The Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

November 10, 2024

Mark 12:38-44

Live Like You’ll Live Forever—

Live a Life of Startling Generosity!

38As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, 39and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.”

41Jesus 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. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” (NIV1984)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Have you ever startled someone? I can think of at least two ways to answer that question. The first way to answer that question centers on what someone once described as being “Quiet like Prius.” Either consciously or unconsciously you approach someone so quietly that they don’t realize you are there. When they finally see you or hear you they are so startled that they might let out a “Shriek”!

The second way to answer that question is to do something or say something that is completely unexpected. You might startle your coach by making the game winning three-point basket or by hitting a grand slam home run. You may startle your teacher by grasping the subject that they are teaching in a way that no other student has. You may startle your parents by suddenly becoming more helpful and more respectful than you have ever been in the past.

Have you ever startled someone? That is the question that we want to explore this morning from the perspective of what God the Holy Spirit is teaching us here in our sermon text for today. With that goal in mind let’s see how our God wants us to: Live a Life of Startling Generosity!

Our text for today contains two very powerful examples. One example is negative. The other example is positive. The negative example, the example we do not want to follow, is found in the opening portion of our text. Look at verses thirty-eight to forty. Mark writes, “As he taught, Jesus said, ‘Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogue and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widow’s houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.’”

Jesus was in the Temple in Jerusalem teaching a large crowd of people. It was Tuesday of Holy Week. As usual some of the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians and teachers of the law were trying to trick Jesus into saying something that they could then use to discredit Him in the eyes of the people. Since these men— men who were supposed to be spiritual leaders among God’s people— since these men were generally seen as the example that everyone else was encouraged to follow, Jesus makes it very clear that these men were indeed an example— an example God’s people did not want to follow! Jesus then highlights two ways in which these men were a very negative example.

First, these men craved to be praised by others. They made a show of their piety and importance by wearing long white linen robes. They expected that people would respectfully acknowledge them as they were walking through the marketplace. They demanded to sit right up front in the synagogue so that they could be seen by everyone and so that they would be the closest to the “ark” which contained the sacred scrolls of Scripture. And, of course, they would automatically sit in the “places of honor” whenever there was any type of banquet. These men were indeed living a startling life— but it was not the kind of life that was pleasing to God!

Secondly, Jesus calls these men out for their greed and their hypocrisy. They used their power and their influence to take advantage of the weak and vulnerable— to the point of “devouring widow’s houses.” Then without any remorse whatsoever they made a “show” of their “lengthy prayers” in an effort to cover up who they really are. It is for these reasons that Jesus, the One who is the Judge of the living and the dead, said concerning these men, “Such men will be punished most severely.”

While we know that we should not follow the example of these men— sometimes we do. While we know that we should not be like these men— sometimes we are. Our old sinful nature longs to be validated by others. We want recognition. We want others to notice who we are and what we do. This desire for recognition, this need for validation by others all too easily leads to the sin of pride and all the other sins that tag along with pride. For that reason we can say that on the basis of this portion of our text living a startling life not only includes striving to live a life that startles people with our humility, but it also includes following the startling example of the tax-collector in the Temple and praying, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13).

The positive example that the Holy Spirit places before us today, the example that our God does want us to follow, is found in the second portion of our text. Look at verses forty-one to forty-four. Mark writes, “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. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.”

\

\Notice how God the Holy Spirit makes it very clear that Jesus consciously chose to sit “opposite the place where the offerings were put” so that He could “watch the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.” As Jesus “watched,” as Jesus “observed” the people bringing their offerings to the Lord He quickly noticed two things. First, He noticed that many “rich people threw in large amounts.” We know from men such as Josephus that there were thirteen trumpet-shaped offering chests in the Temple of the Lord. They were located in the Court of the Women. This meant that it was very easy for Jesus— and others!— to see that the “rich people” were throwing “large amounts” of money into the offering chests. It also meant that it was very easy for Jesus— and others!— to see that this “poor widow” put in “two very small copper coins.” Which of these offerings was more impressive? Which of these offerings was more startling? Most people would think that the “large amounts” of money that the “rich people” were giving were more impressive than the “two very small copper coins” of the “poor widow”— but not Jesus!

Jesus makes it very clear that it was the “poor widow” who was living a life of startling generosity and not the “rich people.” Jesus makes this clear when He says to His disciples, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything— all she had to live on.”

