Who Will Receive The Greater Condemnation? | Mark 12:38-40 | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark)

Turn with me to Mark chapter 12. In our brief time together, we'll be looking at two verses beginning in verse 38 of Mark chapter 12. We don't have that much left for this chapter before we get to Mark chapter 13. And Mark chapter 13 is the riveting teaching of Jesus on the Mount Of Olives concerning the last days. And so I'm looking forward to that series, and I trust you are as well.

But we must honor our pace, and so we're here at verse 38, and let's read together. And in his teaching, he said, beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows houses, and for pretense make long prayers, they will receive the greater condemnation. I usually don't share the title of a message, but I will this time. Today, I wanna speak to you answering the question, who will receive the greater condemnation? Contrary to modern day opinion, Jesus Christ of Nazareth believed, taught, and warned about a coming judgment.

This judgment will be executed by God, and it will determine the fate of every human being concerning their eternal destiny. What we rejoice in as Christians are the truths that we've sung about and even witnessed through the obedience of some, that our judgment has been settled at the cross of Jesus Christ. We have no reason to fear this judgment that will arrive and will be implemented upon everybody. Christ drank the wrath. Christ took every single inch, every single amount of your sin and satisfied the justice of God.

And through your repentant faith, you are now accepted in the beloved, and you are secured in his hand. Nevertheless, understand this, my dear Christian, brother and sister, the bible does teach that there is still a judgment for Christians, and this judgment will not determine your eternal state. It will determine the degree of reward that you will enjoy in another life. And that will be measured by how you and I lived as forgiven people in the name of Jesus Christ. Additionally, there is a judgment that will come upon those who have rejected the gospel, who have rejected the mercy and grace of God in the person of Jesus.

And what people fail to understand is that judgment will also determine the degree of punishment that unbelievers will have to endure for all of eternity depending upon the wisdom of God in determining the severity of their sin. And what you and I are reading today is just a glimpse, some insights about what will take place, how and what will be judged on that final day. More specifically, Jesus Christ is actually highlighting those who will bear the heavy penalty granted by God. One of the highest forms of divine retribution that one can receive. And that's made clear by the last part of verse 40.

He says, they will receive the greater condemnation. Not just condemnation, but the greater one. Who's the they that Jesus speaks of? The scribes. The scribes.

The theologians of this time. The austere scholars. The esteemed men who are revered by the general population as being in tune with God, and learned, and experts in the mind of God. Jesus underscores that it is this class of men who will experience a level of judgment that is quite terrifying. And when we come to this text, we might wonder, well, what benefit does this prophetic declaration have for us?

And that would be an appropriate question, but when you look at it from a different angle, when you look at it from Luke's writing, you get your answer. If you want to with me, turn to Luke 20 and verse 45. In Luke twenty forty five in the parallel account, notice what the scripture says concerning the format of Jesus' teaching. It says, and in the hearing of all the people, he said to his disciples, beware of the scribes. He said to his disciples, he wasn't saying this to the scribes, he was saying this to his own followers.

Now the full comprehensive teaching that Jesus gives here is provided in Matthew chapter 23 where you get a lengthy index of woes that Jesus proclaims concerning the scribes and the Pharisees. Comparatively, Mark and Luke summarize that lengthy teaching in the way that we just read it in these two verses. But I present to you today that this has great benefit for the disciple of Christ. For him to look at his own 12 and proclaim this teaching, yes, in the presence of a great crowd implies something super important. Followers of Jesus are capable of embracing, the mentality and the practices of these scribes who embody the opposite spirit of what a true disciple of Christ must be.

In other words, Jesus wants to teach his own of the things that deeply displease him. And so to our benefit, when Christ speaks about this issue, he's not vague. He's surgically precise in his denunciation. And I come to this text and I'm reading and thinking, okay. I know that I'm wonderfully saved by the grace of God, but I also see the mind of my savior.

