Examining The Widow’s Offering | Mark 12:41-44 | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Series)

Let's feed our joy, shall we, with the truth of God's word. Meet me in Mark chapter 12 as we examine the final verses of this chapter and are coming closer and closer to the end of our series in the book of Mark. Can hardly believe it. If you wanna know which verses we are covering today, we're beginning in verse 41. So meet me in verse 41 of Mark chapter 12, and let's read together.

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums, and a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, All she had to live on. Lord, we ask that you help us understand these verses.

Oh, Lord, we pray that you would give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation now. Be exalted in our understanding of the truth, and be greatly exalted in our application of the truths that we uncover. Help us, Lord. The same one who is able to give us joy is able to give us a mind that can comprehend the deep things of God. And we look to you now believing that you will do just that.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. I wanna go straight to it. What is the main point of this passage?

Why is this in our bibles? Why is this here in our bibles? Does this testimony of the widow's offering present to us a challenge to an unwavering commitment to give within the church regardless of one's circumstances? Is this a New Testament heart stirring illustration for people to radically and sacrificially tithe, or is there a deeper meaning that the spirit of God desires to convey? The answer to that question is the aim of our time together, and we will seek to know the mind of God by the help of the Holy Spirit.

If you've been in evangelical circles long enough, then you might agree that this text is commonly handled as a quick reference to inspire generosity in believers. Right? And that is often the extent of how the Bible is taught with this peculiar passage, which is found only in Mark and in Luke. There is no doubt that this scene that you and I just read carries instruction for us. Because look again at verse 43.

Says here, and he called his disciples to him and said to them, truly, I say to you. Evidently, the Lord, in watching and observing this poor widow, longs to yield something and to drive it into the hearts of his disciples then and his disciples even now. But here's my question. What is Jesus Christ intending to communicate as this widow demonstrates sacrificial giving? Upon closer examination, you and I are gonna discern that the spirit's inclusion of this passage, listen very carefully to this, serves a dual purpose.

It serves a dual purpose, and that dual purpose is gonna divide our thoughts today. These are the categories in which you and I are going to uncover. What is God wanting to convey here? Number one, this scene presents a very significant contrast. Remember that word.

It presents a very significant contrast. Second to that, it is a confirmation for condemnation. It presents a significant contrast, number one, And two, it stands as a confirmation for condemnation. And so let us look at this together. Let us consider the contrast.

If you read this passage in isolation, you will have limited insight. But when you honor the placement of this account, There lies an accurate conclusion awaiting to be experienced. What was the last thing we saw the Lord doing or saying right before we witnessed this widow appear in the narrative? Jesus Christ taught and gave a scathing condemnation for the scribes. The scribes who will receive a greater condemnation.

That is the last thing that you and I observed. The gatekeepers of the law who are professionals at what? Flaunting their superficial spirituality and capitalizing on their authority by what? Gaining and securing societal status and excessive wealth. But in Jesus describing their physical and external prosperity also notes their spiritual bankruptcy.

Yeah. They might have gained much on the outside, but they are condemned. How much worse can you be? How much worse can it get for somebody, spiritually speaking? You might have taken advantage of others.

You might have gotten away with a lot but know this, you will indeed face judgment. So you had these men described with and by long robes and seating in the best places and making long prayers. And now you come to this passage, and what do you encounter? Someone who stands in complete contrast to that group of people. A widow.

A widow? No. Not just a widow. Look back again at verse 42. And a poor widow.

Not just a widow. So relational deprivation is not the only thing that this poor lady is enduring. We also read that she was abandoned to physical destitution. A poor widow. And yet, her lack of material wealth, resources, property does not reflect on her spiritual condition.

And that's what Christ alludes to in verse 43. Look at it with me again. And he called to his disciples them and said to them, truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. Well, really? In terms of monetary value, that doesn't line up.

But Jesus here is saying and reminding his disciples and you and I that there is a spiritual exchange rate that you can never fail to take into account. And you have to remember that spiritual exchange rate, especially when it comes to your worship and devotion to the kingdom of God. You know, men might be impressed by these long robes and the phylacteries and the long prayers and those who sit in the best seats and are invited to the highest places in other settings. But Christ is not moved by such a standard. He looks for something else.

