Mark 12:38-44 - Caution & Celebration

In this episode of Proclaiming His Word, we examine the final public teaching of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of Mark. As Christ stands in the temple courts, He delivers a powerful object lesson, drawing a stark contrast between two very different individuals—the hypocritical scribes and the humble widow.

Through this passage, we receive both a caution to the fake and a celebration of the faithful. Jesus warns against the danger of hypocrisy—those who seek honor and praise while concealing the true condition of their hearts. Yet, in the widow’s offering, we witness an act of sincere devotion, an example of true faithfulness before God.

Are we among the fake or the faithful? Join us as we unpack this crucial question, examining our own hearts in light of Christ’s words.

Listen now and be challenged to lay aside empty religion and pursue genuine faithfulness before the Lord.

Transcript

84 - Mark 12:38-44 - Caution & Celebration

Intro

• If you have your Bibles please turn with me to Mark 12 and find verse 38 as we prepare to close out another chapter in this Gospel.
  • Which means, after today, we are three quarters of the way through the book of Mark and only have four chapters left to work through.
• In our verses today we find the final public teaching moment of Christ found in the Gospel of Mark.
  • Throughout this chapter Jesus has been found in the temple teaching, answering questions, and then taking His turn in asking a question.
  • In this final public teaching moment our Lord uses an object lesson to compare two very different people.
• With that comparison we find a clear divide in our text and we will spend our time together unpacking two points that our Lord is making…
  • First, we will see A Caution to the Fake.
    • Here we will spend the majority of our time…
  • Then, we will see A Celebration to the Faithful.
  • As we explore both points the question that we must consider from the start of our time together today is this…
    • Are we among the fake or the faithful?
• With that question upon our minds let us turn the scripture and read our verses today. 

Mark 12:38-44

• As I already stated this is the final public teaching moment of Christ.
  • There are other moments of teaching found in this Gospel but it is directed to His Apostles.
  • Here, I remind you, He is in the Temple courts and these are His final words to the crowds.
    • The next time He is before all the people He will be tried and condemned to die upon the cross.
  • Knowing that let us view these verses in a different light…
    • Consider with me that our Lord knew that the cross was coming.
      • He had already warned His apostles on multiple occasions that He was going to die.
    • Consider also that He would have realized that this was the final moment of public teaching.
  • This should cause these words to hit us a bit differently, they should cause us to lean in and look closely upon what our Lord has to say.
• This is especially true as we consider the harsh words that Jesus speaks in the first half of our verses as He gives us…

