Mark 12:35-44
Jesus: How Can David Call His Descendant Lord?
35 Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, "How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? 36 For David himself said by the Holy Spirit:
'The LORD said to my Lord,
"Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."'
37 Therefore David himself calls Him 'Lord'; how is He then his Son?"
And the common people heard Him gladly.
Beware of the Scribes
38 Then He said to them in His teaching, "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, 39 the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."
The Widow's Two Mites
41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."
Jesus taught the common people contrary to the religious interpreters of the scriptures, the scribes, concerning their teaching that the Christ-Messiah is only the Son of David. Of course in the flesh of Christ’s human side He was a descendant of King David as the scriptures show quite plainly, but they also bear witness in a more subtle way to His divine nature as the Son of God, the Messiah who is anointed beyond that anointing of David in a temporary and limited capacity. Jesus Christ is the bodily fullness of God (Colossians 2:9) which no mere mortal man can ever contain or aspire to. Jesus proceeded to exposit the scripture in Psalm 110:1 that He quoted here to demonstrate that the Lord or ruler, David, was subservient to the LORD God who spoke to him to promise victory over his enemies. When the people heard this clear explanation of the word of God and that He was more than a physical descendant of the one whom the Messiah was promised to come to earth through, they were overjoyed with that revelation of the One they chose to listen and learn from. They then were told to be wary of those wanting control by proud recognition of their self-importance and pompous use of the scriptures not explained clearly for their good according to the truth. These teachers preferred to be recognized and respected more than the Lord! They even fooled people into giving them their wealth and made pious public prayers to impress and get what honor and substance they were after. Jesus came as the truth because He was the way and true life (John 14:6). He gave a demonstration of humility and generosity in worship by pointing to a poor widow who gave all she had to God despite having nearly nothing herself. She did not announce her giving or demand respect to honor her sacrifice, but humbly offered all to the Lord as an example in the shadows of life to those who would but observe and take notice of what the scriptures and Jesus the Son of God and Man was teaching them. Do we fall into the subtle trap of wanting others to see our good works and reward us or even misuse our authority to take from others for ourselves, or do we imitate this poor but heavenly important person to give God our all in service and worship? We worship the long awaited Messiah, the Christ anointed by God as His Son who existed before time began (Isaiah 9:6-7, Micah 5:2). May we do this in spirit and truth in all devotion and humility and not seek to serve ourselves but the Lord and others (Mark 10:45).
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