He perceives something else. Come back to verse 41. And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. You know, I couldn't get past verse 41 in my meditation this week. What a moving sight, and Jesus doesn't even say a word.

Jesus parks himself across from the offering box within the temple courts, and all we're told here by Mark with great detail is that he watched the people. Doesn't that move you? Can you just envision it? The perfect servant of God sitting there and observing that line of people putting in their different sums of money. And he's watching and watching silently.

Christ is watching. Do you think this widow perceived Jesus watching? No. She didn't. Do you often perceive when Christ is watching?

I hope you always walk with a conscious acknowledgment of his presence. But let me remind you just in case you forgot, he's watching. And Jesus here, when he's watching, is watching something specific. Now if you have the NASB, the new King James, or the King James versions, and I reference those versions because they are faithful word for word translations. Those faithful translations add a word to this verse that gives greater depth to what's taking place.

It says in those transition, the ESV doesn't include it, but it says in those other translations, and he saw and he beheld and he observed how the people put the money into the treasury. Not just the people putting it in, those translations say how they put it in. And if you wanna know what Christ esteems the most out of man's worship, above all else, it is the heart of the worshiper. It's the heart of the worshiper. And that is a truth that you find consistently throughout the bible.

You even find it in the first place where the bible mentions men offering something to God. Let me take you there in Genesis. Genesis chapter four. Please meet me in verse three. As we look at two brothers giving something to the Lord near the inception of creation itself.

Genesis four beginning in verse three. We'll read two verses together. In the course of time, Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground. And Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering, he had no regard.

So Cain was very angry and his face fell. There's some debate around why it is that God accepted Abel's offering and not Cain's. And what happens often is that people try to compare the value of Abel's offering to what Cain put together. And though that is an important discussion to have, that is a factor that we must include in the conversation and in the debate and investigation. People often miss how the spirit puts these truths together.

Because as much as what was being offered was important, the spirit wants to highlight that the offerors were evaluated, not just the offerings. Saying, what do you mean? Well, look back at verse four again. And it says here at the last part of verse four, and the Lord had regard for Abel, not Abel's offering, for Abel and his offering. Verse five, but for Cain's offering?

No. But for Cain and his offering. So you notice here that what's being presented is not just the sacrifice, but the one who's sacrificing. And notice again the order. Both Cain and Abel are mentioned before what they gave to the Lord, indicating what?

That you better believe that the Lord looks at the heart of the person before he looks at the object of what's being given. So before any of us came in here and as we entered into this place, guarantee that the Lord looked at the inner chambers of your bosom before he heard your lovely voice or what we put in the plate or how we're gonna serve after the service. He looked at Cain. He looked at Abel before he looked at the offering. And it's not until you go to Hebrews chapter 11 verse four where you read what it is that God found in Abel that he did not find in Cain.

Do you know what it was? Says here, by faith, Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain. So when he looked at Abel, he saw faith. When he looked at Cain, he did not find faith. Evidently, it wasn't about which sacrifice was more impressive, but how and why it was sacrificed.

And there must have been some kind of revelation that Abel was working with maybe through the instruction of his parents who experienced God sacrificing for them and clothing them with garments. Whatever the case may be, Abel had this understanding that God requires this, and my goal in coming before the Lord is to please him, so I will please him now. Cain came with something in his hands, but he had a different heart. Is Christ any different in his evaluation of men? You come back to Mark chapter 12 and realize where his piercing eyes landed on.

It wasn't, necessarily the amount that was being given, but what the amount meant for each person. Notice he doesn't discredit those who gave large sums. He doesn't condemn them. But he considers what that sacrifice meant to each party. And when it came to this widow comparatively, what she gave wouldn't move an inch of what would be contributed to the temple.

A penny, two copper coins, what's that gonna do? And what does that look like in comparison to the mountainous money that was being piled into those chests? Yeah, it might have been insignificant to the onlooker but it wasn't insignificant to her. And Christ saw that and Christ registered that. He realized that there was great sacrifice behind that surrender and he took note of it.

And here is where you and I have to pause and meditate. Please, I'm talking to those who worship God. Now, I'm not talking to those who need to be stirred up to worship. I'm talking to those who are walking in that place of worship. You love the Lord.