A Caution to the Fake - Vs. 38-40

• Caution is really too kind of a word to describe the warning that Jesus provides in these verses.
  • Let us keep in mind that the final person that questioned Jesus in this chapter was a scribe.
    • This scribe in particular seemed to have good theology, he understood the scriptures, and Jesus said of him…
      • “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
    • Yet, as we discussed a few weeks ago, being near the kingdom is not enough.
      • The reality is that this scribe that was near to the kingdom did not ever seem to have made it in.  
    • A few weeks ago we discussed the warning that is given us by this passage…
      • To not be content with being near but rather to be sure that we have entered in.
    • There is something dangerous about being almost there, close enough to see and understand without fully committing to the Savior.
  • This danger, this warning, we will see again today, although in a different light.
    • The difference is that our Lord is direct in His warning today.
      • In this regard it is more weighty than what we observed before.
    • With that background let us read the first half of our verses again today and heed the warning of our Lord.
  • Vs. 38-40
• Jesus tells us in these verses that we are to “beware” or to “watch out for” the scribes.
  • Then He goes on to describe to us the reason why we should watch out for this particular group.
    • His caution centers around this group being one way in public and before people and another way behind closed doors.
    • In other words, Jesus is being critical of their hypocrisy.
  • Showing themselves in one light, presenting themselves in one way, when the reality is far different.  
  • Here Jesus pulls back the curtain on what motivated these individuals…
    • It was praise, honor, position, and possessions.
      • In short it was the temporal things in this life that motivated these individuals to live how they lived.
    • Consider how this is slightly different than living in open sin and open rebellion.
      • Someone living in open sin would not be praised by men, they would not be greeted in the marketplace, they would have no position of honor before their brothers.
      • You see if it was praise and honor they desired they could not simply live for the flesh but had to seem moral.
    • To do this they had to play a part, to wear a mask, to seem one way but to be something else entirely.
  • This is a warning not because it was an obvious sin but because it was a concealed sin.
    • People would not have given them praise and honored them if they knew their hearts.
    • What we find is that they were rather good at this deceptive role they played…
      • Fooling the people that surrounded them.
    • Yet, do not mistake this, these men that Jesus warned us about were indeed fake.
    • It is this reason we see such harsh words spoken by Christ at the end of this passage…
      • “...They will receive the greater condemnation.”
    • Terrifying words to any that would be found in this position…
      • Judgment is coming and all will be laid bare…
      • Wrath is coming for all who are fake and playing a part…
  • Therefore today the first half of our verses can be divided into two different warnings…
    • First, we must beware or be cautious of those who are simply playing a part.
      • As Jesus speaks to the crowd this is the primary warning to the people.
      • Watch out for the scribes, they are actors and nothing more, they cannot be trusted.
      • If they are willing to take advantage of widows then if given the opportunity they will take advantage of you as well.
    • Then, second, you have to know that there are scribes in the crowd hearing this and so there is a call to examine.
      • They need to be certain that they are not simply wearing a mask.
        • That they are not living a lie.
      • If they are then the call to them is clear, it is to repent.
        • Now it is true our Lord did not call them to repentance directly but He pointed out that judgment that was coming.
      • In this He has laid before them a choice…
        • Continue forward and face the condemnation from God or turn from your sin and be forgiven.  
    • Let us keep in mind these two different warnings as we keep talking about this passage.
      • One to those who are being deceived and one to the deceiver himself.  
  • Now we may be tempted today to look at these verses and observe them from a strictly historical standpoint.
    • Considering the scribes and how they acted among the people, how they put on a show and deceived many.
    • We may be tempted to view the warning from Christ simply in its historical context even being thankful that we do not have scribes as they did then.
  • Well church, it is true that we do not have scribes as they did 2000 years ago…
• However, the same root sin found described in these verses today is still very much present in our time.
  • Which means that these verses are still very much applicable for us in the present day.
    • So let us now turn our attention away from the scribes and place these two warnings from Christ in our day.  
  • First warning: Watch out for hypocrisy in the church, or watch out for the deceivers.  
    • There exists no shortage of people today that fall into this same category as the scribes in Jesus day.
      • Let us try and view these words of Christ in our present time.
        • As we do keep in mind that what these people desired was praise, honor, positions, and possessions.
        • They lived for these things, and built their life in the pursuit of them.
      • Before we dive too deeply into this warning I think it is important to point out that praise and honor, positions and possessions are not the problem.
        • Otherwise Paul and Peter would be giving us poor advice…
          • Paul writes in Romans 13…
            • Romans 13:7 - “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”
            • Paul is telling us that there are some we are to honor, that is a good thing.
          • Likewise Peter writes in 1 Peter 2.
            • 1 Peter 2:17 - “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”
            • Peter is telling us the emperor holds a possession of honor so we as Christians are to honor that.
        • I point that out because it would be easy for us to look at this passage and say that the issue is praising people and honoring people.
      • That is not the case, instead the issue is the pursuit of these things by pretending to be what we are not.
      • If honor is due because someone has done something honorable then to honor them is a good thing and we must keep that in mind as we view this warning.
    • Let us turn our attention back to the current warning, to beware of fake people today, to watch out for deceivers.
      • Our Lord is talking to the people and urging them to be cautious of these religious leaders who are living a lie.  
        • Who knows the scriptures, who can argue and teach the scriptures, but who are not living according to the written law.  
      • With that in mind let us consider this warning in our day.  
    • Church, there are many who stand in the position of elder, pastor, or deacon, who are not worthy of their position.
      • They desire it for the praise of man and they pursue it by living a lie.
      • Like the scribe they pretend to be something they are not for what they can gain by their position.
      • This is one reason why in the scripture we find requirements for the elder and the deacon, and they center upon the character of the person.
        • We are urged to look at their marriage, at how they interact with their children and how they manage their own household.
          • In doing so we are examining their closest relations.
          • Who they are at home…
        • Even stepping back from that requirement, if you look at the others they are all intended to look beyond the surface and see the content of the person.
        • When considering who we lend our ears to within the church we must look beyond the surface…
          • It is why you will not find in the requirements anything about how well they are dressed.
          • You will find nothing about how charismatic they can be or how well spoken.
          • Even the position of an elder the only requirement that addresses this is that they must be able to teach. 
        • However, you will find nothing that suggests we are to be concerned with outward appearances but instead we are to examine the heart and the conduct of their lives.  
      • For us today there is a great cause for us to hear this warning…
        • It has become easy in our day for a person to paint an untrue picture of themselves.
          • To claim to be something that they are not.
        • We see this as true even in the church and behind the pulpits.
          • How many pastors have you witnessed fall from their positions because their masks fell off?
          • Not because they fell into some sinful temptation but because they had deceived from the very start.  
      • Hypocrisy was not just a problem with the scribes 2000 years ago, it is a present problem for us today.
    • So, to echo the warning of Christ, beware of those that fall into this category.
      • We stand against it, church, by digging under the surface…
        • By testing those who hold positions of authority within the church and holding them to the qualifications found in scripture.
      • However, let me remind you that hypocrisy is not only an issue with those in teaching or preaching positions.
    • This brings us to our second warning for today… 
  • Watch out for hypocrisy in your own heart, do not be a deceiver.
    • As I said before this passage ends with a warning for the scribes in the crowd to examine their lives and be sure they are not fake.
      • The same must be considered for each of us here today.
    • The sad reality is we are good at putting up walls, good at wearing a mask, good at playing a part.
      • All the while concealing who we really are so that we can gain something in return.
      • I remind you that this is the point of hypocrisy, to gain something that we could not gain otherwise.
        • To receive false honor, false praise, or other temporal benefits.
    • Again, we as a culture have gotten really good at painting a picture of ourselves that we want others to see.
      • There is great danger in doing this though, because even though we might fool those closest to us we cannot fool the One who Created us.
      • This is the reality, if you play the part and pretend to be something that you are not, it may mean gain in this life but that will end with your final breath.  
        • Before our God all will be laid bare and nothing can be concealed.
        • Hebrews reminds us of this fact.
          • Hebrews 4:12-13 - “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
        • I fear that there are many who have grown accustomed to wearing a mask and playing a part only to be exposed on the Day of the Lord.
    • What this really is for us today is a warning against empty religion.
      • A warning against simply going through the motions without a heart change…
        • On this please hear me…
          • You can attend religiously…
          • You can give generously…
          • You can even serve regularly…
          • You can know and teach the scriptures…
        • Yet none of those things will secure your salvation.
      • I have heard it said before, as I am certain you have as well that…
        • Going to church will no more make you a follower of Christ than standing in a garage makes you a car.
        • This is what we are talking about, going through the motions and checking off a box as if that will save you.
      • It cannot, there is but one hope for the sin problem that is present in your life and that is to submit yourself to the One who died in your place.
    • I will end this second warning by sharing with you the words of J.C. Ryle wrote about this passage…
      • “Of all the sins into which men can fall, none seem so exceedingly sinful as false profession and hypocrisy. At all events, none have drawn from our Lord’s mouth such strong language, and such heavy [public condemnations]. It is bad enough to be led away captive by open sin, and to serve [multiple] lusts and pleasures. But it is even worse to pretend to have a religion, while in reality we serve the world. Let us beware of falling into this abominable sin. Whatever we do in religion, let us never wear a cloak. Let us be real, honest, thorough, and sincere in our Christianity.”
  • As we exist in a day where wearing a mask is common and expected, let us strive to be genuine, honest, and real with one another.
    • Drop the mask, quit putting on a play and be open and honest with one another.  
• Now, let us turn our attention to the second part of this passage as we see a striking contrast as our Lord…

