Mark Reading Plan – W12D5
Week 12 | Day 5 | Mark 12:35-44
Check out all the previous readings here.
Pray
Pause and breathe for a minute. Then ask God to open your eyes and your ears to his Word
Bible Reading (read these verses three times slowly)
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? 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.”’
David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”
The large crowd listened to him with delight.
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, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
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 few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, 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.”
Reflection & Questions
Jesus has his own “riddle” for the teacher’s of the law. Quoting Psalm 110, he asks, how could Messiah be David’s son, if David says Messiah is his Lord? In other words, how could Messiah be a descendant of David and alive as his Lord at the same time? Of course, we know the answer. The Messiah is Jesus, the second member of the Trinity, who is everlasting, and also took on flesh and was born into the line of David. We don’t have an answer from the teachers of the law, but that’s unimportant. What’s important is that Jesus is showing that only God could be Messiah!
Having shown their teaching to be lacking, Jesus now shows that the teachers of the law’s lifestyle is also woefully lacking. All their behavior is for show. There is no love in it. There isn’t even sacrifice. In contrast, Jesus says look at the widow. She gave all she had, because she had a genuine trust in her Heavenly Father. In our Father’s eyes, it’s not the size of gifts that matter; it’s not what we do for others to see. It’s the heart. It’s what we do for the audience of One. It’s what we do with a heart that has been captured by a wonderful Savior.
- Do you do religious practices for show? How do you know?
- If you were the widow, would you have put in both coins? What’s a step you can take in the light of her faith?
Pray
Respond to today’s reading in prayer.
Worship Song
In response to today’s reading, you could use this song to worship Jesus.
Bible Reading
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? 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.”’
David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”
The large crowd listened to him with delight.
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, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
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 few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, 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.”
Reflection and Questions
Jesus has his own “riddle” for the teacher’s of the law. Quoting Psalm 110, He asks, how could Messiah be David’s son, if David says Messiah is his Lord? In other words, how could Messiah be a descendant of David and alive as his Lord at the same time? If you remember from earlier in the week, the Messiah is the one who God promised to His people who would come and save us all from our sins! Today, we know that Jesus is the Messiah, but the people here didn’t believe Jesus when He said it. We don’t have an answer from the teachers of the law when Jesus asked them His riddle, but that’s unimportant. What’s important is that Jesus is showing that only God could be Messiah!
Having shown their teaching to be wrong, Jesus now shows that the teachers of the law’s lifestyle is also not at all what it should be. All their behavior is for show. There is no love in it. There isn’t even sacrifice. Jesus tells everyone to look at the widow. She gave all she had, because she had a genuine trust in her Heavenly Father. In our Father’s eyes, it’s not the size of gifts that matter; it’s not what we do for others to see. It’s the heart. It’s what we do for the audience of One. It’s what we do with a heart that has been captured by a wonderful Savior.
- If you were the widow, would you have put in both coins? How can we be more like her in our life this week?
Prayer
Pray about what you read today!
Bible Reading
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? 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.”’
David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”
The large crowd listened to him with delight.
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, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
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 few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, 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.”
Devo Focus
They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on. Vs. 44
Devo
Jesus has been dealing with the teachers of the law and all their questions to trap him for quite a while now. FInally he turns the tables.
Jesus has his own “riddle” for the teacher’s of the law. Quoting Psalm 110, he asks, how could Messiah be David’s son, if David says Messiah is his Lord? In other words, how could Messiah be a descendant of David and alive as his Lord at the same time? Of course, we know the answer. The Messiah is Jesus, the second member of the Trinity, who is everlasting, and also took on flesh and was born into the line of David. We don’t have an answer from the teachers of the law, but that’s unimportant. What’s important is that Jesus is showing that only God could be Messiah!
Having shown their teaching to be lacking, Jesus now shows that the teachers of the law’s lifestyle is also woefully lacking. All their behavior is for show. There is no love in it. There isn’t even sacrifice. In contrast, Jesus says look at the widow. She gave all she had, because she had a genuine trust in her Heavenly Father. In our Father’s eyes, it’s not the size of gifts that matter; it’s not what we do for others to see. It’s the heart. It’s what we do for the audience of One. It’s what we do with a heart that has been captured by a wonderful Savior.
- Do you do religious practices for show? How do you know?
- If you were the widow, would you have put in both coins? What’s a step you can take in the light of her faith?
Prayer
Respond to today’s reading in prayer.