And what I learned here is what he greatly condemns. What is deplorable to him. I know we rejoice in the truth that God is love, but remember, God also hates. He hates. And there are things that he hates more than other things.

Including this. And so these evils that you and I just mentioned that seem to be culturally bound, when you actually consider the heart behind it, you'll realize that these appetites and these actions are actually universal. They apply today. So yes, these scribes acted in a certain way that deserves such judgment, but they can be replicated and imitated even now in 2024. So in this brief time together, I want to show you by way of categorizing these things, four things.

Four things that the Lord Jesus Christ greatly condemns. Number one, Jesus Christ greatly condemns showy attention seeking spirituality. Where do we get that from? We see here in verse 38, and in his teaching he said, beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes. Pause.

Jesus is not criticizing a style of apparel. He is pointing out a mindset behind the application of certain garments. Not much is given to us by Mark about what these long robes signify. But again, it's when you go to Matthew's explanation where you get some additional insights that helps us understand what Christ is getting at. So you have to turn to Matthew 23, and you have to see it here in verse five of Matthew 23.

Jesus expounds upon what he means here about these lengthy robes that these scribes wore all the time. Matthew 23 verse five, he says about the same group of people. They do all their deeds to be seen by others for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. What are these two items? Philectuaries are things that devout Jews today even apply.

They're those small leather boxes. Have you seen them? That are placed in the hands or on the forehead of devout Jews and they are strapped by leather ties. And in those leather boxes are verses and scriptures. You say, well, why would they do that?

Well, they derive that by literally interpreting and observing what Deuteronomy six:eight says. And that passage tells us that God commanded the law to be bound as a sign on your hand as shall be frontlets between your eyes. So they took that and they literally applied it. We're gonna put the word of God here and put the word of God in our hands. And then you read about these fringes that they were made long.

Does that have biblical basis? Absolutely, it has biblical basis. When you read in numbers 15, you actually see it in verse thirty eight and thirty nine where God commanded the common Jew to make certain tassels on the corners of their garments. And these tassels at the end of their garments would serve as object lessons to remember to obey and walk in the commands of God. So everything that Jesus is describing here is actually biblical.

It's not inherently wrong. He's not condemning the presence of these leather boxes and these fringes and these tassels. What is he what is he criticizing then? Read the verse again. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.

And why did they look for the biggest leather box that they can hold on their hand? Why did they try to find the most noticeable thing to place on their face? The first part of the verse. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. The Lord Jesus, can I just talk to you plain and straight?

He hates when the commands of God are pursued and exercised to maintain an image of super spirituality. He hates it. Notice again that it was in the presence of these items, but the motivation behind them. And unfortunately, what these scribes did is possible for us to do today, not only with your address, but with your words, with your actions. When we act in a certain way because we want not to please God, not to genuinely bless those around us, but with the goal for the outcome of onlookers to say to themselves and others and maybe even to you, You're holy.

You're godly. You're like the real deal, right? You're the real deal. And when that becomes the aim of your adornment of truth, Jesus says that deserves great condemnation. All of this reminds me of a certain man from the Old Testament.

By the way, the Old Testament is the best illustration book for New Testament truths. I'm reminded of a certain king by the name of Jehu, And he was commanded by God. He was commissioned by God to clean house, to remove all of Baal worship from the land of promise. And he did so with great zeal and obedience. And at some point, he bumps into another man named Jehonadad.

And I want you to read or hear these words in second Kings ten sixteen, when this man now is on this mission and he is succeeding. Notice the words that he says. He says the quiet part out loud. He says what these scribes felt inside. He perhaps is saying what some feel even in Christendom today in their pursuit of spirituality.

Second Kings ten sixteen, and he said, come with me and see my zeal for the Lord. So he had him ride in his chariot. So what's the big deal with that? Here's what it would translate that. Imagine a pastor coming to you before Sunday service calling you saying, hey, can I pick you up?

