In Mark 12:28-34, Jesus taught a teacher of the law that the greatest commandment is to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. After several interactions with religious "leaders" who were not leading the people, Jesus finally broke out some teaching about the teachers of the law--they're hypocrites who neither love God nor love their neighbor.
They don't love God because they love themselves and their self-importance more. They don't love their neighbor because they'd rather abuse widows than serve them.
In contrast to them, in Mark 12:41-44, is, of all people, a widow! This widow loves God with all her heart, soul, strength, and mind. She gave a tiny fraction of what the rich were giving, but Jesus says she gave MORE THAN they gave.
How could she? Because she gave sacrificially, from her heart. It wasn't about the money. It's never about the money. She gave a gift of her heart because of her love for God.
We avoid hypocrisy by focusing on our love for God, seeing where that love leads us, and then loving him.
On this blog I typically post audio devotionals, Bible study notes or resources that I'm working on for use at the Otisville Church of Christ, where I preach, or short articles about ministry and church leadership. Occasionally I post a book review.
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I upload and post my sermon from Sunday each Monday. You can find sermons and an RSS link at my Sermons page. You can listen to sermons online or download them in MP3 format.
Although I work for the Otisville Church of Christ in Otisville, Michigan, this blog represents my own thoughts and does not necessarily correspond to the views and workings of the Otisville Church of Christ.
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