God Looks at the Heart!
Whose Son Is the Messiah?
35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:
“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
under your feet.”’
37 David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”
The large crowd listened to him with delight.
Warning Against the Teachers of the Law
38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
The Widow’s Offering
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Reflection:
In today's passage as Jesu sets his eyes toward Jerusalem, he begins to reveal who he really is. Since the Jewish people knew that the Royal covenant spelled out that the Messiah would come from the house and the line of David, he quotes a verse from the psalms where David refers to the Messiah. And he refers to him as Lord, even though he was from his line. If this is the case, it is clear David is referring to the Messiah as more than a son of his, but the Son of God.
Then, Jesus goes back to rebuking the teachers of the Law, who love to walk about in their finery and sit in the places of honor, rather than taking on the role of a servant. On top of that even though outwardly they utter long winded prayers, the reality is that they are busy extracting money from widows, rather than caring for them as the Law prescribes. In the end though he gives a sobering warning that these men will be judged on how they handled their authority.
Finally, in stark contradiction to the previous example, Jesus tells of a widow that put in all she had. Though not much externally, her offering reflected a heart that was completely sold out for The Lord. Jesus sums it up by saying she put in more than all the others.
So what can we conclude? It reminds me of the story from 1 Samuel 16:7, when Samuel looked at David's brother Eliab and thought by his outward appearance that he seemed to be the heir apparent to the throne. But God had another young boy in mind, coincidentally King David. As 1 Samuel 16:7 says, "Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart!"
The widow showed her actions flowed out of a deep sense of worship of God and devotion to him. On the outside it didn't look like much but to God it meant everything. Why? Because it was from the heart! This is a good reminder that as we give our time, talents and treasures to God, he doesn't need our offering, but wants our hearts!
Jesus, we thank you that you showed us a life worthy to follow. We know that you are more concerned with the inward transformation of our hearts than the external show of piety. May we be like the widow, who gave all she had not as someone who was poor in this life, but someone who was rich toward you. Amen.
35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:
“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
under your feet.”’
37 David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”
The large crowd listened to him with delight.
Warning Against the Teachers of the Law
38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
The Widow’s Offering
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Reflection:
In today's passage as Jesu sets his eyes toward Jerusalem, he begins to reveal who he really is. Since the Jewish people knew that the Royal covenant spelled out that the Messiah would come from the house and the line of David, he quotes a verse from the psalms where David refers to the Messiah. And he refers to him as Lord, even though he was from his line. If this is the case, it is clear David is referring to the Messiah as more than a son of his, but the Son of God.
Then, Jesus goes back to rebuking the teachers of the Law, who love to walk about in their finery and sit in the places of honor, rather than taking on the role of a servant. On top of that even though outwardly they utter long winded prayers, the reality is that they are busy extracting money from widows, rather than caring for them as the Law prescribes. In the end though he gives a sobering warning that these men will be judged on how they handled their authority.
Finally, in stark contradiction to the previous example, Jesus tells of a widow that put in all she had. Though not much externally, her offering reflected a heart that was completely sold out for The Lord. Jesus sums it up by saying she put in more than all the others.
So what can we conclude? It reminds me of the story from 1 Samuel 16:7, when Samuel looked at David's brother Eliab and thought by his outward appearance that he seemed to be the heir apparent to the throne. But God had another young boy in mind, coincidentally King David. As 1 Samuel 16:7 says, "Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart!"
The widow showed her actions flowed out of a deep sense of worship of God and devotion to him. On the outside it didn't look like much but to God it meant everything. Why? Because it was from the heart! This is a good reminder that as we give our time, talents and treasures to God, he doesn't need our offering, but wants our hearts!
Jesus, we thank you that you showed us a life worthy to follow. We know that you are more concerned with the inward transformation of our hearts than the external show of piety. May we be like the widow, who gave all she had not as someone who was poor in this life, but someone who was rich toward you. Amen.
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