I want you to hear how passionate I am for God. How does that sound? And now you taste it, right? That's exactly what he's saying. Come and see my zeal for the Lord.

I have an extra seed in my chariot. What's happening here? Well, you have this man who is confessing a passion for God, but that passion for God has become his platform for self promotion. So it's not for God's sake, it's for my sake, and I have no problem using my consecration, my gifting, my influence. Yes, in the name of God, but for you to really love my name and to talk about me.

You know, a true preacher will be more disappointed if people walk out of the service talking about him more than Jesus. But there are many like this man and many like the scribes who actually are fishing. They're fishing for the praise. They're fishing for the pat on the back. They're fishing for the comparison where you are incomparable, where you're the next this and you're the next that.

Jesus hates, showy, attention seeking spirituality. But that's not the only things that he condemns. There's a second thing that Jesus greatly condemns. Jesus condemns, number two, spiritual status as a means for personal advantage. Come back to verse 38 of Mark 12.

And in his teaching he said, beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces. Pause there. That's elaborated in Matthew 23 where they love to be called by titles. Rabbi and father and all these different they they got a kick out of that. They would get upset if you didn't.

But besides the point, look at verse 39. And have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts. So listen, these scribes were not just fishing for respect verbally expressed. No. They employed their spirituality also to gain social advantage, like tangible perks.

And so they wielded their pious positions with that in mind. And again, this might sound strange. The best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at feast. What kind of feast? It can be any kind of feast, including wedding feasts.

So it may seem foreign, but it's not foreign because lust for power and authority is not alien within Christendom. It's not. And these scribes remind us that we are all in danger. All of us are in danger. He told his disciples, he told his followers, we are all in danger of developing the attitude of a master rather than of a servant within the sphere of the church.

And you've been here long enough to hear so many sermons about Christ elevating and promoting and teaching his own to pursue servanthood. If you're really gonna be great spiritually, you're gonna serve. One of these scribes, they did the exact opposite. They they, in their pursuit of greatness, measured that by the privileges that they were able to attain and secure because of their positions of power and their spiritual influence. This is exactly what Christ is getting at.

The danger of developing an attitude of being a Lord instead of being a slave. And the ugliness here is when we are now leveraging our gifts, leveraging our knowledge, leveraging our personality, leveraging our influence to collect perks rather than to serve others. And so when you begin to think in this way, I deserve this. I deserve this because I am this or I do this, you're treading on condemnable ground because Jesus hates this. In fact, he teaches in another place something that elaborates on this warning.

Turn with me to Luke again. But look here at verse seven of chapter 14. Luke 14 verse seven. Because, again, we can look at this in the negative, but we also have to see it in the positive. If this is what Christ condemns, then what is he after?

What does he want us to pursue as disciples of his? This is what he's asking of you that no matter your position, you and I have to daily, daily clothe the inner man with a garment of servanthood. Every single day as you put on your physical clothes, you're also putting on the inner garments of servanthood and expect to be treated as such. Saying, what are you talk this is discipleship. This is what it means to follow Christ.

And look what Christ does when he was invited to a feast. Luke 14 verse seven. Now he told a parable to those who were invited when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them so can you imagine that? Right? You have all these prolific, influential people who invite Jesus.

And you know what Jesus noticed when he came to dinner? I can just see it. These Pharisees and these scribes entering into the place and bumping into each other and racing to the best seats in the house. And Christ noticed that, like little kids. He Says, you know what?

Since I'm here, let me teach on a parable about this very thing. And so in verse eight, when you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him. And he who invited you both will come and say to you, give your place to this person, and you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, friend, move up higher, then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. There there is a gospel truth tucked into us, but we don't have time to break it down.

In fact, there are many many points to make from this parable. Can I just make one for the sake of making it memorable? Here's a practical tip for discipleship for you and I. It is this. Whenever I walk into a room, I am to never think that I am the most important person there.

Any room, any setting, any amount of people. Here's one of the practical truths. We wanna be practical. Yeah? Here's one of the practical truths of I want to please Christ as a disciple of his.

