Mark 12:38-40
It was not uncommon for a husband to appoint in his will a Jewish legal expert—a scribe or Pharisee—to be the executor of his widow’s estate. Essentially, this gave the executor authority to oversee the widow’s finances and assets. It would not be hard for a corrupt lawyer to find legal ways to trick a widow out of her house and other property—and this is precisely what the religious leaders were doing. (This is another example of Jesus SEEING women and advocating for them.
1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”
in another location Jesus says it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God! Matt 19:24
Money is a tool.
Mark 12:41
Jesus noticed how (and how much) they gave.
Jesus watched. He IS watching. Has that ever really sunk in? He cares about HOW you bring your offering, not just that you do. He cares if your heart is CHEERFUL as you give, not just THAT you give.
You know the Bible calls the church the BRIDE of Christ? He laid down his life for His bride…and then you come in and you use and abuse her…You treat her badly or only treat her as an obligation or ritual…something to gain HIS favor…ew. He notices. You only like her when she’s fun and complimenting you…not when she speaking truth or asking you for more.
Changes how you think about it when you think about the church as a person. If you wouldn’t treat a person this way, why would you treat the church this way? Jesus LOVED her. He LOVES her. SO MUCH that he laid down his life for her. You can’t claim to love jesus and not love his people.
1 John 4 says, If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Mark 12:41-42
Mark 12:43-44
His heart is always for His Father's House.
What is your faith in today?