Obedience from the Heart

Bulletins

Michael Hickox
04/21/24 - General

Mark 12:41-44: Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much. A poor widow came, and she cast in two small brass coins, which equal a quadrans coin. He called His disciples to Himself, and said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury, for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.”

In Mark 12:38-40, the inspired writer recorded Jesus’ rebukes against scribes who did works for “greetings in the marketplaces” and “for a pretense.” These individuals’ righteousness looked impressive to many, but God saw through them.

Right after this Mark spoke of the poor widow. Just as God saw through the hypocrisy of the scribes, He saw the sincerity of a woman who may not have appeared to be doing much in the eyes of others, but Jesus knew the full story. Whether or not the widow’s benevolence was impressive to mankind, it pleased God in part because it came from a pure heart. It’s clear that she wasn’t doing this to show off, as the scribes did their works for. It’s also clear she wasn’t begruding (cf. 2 Cor. 9:7).

While outward actions are important, God sees more than that (1 Sam. 16:7). Based on His measurements, the poor widow cast in more than anyone (Mark 12:43). It’s her good deeds that remain, nearly 2,000 years later, an example to highly esteem and imitate.

As our Savior said in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”