I am to register, remind myself I am not the most important person in this room. Even if you serve God sacrificially, even if you're a radical follower of his, do not allow your heart to ever get to the place where you think you earn an advantage over another. This is discipleship. Saying, well, what should my heart be like then? I serve God.

I I do much for God. I I think I'm the most active person, actually, in my local church. Shouldn't I get something? Here's what you do. You're still in Luke, right?

Go to 17, and look at verse 10. Jesus actually instructed you what you should do when you're even serving God and are recognized for it. Look at Luke 17 verse 10. This is Christ speaking, and I pray that this would mark the heart of every person at NBC. So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say we are unworthy servants.

We have only done what was our duty. That's what you say. Not just I'm a servant, I'm actually unworthy to serve. It's one thing to be invited to a high position or to be recognized and praised and say, I'm unworthy. No, no, no.

You're actually unworthy when you serve. Like, it's such a privilege and an honor to serve God in any capacity. We should have the revelation that it's a privilege and an honor to do so. You say, what kind of thinking is it? This is not the world, but this is the church.

This is the kingdom. I'm an unworthy servant. I don't get to I don't deserve this. This is the opposite of what Jesus is condemning here. Jesus hates the Lord Jesus hates when spiritual status is used to manipulate and gain personal advantage.

And it's very close to the third thing that Jesus greatly condemns from our main passage. Number three, Jesus, our king, condemns greed, being satisfied through spiritual manipulation. Come back to our main text, please. Look at verse 40 of Mark 12. These scribes who also devour widows' houses.

Pause. I I really do. I actually feel a fear for those who have no fear in exploiting people with their spiritual authority to make money. I fear for those people. Because Jesus said such people will receive the greater condemnation.

And this would be so important for the disciples to hear because they were soon ready to be sent out into the four corners of the earth, and they were gonna preach the gospel, and God was gonna enable them to do miracles, and they're gonna plant churches, and they're gonna bless thousands upon thousands of people. And as much as it might be an honor to be such a person, Yes. These apostles were unique in their authority and in their ministry. But on any level, to touch people's lives as much as that might be a privilege, it is a tremendous responsibility. Because here's the thing.

From a leadership standpoint, one of the things that you gain very easily, even within the church, is people's trust. People's trust. And what begins to happen then if you're not careful and you allow this flesh to be unharnessed and not to be under the control of the Holy Spirit is that the love of money can creep in. And now you are able to convince yourself and even convince yourself to benefit from others who sit under your ministry and believe that you are a man of integrity and serve God wholeheartedly. It's a tremendous responsibility.

And we look at this and Jesus highlights this, and I believe it's more than just to keep a watch out for perverted leaders. It's worth mentioning here that financial manipulation is not limited to prosperity preachers or those who embezzle church donations. Let me say it this way. There are many people who are not behind pulpits like this, who don't have TV programs, but see the church as a benevolent institution. And they will come into the church and find a way to exploit the sheep, get this, as fellow sheep.

Paul speaks of such people. Here it is in second Thessalonians chapter three in verse 10. It's a very brief epistle and he writes, for even when we were with you, we would give you this command. If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busy bodies.

Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do the work quietly and to earn their own living. So Paul here is highlighting a different danger. He's not speaking about the top down, but he's speaking about those on the same field. And he's saying here that we hear so there's something now that's arrived to the attention of the apostles. It's become a concern in this particular church.

Paul is not speaking about the church not taking care of those who are genuinely in need within the church. You and I, as brothers and sisters, must look out for those who are suffering and who are in seasons of need and to come to their aid. That's our call as Christians. This is not what he is getting at. Paul is speaking about those who have ample opportunity and great ability, but refuse to provide for themselves.

They refuse to do so. Now why would some within the church who have opportunity and have ability refuse to work? Because Christians are loving, and they're generous, and they're compassionate. And instead of being mindful of their own needs, they have no hesitation to take advantage of that compassion. And so Paul is highlighting a mindset that is not justifiable.

