All the attempts of the Jewish leaders to criticize Jesus ended in failure. When the Lord saw their false ways, He confirmed that He could no longer expect anything from them and knew Jerusalem’s imminent destruction could not be stopped. He said to His disciples, “Watch out for the teachers of the Law!”
Since these teachers were experts in the Law, this comment was shocking to the people. But the Lord saw them as false teachers. They were seized by a sense of religious superiority and liked to be greeted by others. They sat in places of honor and were entertained wherever they went. They devoured poor widows and stole their property. Furthermore, they pretended to be holy by deliberately praying at length in front of others.
After Jesus spoke about the teachers of the Law, He saw a widow putting two copper coins into the temple treasury. He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.” When Jesus said this, He was not just emphasizing donations. He was furious that the Jewish leaders did not care for the weak and were only interested in exalting themselves.
If we consider how corrupt the leaders were, Jerusalem deserved to be destroyed early. But God was continually being patient. Why is this? This is because there was still a minority of people in Jerusalem who sought God’s favor with earnest hearts. Like the widow who offered two copper coins - they were repentant as sinners and grateful for God’s grace, even if they were disdained by Judaism.
This is the same today. While the church undergoes many hardships, it may be that it survives until now because a minority of believers truly repent, earnestly seek God’s grace and offer themselves to God. If one believer maintains a sincere relationship with God by his repentance and change, God will give that person grace. Moreover, God will help the whole church experience grace after grace because He has compassion on that person.
Those who seek God’s grace always show one kind of action - giving offerings. This is gratitude for being saved from sin and an expectation that God will remember them. Works of service in church are another action that they show. They do works of service because they have received God’s grace and so they do it out of gratitude. At the same time, it is hope that God’s favor will remain with them.
Likewise, this is not only about gratitude for the grace we received. If a person acknowledges that he cannot live without God’s grace, God will open His favor and heart to him. Therefore, let’s offer ourselves to God in a sincere heart, even if others cannot see. Instead of exalting ourselves above others, let’s show that we are people hoping for God’s favor. Let’s make God’s favor shine on the whole church by bearing fruit worthy of repentance.
(Lord’s Day Service on December 12, 2021)
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