Monday, February 12, 2018

Judge Jesus

Mark 12:38 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, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
41 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. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
As Jesus was wrapping up His teaching, He had some words of judgment. The One who warned against our judging is Himself qualified to judge. He begins with a critical analysis of "religious snobs," who show off their "spirituality." They have already received all the glory they will; what remains is only judgment. He then sits down as Judge watching people give. He now points to this widow, who gave all she had to help the "poor", of which we was one of the most.  Before Christ as judge, there are no excuses, no loopholes, no "I did not know"s. We all really know how inflated our view of self is, and how little we think of others. His judgment is fair, righteous and true.  May we accept it now, and humbly change accordingly.

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