Religious Fright, The Widow's Mite, and Giving Done Right

Trent Cornwell

Vision Baptist Church

Book of Luke • Sermon • Submitted a year ago

Luke 20:45–21:4

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Transcript

Service Notes

Baldridge Boys Home Video for Offering Devo at the end

Bible Reading Introduction

Please, turn to about 4/5 through the way of the book of Luke. / Thankful for chapter divisions.

Jesus speaks to the disciples in a crowd. He will pass over a chapter division, so will we.

Quick Review:

Last section in Luke 20 as we have looked at Q & A.

Last week Jesus was asking the questions.

Luke 20:45–21:4 (KJV)

45 Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,

46 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;

47 Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

Sermon Introduction

Sometimes you know what the sermon is going to be even before I begin to preach. The story of the “widows mite” is one of those stories.

Today’s Sermon is titled Their Religious Fright, The Widow's Mite, & Giving Done Right

Their Religious Fright

Religion walks passed the Lord but keeps walking

Luke 20:46-47 “46 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; 47 Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.”

Even though these scribes do not accept Jesus as Lord they still want to continue in their man made religion.

Jesus speaking to disciples but with the crowd listening.

A group that was typically divided is now united in their ill intent toward Jesus.

They were out of questions but the wheels were still turning.

Jude 1:3 “3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

Beware of a Christ less Christianity

Full story is seen in Matthew 23.

Matthew 23:13 “13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”

Matthew 23:14 “14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.”

Matthew 23: 15 “15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”

Matthew 23:16 “16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!”

Matthew 23:17 “17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?”

Matthew 23:23 “23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”

Matthew 23:24 “24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.”

Matthew 23:27 “27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.”

Matthew 23:29 “29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,”

Three attributes of empty religion shared with us.

Actions are motivated by the desires of the flesh.

Worship is self-centered and not directed towards God.

Receives a greater condemnation.

Very grateful to be raised by a widow who did not show me a Christless Christianity. Honoring Jesus with our lives was what motivated the decisions that were made for me.

Yes, drag your kids to church. But make sure they know it is to see God from His Word and not to just be seen.

Great danger in an empty, external, performance based religion

2 Cor 11:13-15 “13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

Deceitful workers are people that have been deceived themselves.

You can see this all of the world but you (this church) have me the opportunity to spend 30 days in India doing interviews with religious teachers.

Much of what I saw on a daily basis could not be explained outside of the religious system.

Let me also note that some of the most special times of worship took place as well. Beside a former Muslim man. Walking in and being offered a bible.

Visit to the Lotus Temple (slide)

The building was beautiful, but the purpose was not. 9 entry ways into a circular rooms. Chairs set up in a circle. Facilitating conversation between the major religions believing that each have something to reveal about God. We could gather the greatest minds of history, of every religion, and bring them together. Without the ability to open the Bible and say “thus saith the Lord” our God would not be revealed to us.

Two lies equally damning.

To allow the tradition of men to replace the commands of God, by letting someone misrepresent God to you.

To allow this world to tell you that God does not speak from His Word and all the answers of life are to be found from within.

Greater responsibility, greater condemnation

Jews had a saying “Moses received the law and gave it to Joshua. Joshua received the law and gave it to the elders. The elders received the law and gave it to the prophets. The prophets received the law and gave it to the Pharisees and the scribes.”

They were the treasurers of the Law of God.

They were the ones given the trust. They were experts. They were the lawyers of Israel.

Luke 20:47 “47 Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.”

They wouldn’t accept people despising Mose’s law, but now they are walking over the Son of God

Hebrews 10:28-29 “28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”

Rebranded, but still present today.

One of the leaders of the emerging church movement is quoted in saying, “Our sermons are not lessons that precisely define belief so much as they are stories that welcome our hopes and ideas and participation. Let’s have a conversation.”

I cannot invite you into a conversation. You and I have nothing to say.

Let’s look to God’s Word and let it “precisely define our beliefs”

Empty religion creates hypocrites

Description of people wanting prestige, visibility, recognition, status, luxury, access, privilege

Long robes

Matthew 23:5 “5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,”

Back in Numbers 15:38-40, God had ordained that the Jews could put little tassels on the bottom of the robe

Often take what God gave and change it to sort their desires.