You serve the Lord. Realize here and be comforted to know that when Christ looks at each of us according to the truth that we are all living sacrifices. Every Christian in here, whether you realize it or not, and I hope you realize it because you signed up for it, when you said yes to Jesus Christ, you put your whole being on an altar, and you are a living sacrifice every single day for the pleasure of God. But when you consider that, realize that Jesus Christ bears in mind for each of you on an individual basis, your circumstances, your abilities, and your resources. If you can't be convinced of that, you're gonna be extremely frustrated and prone to perpetual discouragement in your quest to worship, love, and give to the Lord.

And I'm not talking about just giving money. Your life, your time, your energy, your plans. I remember when that truth dawned on me many years ago, it liberated me in a way in which I can never read this passage the same way again. To know that Jesus Christ looks at me uniquely and he looks at the season of life that I'm in. He looks at the situation.

He looks at my liberties, my lack of whatever the case may be, and he considers that, evaluates that, and he's honored by what I can do in that. Do you know where I found inspiration for that truth? Leviticus. Leviticus. Leviticus one.

Turn there with me. I want you to see it with your own eyes. I've heard people say that there is no value in this book as Christians. Shame on them. Leviticus, I want you to look at chapter one verse five.

In this chapter, we're given instructions about what God demanded of the people concerning a particular sacrifice. That sacrifice is called the burnt offering. You know what was unique about that sacrifice? Everything about that beast was given over to the altar. Everything was consumed, not just bits and pieces.

The whole beast was placed on the altar. No reservations. And so it's a wonderful picture of the sacrifice of Christ, and in terms of Christians, it's a wonderful picture of what we're supposed to do with our lives. But I want you to see this detail. Look at verse five of Leviticus one.

Then he shall kill the bull before the Lord, and Aaron's sons, the priest, shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar. This is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. What animal was supposed to be given for the burnt offering? The bull. That's a big beast.

That's a costly beast. Expensive. A bull can do a lot for a household, for a business, but it was to be given as an offering. And look what it would produce in verse nine. But its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water, and the priest shall burn all of it on the altar as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

So the Lord would be pleased by the fragrance of this complete sacrifice. Now if it ended there, we would understand, okay. Everybody needs to get a bowl and give it to the Lord, but the Lord doesn't end his instructions there. You scroll down and you read something else in verse 10. In light of the fact that this is still about the burnt offering, If his gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from the sheep or goats, he shall bring a male without blemish.

Well, hold on. You told us about a bull, but yeah. There's also the ability to give a goat or a sheep. And if you were to give that, what would the result of that be? Look at verse 13.

But the entrails and the legs, he shall wash with water and the priest shall offer all of it and burn it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. So I can give an offering, a burnt offering with a goat or a sheep. Not just with a goat or a sheep. He's not done yet.

Look at verse 14. If his offering to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds, Then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves or pigeons. And what would be the result of that? Look at verse 17. He shall tear it open by its wings, but shall not sever it completely.

And the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. So hold on. Comparatively in that economy, would you rather own a bull or a bird? Bull for me, bull.

I'll take a bull any day. But check this out. Whether you gave a bull or a goat or a sheep or a bird, to the Lord, it was all the same. Why these different options? Because not everybody could afford a bull, and not everybody could afford a goat.

And so the poorest of the poor would have to lean on giving a bird. You know what the Lord is assuring in this chapter? Whatever it is that you give me, I take into consideration what you can give me, and it's all a pleasing aroma to me. Saying, please help me apply Leviticus one in twenty twenty four. I can tell you how to apply it to me in a very busy season of my life where there was so much happening with studying for my masters, all these things, and my days of devotion at that time did not look that same when I was in Canada without a full time job with more laid back classes.

You know what I found myself doing when I came to Leviticus one and this dawned on me? I found myself saying to the Lord, Lord, I was once able to give you a bull, but for this season, I can only give you a sheep. I want to give you a bull, but this season right now and these circumstances won't allow me. Please, Lord, either remove the circumstances and give me the ability to give you a bull, or please be satisfied with this goat. That set me free.

And there are times where, I don't know about you, even a common cold will knock me out, and sometimes it used to be change my diet and stuff which helped. I could be out for weeks, and it would debilitate me in so many ways. You know what I found myself doing in those days? Lord, you see me. I'm giving you a bird.

