Costly Worship

Mark 12:38-44

I.  Condemnation of the Scribes (vv. 38-40)

1)     A Courageous Warning

1. After answering the Scribes’ question on the Law of Moses, Jesus now sternly warns the people about the pride and hypocrisy of their leaders
   1. Long Robes – Scribes wore special clothing that distinguished them from the laity
   2. Greetings – Scribes enjoyed having distinguished titles and public recognitionBest Seats in Synagogue – Scribes got special seats near the front of the meeting house
   3. Best Seats at Feasts – Scribes were seated close to the host to indicate their importance
   4. Devour Widows Houses – Scribes often took unfair advantage of a widow’s generosity
   5. Long Prayers – Scribes offered their public prayers to men rather than to God
2. A Scathing Rebuke
   1. Mark’s version of this teaching is abbreviated and focuses on Jesus’ warnings to the people
   2. Matthew’s longer version contains a direct rebuke to the Scribes– see Matthew 23
      1. Don’t practice what they preach
      2. Require from others what they themselves are not willing to do
      3. Focus on outward obedience while neglecting the ‘weightier’ matters of the Law:  justice, mercy, faithfulness
      4. Outward display of ‘righteousness’ that disguises inward moral corruption
      5. ‘Brood of vipers’ on the road to hell and bringing others with them

Application:

– Jesus had no tolerance for false teachers who used and abused God’s truth as a means for self-advancement and sinful pride – neither should we!

– This warning should cause us all to examine our own hearts to see where sinful pride has taken root, and if necessary to repent!

– The Scribes stand as an enduring warning to the Church that religious moralism (aka. ‘legalism’) is not the Christian gospel.   Moralism seeks to change outward behaviour through law-keeping but cannot change the heart.   The Gospel changes the heart and leads from there to a change in behaviour.

“Forbid it Lord that I should boast, save in the death of Christ, my God; all the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.”  – Isaac Watts

 II.  Commendation of the Widow (vv. 41-44)

1)      A Vivid Contrast

1. Mark intentionally contrasts religious hypocrisy (Scribes) with genuine discipleship (Widow)
2. The contrast unveils God’s perspective on the kind of genuine worship He accepts vs. the kind of false ‘worship’ He will expose and judge

2)     The True Heart of Worship

1. Worship rightly understood is a sacrifice that costs us something – Hebrews 13:15-16;  2 Samuel 24:24;  Malachi 1:6-11
2. Everything about this woman is described as ‘less’ but yet Jesus said she gave ‘more’!
3. This woman’s sacrifice foreshadows the infinitely more costly sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross – 2 Corinthians 8:9

Application:

– The value of our worship (time, talent, treasure) is not measured by the amount given, but by the cost to the giver, and also by the way we give it!   Is Jesus pleased with your worship, or is He offended by it??

“A religion that costs nothing is worth nothing.  A cheap Christianity without a cross, will prove in the end a useless Christianity without a crown.”  – J.C. Ryle