not just in

prayer, like who you are Once we check out of here in a few

minutes, that's what the Lord is after.

And the scribes, and I say this with a broken heart.

Buildings like this are packed with those who for a pretense

show up, who for a pretense give, who for a pretense hold

the Bible. They might even beat it up a

little bit so it looks like they've read it for a long time.

Pretence. It's all pretend.

And when you peel through the layers of public show, there's

nothing. Nothing.

I don't get people who are caught up in that.

Let me say this boldly. What does it matter if you fool

everybody but end up in hell for eternity for it?

So these are the things I know this is a heavier one for a

baptism service, but what do we begin the service with John

telling us that he rejoices those who walk in the truth.

A true disciple wants the whole truth.

And these are the things that Jesus our Lord, precious name of

God, our Savior, our Master hates.

And I want to let you know today that if you were like the

scribes in any way, the same Jesus who condemned these things

can change your heart. He can't.

You might have played the fool for years.

You might even fooled your spouse.

You might have fooled your kids. You might have fooled your

pastors. You can't fool God.

And God at this very moment is willing to change.

Why do you think this is in the Word?

To just seal the fate of those who are living this way?

No, may not be so of you. May this be the invitation of

true Christianity and believers, though, yes, we are saved.

Beware of these things too. Don't condemn yourself when

you're visited by those thoughts and temptations, but by the

power of the Spirit, swatted away when it comes.

That's not, that's not true spirituality.

And here's one of the marks of you growing in the faith, my

precious brother and sister. As you grow, you become less

concerned about public validation and more and more

concerned about what God has to say.

That's one of the marks of growth.

You become more and more detached.

Not that you're careless with your character.

No, no, I'm not talking about that.

But you don't find your prize and the praises of others.

You get more consumed by God. You come more aware of His all

seeing eye and His all listening ear and the ultimate reward at

the end where you will stare at those eyes and hear from that

saving mouth. Well done my good and faithful

servant. May that be said of all of us.

By His grace. Can we pray and ask Him to

cleanse us of anything that He would condemn?

Lord, thank you that you can even save hypocrites.

And Lord, we know that the testimony of the scribes is the

testimonies of so many who've experienced your grace and

mercy. Lord #1 as disciples of you, we

want to live in greater purity and humility and grace.

Can you help us, please, to do that?

Please, Lord, help us. And when we're visited by these

vices that try to latch on to the throne of our will or our

affections or ambitions, Lord, may the truth that we just heard

today just be one of the many ammunitions that would shoot

those things down. We, we want to be more like the

disciples you have purchased us to be.

Thank you, Lord, that we can even bend our knee before you

and say, Lord, for some reason I'm craving the praise of man.

Help me deliver me from this and you will.

Thank you, O Lord, that we can come to you and and we can admit

that there are things that you don't want, that we for some

reason want and you can destroy it by your grace and power.

Thank you for that. But Lord, we secondly pray for

the person in here who might be defined exactly like these

scribes. They have no true born again

experience. They have no true private

devotion. They have no true holiness.

It's all a mask. It's all superficial.

It's all surface level, Lord. May they hear the resounding

words of this book, of this particular passage, and may it

set them free. May they know that they can be

transferred from condemnation to commendation forever and ever if

they just admit their guilt and come to the foot of the cross.

Lord, we as a family come to you saying thank you for all that

you had to say. And we ask Lord, that these

things would help us walk in the truth in Jesus name, Amen.

Amen. Let's stand.

Let's stand and worship the Lord together as the praise team

comes and serves us in that way. I want to encourage you, if

you're a person here who's visiting and you don't know

Jesus Christ, you can know salvation today.

You can have all of your sins forgiven today.

You can be a new creature today. You can know everlasting life

for sure today. What you have to do is

acknowledge that you are a Sinner and also acknowledge that

Christ is the only Saviour and be willing to say this sin that

I know condemns me. I put it aside, I repent of it,

and I receive the payment that Jesus made for all my sin.

I'm telling you today, listen, you can leave this place going

to bed with the assurance that you have peace with God and you

can wake up tomorrow and the day after and the years to come

knowing for certain no matter what comes my way, I have this

inheritance. I am a child of God.

Why would you throw away that gift?

Why would you relinquish it? Why would you dismiss it?

Why would you even delay on that?

It's a free gift and God wants to give it to you today and it's

Providence. You're hearing the gospel maybe

for the first time, maybe for the 100th time.

Here's why I'm saying this at this point, even while we're

singing, you can, in your own words, speak to the Lord and ask

Him to forgive you of everything.

The things that you do know about the things that you don't

know about, the things that you're ashamed to talk about.

And listen, if you are truly repentant in this place, you

will know a supernatural experience of forgiveness that

cannot be explained apart from the truth of this book.

I want that for you. More importantly, God in heaven

wants that for you. And I pray that you would make

that choice before you leave this place.

It's a free gift. Don't leave it here whenever

you're ready, guys.