Please take this bird and be satisfied. You know what Leviticus one says? Whether it's a bird or a bull, it's a pleasing aroma to me. And I know many people, mothers with newborns, people who are trying to take care of family members and it's just so overwhelming, and they feel guilty, and they feel ashamed, and they feel as though there is this excel sheet that God has in heaven, and if you don't meet that and if you don't do it this way, if you don't give that amount amount of time, it amounts to nothing. Well, what about this woman with 2 copper coins?

How does Jesus evaluate it? He says, she gave more than everybody else. Now this is not a truth that should excuse or justify downgraded devotion, weak devotion. No. No.

No. No. No. Because a true worshiper will say, I would wanna give everything I can to the Lord. But they also understand that that's not always the case and so they come and they are comforted by the fact that the Lord looks and he looks more than just the amount.

He looks at what that meant for the person who gave it. Does that set you free? What about the woman? I often refer to this as a New Testament example. The woman who broke the alabaster flask and poured it on the feet of Jesus.

The disciples criticized her and Jesus defended her. She didn't even open her mouth. When you're truly walking with the Lord, you don't need to defend yourself all the time. Christ defends her, and this is what he says to those disciples. She did what she could.

She did what she could. So we look at the contrast. The contrast with what? This woman's pure simple piety in comparison to the fake, carnal, externally focused spirituality of these scribes. That's the flow of thought.

After condemning these men, now we come and the spotlight falls on this woman. And we see that this woman, though she was shabby and maybe she shuffled her way into the temple, Jesus can say to his disciples, check this out. I just told you about another thing to check on. I'm saying, those guys are gonna get the worse of the worse in judgment day. But let me show you someone else who gave more than anybody.

That must have been shocking. But Jesus interprets and evaluates and esteems way differently than we do. But I told you in the beginning of this message that there's a dual purpose to this passage. The first, yes, being that there is a contrast. But second to that, this story stands as a confirmation for condemnation.

And this is where I believe, I'm persuaded that it's about this more than anything else. So let's consider not the contrast, but the condemnation. You know, to most, this woman's sacrifice is limited to an inspirational act of generosity. But to the student of the scriptures, this text, what you just read about this widow, you know what it should done? Alarm us.

Alarm us. Alarm us why? Look again at what this donation would cost this poor lady in verse 44. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty so she's already poor coming in, but she, out of her poverty, has put in everything she had. This is not exaggeration.

She gave everything she had to what point? All she had to live on. You know what these two copper coins would equate to in modern day currency? Like a little bit over a dollar. So she gave all that she had, check this out, to live on.

So she could have gone to the grocery store and bought a chocolate bar to satisfy her belly for the day. But instead she goes to the temple and she puts it in the offering box. That is to say she literally gave up her last penny. Not for the day, by the way, but she emptied her bank account. What's the problem with that?

The problem with that is because the Lord created preventative measures in his law that would protect widows from spiraling into a place of being neglected and abandoned into poverty and starvation. God has a special place in his heart for widows, and you see it throughout the Old Testament. And more than just having certain affections for them, he established certain measures and laws and commands in society so that they would be sustained and that they would escape coming to such a point in their lives. Here's one example. Turn with me to Deuteronomy chapter 14.

I want you to see with your own eyes with me. Deuteronomy 14 verse 28. This is what God gave to the people of Israel before they even step foot into the promised land. And here's what he says concerning the tithe. Again, if you've been in evangelical circles long enough, you've probably heard many teachings on tithing.

I'm pretty confident you didn't hear this one about tithing. Deuteronomy fourteen twenty eight twenty nine. We think tithing is just 10% of your income. That's not the only tie that you find in the bible. Here's one other one.

In Deuteronomy fourteen twenty eight, at the end of every three years, you shall bring out of all the tide of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. So notice, this is not just a regular tithe. This is a tithe, a special tithe that takes place every three years. And where were they to bring this tithe of their produce? Not to the house of God, but to designated local towns.

And they would drop off a portion of their produce and their resources for what purpose? Verse 29. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your town shall come and eat and be filled that the Lord your God may bless you, and all the work of your hands that you do. So there are members of society who can't take care of themselves to the same degree that others who are more in more profitable positions. And so God created a culture in which the wider population would be able to make contributions so that those who are less fortunate can be nurtured, can be taken care of.