Chiropractor often suggests to me that my neck is stiff because of the ceremonial robes I wear. As a baptist my health problems are more related to casseroles then it is to wearing heavy garments.

Love Greetings

Luke 20:46 “46 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;”

What is it about the greetings? Will all have our favorite greetings. I prefer “how bout it?”

They preferred rabbi - “exalted teacher, excellency, most knowledgeable one, most wise.”

They like the title father. Matthew 23:9 “9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”

Father being as if they are the source of spiritual life. They wanted to be called leader.

The one who determines direction, the one who determines destiny, the one who sets the course.

Best Seats

Luke 20:46 “46 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;”

In Baptist church the back row is the best seat in the house.

They are wanting elevated seating

The place of honor at every meal

Devour widow houses

Luke 20:47 “47 Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.”

How could lawyers devour the estate of a widow?

Happening right now around the world. Scams. From door-to-door salesmen to people watching Tele-Evangelist this morning.

When in a position to interpret law for the most vulnerable people in society there is the great potential for harm.

Scribes devoured homes of widows

Matthew 15:9 “9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

How? Confusion. False teaching. Guilt. Shame. Empty promises

Widow’s Mite

Luke 21:1-2 “1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.”

Why casting?

We say “receive the offering” occasionally we say “take the offering”

This was set up with 13 shofar shaped containers around the outside wall.

If we were sitting there we might be interested in listening to the different sounds. [favorite sound is a trash bin on desktop]

ACT this Scene Out

Congregation will be the disciples.

Need a man who will put in a large amount of money.

Need a woman who will put in the 2 mites.

Need a couple scribes as well.

Different understandings of the passage that are commonly offered

1. Jesus states that the widow gave more because her gift was a sacrifice (out of penury/poverty not our of abundance. / Certainly Luke 21:3-4 “3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: 4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.”

2. The point of Jesus' commendation is that it is not the amount which one gives that matters but the spirit in which the gift is given. / Very likely.

The text does not say the spirit in which she gave the two mites.

She could have acted out of despair, out of guilt, out of a desire to be seen contributing, for all that the story says.

However, in contrast to others we assume she comes as someone who does not desire to be seen.

3. The point of the story is that the true gift is to give everything we have. / I do not believe so.

This should be my favorite understanding. It would lead to a great year but a difficult next decade.

Jesus' statement is built on the diagram "more/ less" and not on the diagram "the true gift/the non-authentic gift."

Does Jesus want us all to give our all financially?

Was Zacceus wrong for his response in repaying others?

Should Barnabas sold more than just a field in Acts?

Possible objection: If the rich young ruler loved something other than money more than Jesus is that what Jesus would have asked him to give up?

But what was the lesson of “corban?” Mark 7:10-13 “10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”

Have we falsely assume that a person could not give wrongfully to the Temple?

False teaching about giving was present and it was being used to take advantage of the elderly.

Many references to the obligation to care for widows.

4. The moral of the story is that giving should correspond with one's means. / True, but not being seen in this story.

The widow is giving beyond her means.

Context of this passage

Verse proceeding. Luke 20:47 “47 Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.”

Verses to follow: Luke 21:5-6 “5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, 6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

Transitional Statement: What we know for sure, is that this woman made a spiritual decision that day. It was either based off what the what of God says about giving or it was based off the tradition of men.

Giving Done Right

Our behavior in life is based off of beliefs.

Either this widow is giving based upon the teaching of this false system or maybe she is not.

Maybe her giving is based upon the many passages of Scripture available to her about giving.

The issue she would face would be to look over the false teachers and look to God’s Word.

Scribes wanted to put themselves between the peoples understanding of Scripture.

Let’s not do that. Let’s put the Word of God between us the world we desire to help.

The Bible is not silent in regards to our attitude in giving

When it comes to the issue of money 2 truths are certain.

The Bible has a lot to say about it.

Most people don’t like to hear what the Bible has to say about it.

God sees what and why we give.

This is wonderful, not terrifying.

1 Samuel 16:7 “7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

This poor widow. Who might be misjudged by me today was not misjudged by Jesus.

Every spending decision is a spiritual decision

The widow “casts” her mites at a place, I assume, she believes is pleasing to the Lord

She makes an investment.

Into what? I do not know.

Was it an act of worship?

Or was it the last ditch effort to gain approval from those who have taught her their approval was the same as God’s approval?