Jesus’ assessment of these two types of offerings reminds us that our God is focused on why His people bring their offerings to Him and not on how much they are bringing. This makes sense— even to us!— when we stop to remember the words of King David, “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1). As the Creator and the Sustainer of all things the Lord does not need our offerings. Our offerings are our way of showing Him (Pointing to the cross) how thankful we are for everything He has done for us and everything He freely gives to us.

That thought leads us to this question: Does Jesus “watch,” does Jesus “observe” the offerings that we place on His altar? Think about that for just a moment. Is Jesus watching you as you privately set aside a portion of your income to return to Him? Is Jesus “observing” you as you place your offering into the offering plate? The answer is, of course, Yes!

Here is where we need to remember that Jesus doesn’t look at the amount of money that you give or the amount of time we dedicate or the kinds of skills that you use in service to Him. He looks past the dollars and cents; He looks past the hours and the work that you devote to Him and He looks straight into your heart! This leads us to ask ourselves: Am I giving to God my first and my best, or am I hoping that God will be content with my leftovers? Am I tempted to let my service to God be an afterthought, or do I prayerfully consider how I can use my time and my God-given skills to support and promote the work of His kingdom both here on this earth and right here in His congregation? Am I a cheerful giver, rejoicing to utilize God’s blessings to me so that many more people can hear about Who Jesus is and what Jesus has done to save them from their sins (Pointing to the cross), or am I a reluctant giver who thinks about all the things that I could have done with my time and my skills and my money?

Knowing that Jesus looks into our heart leads us to understand that our motivation for living a life of startling generosity is right there— the cross on Calvary’s hill. Every time we look at the cross we see the startling generosity of our heavenly Father. He loves us so very much that He gave His only Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins! Every time we look at the cross we see the startling generosity of our Brother, Jesus Christ. He loves us so very much that He was willing to endure the punishment that we deserved for our sins so that He could proclaim from the cross, “It is finished! I have reached my goal! Your sins are forgiven!” Every time we look at the cross we see the startling generosity of God the Holy Spirit. He loves us so very much that through the power of His holy Word and through the power of His holy Sacraments He takes the salvation that Jesus secured for us on the cross, places it in our hands, closes our fingers around it and says, “This is our free gift to you! Hold on to it! Treasure it!”

When we stay focused on the cross of Jesus Christ, when His cross is our confidence in knowing that we will indeed live forever, then we will be able to live a life of startling generosity. How do we do this? We are given a beautiful example right here in our text. The “poor widow” who gave “two very small copper coins”— gives us some very important guidance and insights.

First, the “poor widow” teaches us that living a life of startling generosity means to give sacrificially. Those “two very small copper coins” were not an insignificant of money. They may have seemed insignificant when compared to the “large amounts” that the “rich people” were placing in those offering chests, but for her this seemingly small offering loomed very large. As Jesus said, “She, out of her poverty, put in everything— all she had to live on.”

How much do you bring as an offering to your Lord? Do you know how much you are giving— not just in terms of raw dollars, but in terms of what it represents? Is it a sacrificial offering or is it just a tiny fraction of the blessings the good Lord has given to you? How do your offerings to the Lord compare to what you spend on other things such as entertainment or dining out? Do your offerings reveal that you are striving to live a life of startling generosity?

Second, this “poor widow” teaches us that living a life of startling generosity means that we give our offerings of time, skills and money to the Lord! This “poor widow” knew that her offering would be used to help to support the work of her Lord there in the Temple of her Lord.

That’s how we are to look at any and every offering we bring to the Lord. We’re not simply giving to the church so that the church can afford to keep its doors open. We’re not helping to maintain the building and grounds simply so that the church “looks nice” to the people driving by. We’re not participating in various programs and activities simply because it makes us “feel good” about ourselves. Living a life of startling generosity means that everything we do is done to bring others to Jesus and to give glory to God.

And finally, this “poor widow” teaches us that living a life of startling generosity means that everything we do and everything we give is done trusting in the Lord. This “poor widow” was trusting in the Lord to take care of her. She knew who her God was. She knew the promises her God had made to her. And so as she threw those “two very small copper coins” into the offering chest in the Temple she was throwing herself into the merciful arms of her loving Lord.

This is the very same God who has promised you, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). This is the very same God concerning whom Paul says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Since we worship the very same God that this “poor widow” worshiped, we can follow her example and give our offerings to the Lord trusting that He will fulfill His promises to provide for our daily needs.

Have you ever startled someone? Even if you are a mischievous person who has mastered the art of being “Quiet like Prius” so that you can approach someone without them hearing you, my prayer this morning is that knowing that you will live forever will lead you to master the example of the “poor widow” here in our text and live a life of startling generosity!

To God be the glory!

Amen