Again, let me reiterate here. Let me emphasize. There are gonna be people in your life in the church who do need help, and we are not to put them under this category. You know what's so interesting about these kind of people, though, who are exercising idleness? It actually could be because of their faulty view of the last days.

When you read this epistle, Paul is also correcting a faulty view of the teaching of the things to come. And it could be that some in the wrong theology interpreted and applied the last days for them to say, well, what's the point of working? Just quit your job. Just wait. The end of all things is near.

And so you remove yourself from your daily duties. But what tends to happen? What happened in this case? These people who might have believed that were waiting and waiting and waiting. And now their stomachs are grumbling, but there's nothing in the bank account because you haven't worked in months.

So what happens? Now in the name of spirituality, they're becoming a burden to the church. And so Paul comes in and he says, no. No. No.

We talked about this, and I'm ready to talk about it again. This is this is serious. So from any angle, to financially take advantage of the church, as a leader or not, is a dangerous game to play. Jesus hates when greed is satisfied through spiritual manipulation. There's one more thing that he condemns from this passage.

Mark 12. Let's look at verse 40 once more. Who devour widows houses and for a pretense make long prayers. It's as though the Lord is reinforcing his absolute disdain for showy spirituality. Because it it's very similar to the first point, who who wear long robes.

Right? Like, look at me. Look at me. Look at me. And instead of doing it with their garments, they're doing it with their voices.

But there's a deeper layer to Jesus mentioning this kind of praying. Because he says here who for pretense make long prayers. Pretense simply means to pretend. So what is he putting his finger on? Those who not are just praying to get attention, but those who are pretending while they pray.

There there's something that they're not, though they're presenting themselves in a certain manner through praying. And so Christ here, lastly, not only condemns showy spirituality, not only condemns those who use their spiritual status, who take advantage of others, not who only through satisfying their greed will manipulate spiritually, but lastly, Jesus condemns spirituality without substance. This pretense and pretense making long prayers is more than just showy spirituality. It's spirituality without substance. And Jesus talks about this in so many different ways, and you're familiar with that passage in Matthew chapter six where he also condemns early in his ministry a type of prayer that is drawn out and framed and shaped in a way so that people can hear you instead of God hearing you.

And do you remember what Jesus' answer to that kind of praying was? Do you remember what he says he looked for instead? Matthew six six. But when you pray, go into your room. Shut the door and pray to your father who is in secret, and your father who sees in secret will reward you.

That is not to say that Christ is against public prayer meetings. But you know what he is against? Public prayer meetings without personal intimate relationship, who for a pretense make long prayers where the heart is, I want people to know that I have a connection with God. I want people to know that I am indeed deep, passionate, sold out, call it what you will. But your room has cobwebs, And the prayer closet has not felt the warmth of your hand on its knob.

That's what Jesus condemns. So that's in particular with prayer, but let's broaden it. Right? What does Christ want from people who call upon his name? Substance.

What is substance defined by? Private, real, secret intimacy with the Lord. Not just in prayer. Like, who you are once we check out of here in a few minutes. That's what the Lord is after.

And the scribes, and I say this with a broken heart, buildings like this are packed with those who for a pretense show up. Who for a pretense give. Who for a pretense hold a bible. They might even beat it up a little bit so it looks like they've read it for a long time. Pretense.

It's all pretend. And when you peel through the layers of public show, there's nothing. Nothing. I I don't get people who are caught up in that. Let me say this boldly.

What does it matter if you fool everybody but end up in hell for eternity for it? So these are the things I know this is a heavier one for a baptism service. But what do we begin the service with? John telling us that he rejoices those who walk in the truth. A true disciple wants the whole truth.

And these are the things that Jesus, our Lord, precious lamb of God, our Savior, our Master, hates. And I want to let you know today that if you were like the scribes in any way, the same Jesus who condemned these things can change your heart. He can. You might have played the fool for years. You might have even fooled your spouse.