Either way it was a spiritual decision.

Giving should be an act of worship to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Demonstrates our love and devotion to the Lord Jesus and His church.

Acknowledge that all we are and have is the result of His gracious work in our lives.

Testify to our faith in God that as we give out of our God-given resources, demonstrating we can trust Him/

Bible provides a guide for our giving

All that I am belongs to God. 1 Cor. 6:19-20

All that is or will ever be belongs to God. Ps. 24:1

God has entrusted His possessions to me. 1 Cor. 3:21-23

God’s possessions entrusted to me has a purpose.

To meet my personal needs. Phil 4:19

To build and glorify God’s kingdom through me. Col. 3:23-24

The Bible provides principles

Giving should be viewed as investing and we should do it wisely. Matthew 6.

If you cannot handle money you will not be able to handle spiritual matters Luke 16:11.

Giving is to be sacrificial. Mark 12.

Giving is an individual decision. Luke 19.

Giving should be planned. 1 Cor 16.

Giving can be a response to a need. Acts 2.

Giving should be a demonstration of love and not dead adherence to a law. 2 Cor 8.

Giving is to be generous. 2 Cor 8.

Giving is to be joyful. 2 Cor 9.

Giving is to be complete; our entire lives. 2 Cor 8.

We could take months on each of these, but I want you to see that teaching on giving in the Bible is clear and not oppressive!

#1 You cannot purchase favor with God, but you can receive it as a gift!

Because we are not a group of Scribes. We are not those who walked passed Jesus as the Lord we want you to know this.

God loved you before the offering plate was passed. 1 John 4:19 “19 We love him, because he first loved us.”

Regardless of what you give you would still fall short. Romans 3:23 “23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Regardless of our inability to do or give anything that pleased Him, He died for us. Romans 5:8 “8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

We are able to receive a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8-9 “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Isn’t this wonderful!

We give today as worship to our God who will meet our our needs in this life and the life to come!

We give cheerfully in hopes are gift will help others know of the wonderful gift we have received!

Do you need a beautiful picture of sacrificially given unto God?

Many commentaries said this was a story to give some relief from the description of the oppressive system created.

WHATEVER IS NOT SHAPED BY THE GOSPEL IS MISSHAPED

Including our giving.

I do not know if the widow’s giving was shaped by a proper understanding of God but we have that opportunity.

Because of the Gospel we have many wonderful stories.

Do you know the one of the widow, who lives in her sons basement, and drive her little, yellow car here in Tuesday to pray for you?

Do you know the one of the college age girl who is living her dream in Nigeria today as she is holding an orphaned child while singing loudly to Jesus?

Do you know the story of the men and women who worked all week long to earn an income to provide for their family as as the plate was passed today gave cheerfully? Because of all the things in the world a person could ever want - these people who their money to honor God and they want to see the Gospel go forth.

Today you could be the story of a person who gives their all? Climb into this basket! Give your life to Christ.

Closing

Shortly, I am going to introduce a video that will play as we receive today’s offering. Right now I want you to consider what are the implications of today’s teaching in your life.

Is our giving shaped by the Gospel? Is it a cheerful event?

Could you recognize the enticing nature of hypocrisy of these scribes. Desire for prestige, visibility, recognition, status, luxury, access, privilege.

Giving to feel good, giving to be seen, giving to pacify guilt will come from our abundance.

But when giving unto the Lord we will want to do that in a manner that will cost us something. Something sacrificial.

Would you consider your motive in giving today?

Today, let us be clear that you will never gain approval by God by giving, but you certainly can receive it as a gift.

Let’s pray.

Could I ask you to raise you hand to today to testify that you know and love the Lord.

Believers, Let me encourage you ask the Lord to search your heart. Does the motive and manner in which you give reflect an understanding of the Gospel or just the empty tradition of men.

If you could not raise your hand today. Let me tell you about the gift of acceptance available for you today.

Introduce video from Baldridge Boys Home

after video we will stand and sing a couple verses of a song before we leave

My wife and I will be down front and if you a guest today we would love a chance to meet you

Maybe you would like some more information about what the Bible does and doesn’t say about giving - we will have someone at the Next Steps Table ready to answer questions

Also, men we will be cooking a meal for the program seen in this video. If you are looking to take your next step in helping please see Beau at the Next Steps video

Pray for the offering

Video

Song

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