And one of the ways, this is not the only way, but one of the ways widows would benefit from this is that every three years there would be a great deposit within these towns so that those who are destitute and those who are vulnerable and those who are weak can can ensure some kind of aid. Now, listen. This is again not the only measure, but it is a major way in which God expresses his compassion for these least fortunate ones. And since this was inscribed in the law, you know what that means? The teachers of the law have to exhort the people.

Don't forget about the fatherless. Don't forget about the sojourner. Don't forget about the ministers because they don't have land. There's no tribal allotment to the Levites. They are in these designated towns, but they don't have boundaries like you do.

So take care of the ministers and take care of the widow. One of the ways you're gonna do that is every three years, you just read it. You're gonna come to these towns and you're gonna drop off a produce with joy. God's gonna bless you for that. And so serious is God's law for such people that the Lord made a serious warning within the same book to the same people who are about to enter into a world where they had to honor such wishes.

Look at Deuteronomy 27 verse 19 with me. You wanna see how serious it is when widows are neglected? Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, and all the people shall say amen. You wanna know what happens if you suspend justice, if you pervert justice, if you ignore or take advantage of such people? Curse.

That's what you're gonna inherit. And all the people shall shall say amen, and they ended up saying amen. But this is why we study the Hebrew scriptures. What do we learn about the same people? Did they honor such an amen?

Have they always been faithful to uphold justice for such people? Was their leadership always mindful of those who were in need and to be assured that they would be taken care of? Answer, no. And that is clearly seen when Isaiah the prophet arrives early in his writings and he presents these scathing woes to the same nation of Israel. You'll see it in Isaiah 10 verse one.

Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees and the writers who keep writing oppression, to turn aside the needy from justice, and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey. What will you do on the day of punishment in the ruin that will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help and where will you leave your wealth? So at this point in Israel's history, they have created iniquitous decrees. They have wrote written these different oppressive laws and demands that ended up making widows into their spoil.

And through exploiting the truth and their position and demanding from widows in such a way, they were able to accumulate wealth. Abnormal measures of wealth. Isaiah indicates that at the end of verse three. Where are you gonna leave your wealth? In what context?

Judgment's coming. You ignored the widow. You you abused the widow. You know what's on its way? Invasion.

And when the invasion comes, where are you gonna put all your money? What's gonna happen now once you've been caught fleecing the sheep? And so we see here that Isaiah assured the people that judgment was coming and one of the reasons is because widows were made into their spoil. And so instead of caring and helping, they took advantage. And we see here that that is a consistent rebuke throughout the old testament.

Here's another one in Malachi three five. Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless against those who thrust aside the sojourner and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts. Now you might be here going to these passages and wondering, what's your point? What's the point of this?

Why are we looking at these things? And I'm gonna answer that question with another question. Doesn't this backdrop what I always say, the foundation for understanding the New Testament, does not these truths create a concern for you when you realize the nature and condition of that widow who went into the house of God and gave 2 copper coins? When she let go of those two things and they clinked and clanged, she gave all that she had. Everything that she could give, she was impoverished when she walked in and she was more impoverished when she left.

And you should, in light of all those things with me, realize, Should she be in such a state? What did you and I learn last week when we studied about Jesus' condemnation of the scribes? Go back with me to Mark 12 and look at verse 38. On the same day before this widow enters into the narrative, we read right before Mark twelve thirty eight. 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 feast, verse 40, who devour widows' houses.

Uh-oh. And for pretense, make long prayers, they will receive the greater condemnation. Is this a coincidence? Is it a coincidence that after Lord Jesus mentions the scribes devouring widows houses, a destitute widows walks on the scene making a final donation to the same religious system that Jesus just finished condemning. This is not coincidence.

No. No. No. No. No.

This is confirmation. Confirmation to what? Of the wicked spiritual institution that prayed on the ones that God said you have to take care of and nurture. You have to watch over and serve. You have to give and not take.

Yeah. This widow widow widow, she's acting in simple faith. You ready for this shocking statement? Simple faith. Yes.