You might have fooled your kids. You might have fooled your pastors. You can't fool God. And God, at this very moment, is willing to change. Why do you think this is in the word?

To just seal the fate of those who are living this way? No. It may not be so of you. May this be the invitation of true Christianity. And believers, though, yes, we are saved, beware of these things too.

Don't condemn yourself when you're visited by those thoughts and temptations. But by the power of the spirit, swatted away when it comes. That's not, that's not true spirituality. And here's one of the marks of you growing in the faith. My precious brother and sister, as you grow, you become less concerned about public validation and more and more concerned about what God has to say.

That's one of the marks of growth. You become more and more detached. Not that you're careless with your character. No. No.

No. I'm not talking about that. But you don't find your prize in the praises of others. You get more consumed by God. You become more aware of his all seeing eye and his all listening ear and the ultimate reward at the end where you will stare at those eyes and hear from that saving mouth.

Well done, my good and faithful servant. May that be said of all of us by his grace. Can we pray and ask him to cleanse us of anything that he would condemn? Lord, thank you that you can even save hypocrites. And, Lord, we know that the testimony of the scribes is the testimonies of so many who've experienced your grace and mercy.

Lord, number one, as disciples of you, we want to live in greater purity and humility and grace. Can you help us please to do that? Please, Lord, help us. And when we're visited by these vices that try to latch on to the throne of our will or our affections or ambitions, Lord, May the truth that we just heard today just be one of the many ammunitions that would shoot those things down. We we wanna be more like the disciples you have purchased us to be.

Thank you, Lord, that we can even bend our knee before you and say, Lord, for some reason I'm craving the praise of man. Help me. Deliver me from this. And you will. Thank you, oh Lord, that we can come to you, and and we can admit that there are things that you don't want that we, for some reason, want, and you can destroy it by your grace and power.

Thank you for that. But, lord, we secondly pray for the person in here who might be defined exactly like these scribes. They have no true born again experience. They have no true private devotion. They have no true holiness.

It's all a mask. It's all superficial. It's all surface level. Lord, may they hear the resounding words of this book, of this particular passage, and may it set them free. May they know that they can be transferred from condemnation to commendation forever and ever if they just admit their guilt and come to the foot of the cross.

Lord, we as a family come to you saying thank you for all that you have to say. And we ask Lord that these things would help us walk in the truth. In Jesus name, amen. Amen. Let's stand.

Let's stand and worship the Lord together as the praise team comes and serves us in that way. I wanna encourage you. If you're a person here who's visiting and you don't know Jesus Christ, you can know salvation today. You can have all of your sins forgiven today. You can be a new creature today.

You can know everlasting life for sure today. What you have to do is acknowledge that you are a sinner, and also acknowledge that Christ is the only savior and be willing to say, this sin that I know condemns me. I put it aside, I repent of it, and I receive the payment that Jesus made for all my sin. I'm telling you today, listen, you can leave this place going to bed with the assurance that you have peace with God. And you can wake up tomorrow and the day after and the years to come knowing for certain, no matter what comes my way, I have this inheritance.

I am a child of God. Why would you throw away that gift? Why would you relinquish it? Why would you dismiss it? Why would you even delay on that?

It's a free gift, And God wants to give it to you today. In his providence, you're hearing the gospel, maybe for the first time, maybe for the hundredth time. Here's why I'm saying this at this point. Even while we're singing, you can, in your own words, speak to the Lord and ask him to forgive you of everything. The things that you do know about, the things that you don't know about, the things that you're ashamed to talk about.

And listen, if you are truly repentant in this place, you will know a supernatural experience of forgiveness that cannot be explained apart from the truth of this book. I want that for you. More importantly, God in heaven wants that for you. And I pray that you would make that choice before you leave this place. It's a free gift.

Don't leave it here. Whenever you're ready, guys.