Scripture Reading : Mark 12:35-44
Theme : Jesus’ Warning to the People
- Wrong Teaching. Jesus corrected the religious teachers’ wrong teaching regarding the true nature of the Messiah. The religious teachers taught that the Messiah was the descendant of David, and would merely be a man. Jesus taught the people that the Christ, meaning the Anointed One, would be someone higher than David, and is God Himself, since David addressed Him as “Lord”.
- Wrong Motivation. Jesus also warned the people to beware of the scribes (and Pharisees). They loved the praises of men rather than God, and often put forth a show in their lengthy prayers to draw the attention of people. They also deceived widows into giving them money from the dead husbands’ legacy.
- Wrong Hope. The poor widow was an immediate object lesson of Jesus’ preceding warning. She was already extremely poor, and after giving away everything she had, including the two small copper coins, she was going to starve to death. She had placed all her hopes in the religious teachers who were hypocrites and motivated by money.
Praying the Scripture
- Many people today think of Jesus as a great teacher who taught wonderful teachings. Others think of Him as the founder of just another religion, Christianity. Jesus asked His disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” (Mark 8:29) Let us truly acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and our God.
- Do we love the praises of men too? One possible indication is when we hope to serve in church in positions that are highly visible, like leading worship, preaching, etc. Let us pray that God will humble us so that we will serve Him out of devotion to Him, rather than for the praises of men.
- Today, there are prosperity gospel preachers who similarly prey on widows and the weak. Let us pray that God will open the eyes of those who have been deceived, so that they will place their hope in the true Gospel according to Jesus.
经文：马可福音12:35-44
主题：耶稣向众人的警告
- 错误的教导。耶稣改正了宗教导师对于弥赛亚真实性情的错误教导。他们教导说弥赛亚是大卫的子孙，所以仅会是一个人。耶稣则教导众人说基督，即那位受膏者，是地位比大卫还高的，是神自己，因为大卫称祂为“主”。
- 错误的动机。耶稣也告诫人要提防文士（和法利赛人）。他们喜爱人的赞扬过于神的，并为吸引人的注意，故意作很长的祷告。他们甚至欺骗寡妇，要寡妇从逝世丈夫的家产中取钱给他们。
- 错误的盼望。这个穷寡妇就是文士们的典型受害者。她已经很贫穷了，而奉献所有的一切后，包括那两个小钱，她会因饥饿死去。她将所有的希望放置在那些假冒为善、贪钱贪财的宗教老师。
用经文祷告
- 今日，有许多人认为耶稣是一位有许多好教导的伟大教师。也有人认为祂仅是另一个宗教（基督教）的创办人。耶稣问祂的门徒：“你们说我是谁？”彼得回答说：“你是基督。”（8:29）。让我们真实认耶稣为我们的主，我们的神。
- 我们是否也爱人的赞美？一个可能的迹象是我们希望能在人能看见的教会岗位上侍奉，如：领诗、讲道，等。让我们祷告神会使我们谦卑，叫我们是因着敬拜祂而侍奉，不是为人的赞赏那么做。
- 如今，致富福音的传道人也同样使寡妇和软弱者受害。让我们祈求神会开启凡被欺之人的眼，叫他们能把希望放在耶稣真实的福音上。