But she's a victim to corruption more than anything else. What are you saying? Here's what I'm saying. That this widow who gave absolutely everything she had, listen, for her survival for her survival did so because the perverted interpreters of the law demanded it from her. So she serves an illustration of what Jesus just finished criticizing in the previous verses.

And you may not be convinced of this, but consider the strategic authorship of the spirit when he put this story where he put this story. What comes after the story of the widow and her offering? A new chapter. Mark 13. But the chapter inclusions and the verse references are not inspired.

They were included later for our benefit, but they are not a part of the original writings. And if you're not mindful of that consistently, what can happen to your reading and understanding of God's word is when you come to a chapter break, you think there's a break in the thought or a break in the theme. And so now you kinda just create a blank canvas in your mind and you said, okay. I'm done with chapter 12. Now to come to chapter 13, what's what's what's tucked into this chapter?

That that's not helpful. So what do you have? Before the widow's offering, you had Jesus condemning the religious leaders. And out of all the many evils that he could have brought up, one of the main things he brings forward is how they ate up and devoured and consumed the widows. Their greed took advantage of those who were most vulnerable.

Then you have this widow who comes on the scene and she goes into her pocket, pulls out two copper coins, and Jesus says she gave absolutely everything she had to live on. And what do you find in Mark 13 verse one, and as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, look teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings. And Jesus said to him, do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down. Judgment.

Judgment before the widow gave her offering, the widow gives her offering, judgment after she gives her offering. So when you come here, you realize there is a strong theme being communicated here. And so we see here that there is confirmation for what Jesus said he would condemn. And it's as though this is so important, This widow's plight is presented to us as one of the final evidences for the verdict of Jerusalem's downfall. So what's the main point of this passage?

Is it, to demand people to give to religious ministries and institutions regardless of one's poverty or their desperate need. Not at all. I believe it provides some inspiration for those who want to serve God, but maybe are tempted to feel that this is insignificant in light of what other people are doing. And you're assured by Christ calling his disciples and saying she gave more that he appraises appraises things differently than we do and that others do. Yes.

Be inspired by that because Jesus says something here about that. But more than that, it shows us that the watching eye of Jesus Christ is not just upon the offerers and those who sacrifice, but is upon what? What did we see here in verse 41? Jesus sat across the offering box and he watched the people. You know what else he's watching?

Corruption. Corruption in the house of God. He is looking at sacrifice in the house of God and he is going to shock the church of Jesus Christ when we all stand at the judgment seat of Christ and realize what really Jesus was after all along. But his eye, his watching eye is also upon those who exploit and abuse and take advantage of those that leaders in the church are supposed to help and serve and love. So Jesus is watching.

He's not just watching widows. He's watching what scribes and leaders and speakers are doing to widows. And this is the truth of this passage. It speaks of a contrast and it speaks of a confirmation for condemnation. And the overarching truth is this, the Lord Jesus Christ is watching.

And that is an extremely encouraging thing for those who feel like they are overlooked, feel like they're not doing anything for the kingdom of God. And it's a terrifying truth for those who think that they're gonna get away by abusing and hurting and lying to those whom God said take care of. May we fear him and love him for he is worthy. Lord, we look to you together, and we thank you for opening our hearts to the complete truth of your word. Lord, thank you for the assurance that your eyes upon the sparrow.

And if it's upon an insignificant creature such as a little bird, how much more us created in your image. Thank you, Lord, that your eye is not just on how we serve you, but it's on our suffering. It's on our praying. It's on our holiness. It's on our fears.

It's on our worries. Lord, you're watching us. And in moments where we feel as though we are just a number, help us realize that you are one who praises that which men miss. But, Lord, we also thank you for the assurance that you're watching the evil that seems to be taking place with no consequence. You will make that which is wrong right.

You will bring correction where there seems to be no retribution for. And, Lord, we just are thankful that there is a time coming where you will judge. But we also, Lord, ask that you would convict those who have for a long time, or even even now in entertaining the thought of trying to take advantage of the gospel, the church, the people in the church for their own personal gain. May this truth resound in their hearts that you are watching. And, Lord, we just pray that with this truth, you would allow our hearts to be refueled with joy, because we are to be the most joyful concerning the fact that we are in the truth.

We love your truth. We love you, and we're here to worship you together. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen. Let's stand and worship the Lord together.