Celebrates the Faithful - Vs. 41-44

• Let’s read our verses again…
  • Vs. 41-44
• The woman described in these verses stands in stark contrast to the scribe in the previous verses.
  • She is a widow meaning that she is completely dependent on the generosity of others around her to survive.
  • As a widow she is not praised or honored but instead looked down upon and often cast aside.
  • More than simply being a widow we are told that she is poor, without provisions enough to live.
    • The word used that is translated as poor in this passage means relatively worthless.
    • To prove that we are told what she contributes to the treasury.
      • We are told it was “two small copper coins”.
        • We know that one of these coins was known as a “lepton” which is the smallest of all currencies for that time.
          • In our day it would be roughly 45 cents each.
          • Since she had two of these coins it means that she contributed a whopping 90 cents.
      • More than that amount she contributed is what our Lord said about it, look again at verse 44.
        • Vs. 44 - emphasis on “...all she had to live on”
        • 90 cents was all she had to her name, and she gave anyway.  
      • You see it was not only that she gave but that she prioritized her giving above her most basic needs.
  • Consider how this even fulfills the lessons from our previous verses…
    • Vs. 30
      • Was she not living out her love for the Lord as she gave all that she had?
        • Certainly she was!
    • This again stands in opposition to what we read about the scribe.
      • He was about lifting himself up while also pushing others down.
      • It was no accident that our Lord says that they “...devour widows’ houses…”
    • It is here though I want to remind you that it would be easy to get into the weeds in this comparison.
      • The main difference between the two does not deal so much with their difference in wealth, status, possessions, or placement within society.
      • The main difference between the scribe and the widow is that one was a phony and the other was faithful.
        • One pretended to be faithful and the other was really faithful.
    • This poor widow knew what she really was and she gave it all to God, the challenge for us this day is to do likewise.

Closing

• So as we close out in our time together today I want to remind you of the question we started with…
  • Are we among the fake or the faithful?
    • So with that let me remind you of the reality of your situation.
      • God is holy, He sees all, He knows all, nothing can be conceived from Him.
      • You are sinful and have rebelled against this Holy God, on your own you stand condemned before Him.
        • It matters not the work of your hands, you stand condemned.
      • There is one hope for your situation and that is that Jesus died in your place to bear your sins and offer you redemption.
        • I urge you to place your faith in the One who died in your place.
    • Then to the believer, again, the question is the same…
      • Are you fake or faithful?
        • If you have been prone to wear a mask and play a role I urge you to lay it aside and genuine to one another.
      • So that our Lord would not look upon us with caution but with celebration as we submit ourselves to Him.
  • With that let us pray.