False And True Piety
FALSE AND TRUE PIETY
MARK 12:38-44
How do we show our devotion to Christ?
A third paragraph dealing with the scribes now follows. It contains a warning against their brand of religion. The scribes, especially those of them who belonged to the Pharisaic party (others were Sadducees), were the “keen” religious people of their day. They knew the Scriptures well and were ready to teach from them. Their distinctive dress of a teacher’s long robe bore silent testimony to their zeal. They not only prayed, but prayed at length. Yet the virtues of their religion easily became vices. Instead of directing men’s attention to God and serving him humbly, they claimed credit for themselves. They enjoyed wearing their robes and receiving the compliments of men. They sat in their special seats facing the rest of the congregation in the synagogues, and like many a modern choir or kirk session (or its denominational equivalents) they glowed in the public esteem which they received. With it all, they were not free from corruption. Such religion is no religion.
The list of criticisms could easily be extended; see Matthew 23; Luke 11:37-52. While we should not forget the better members of this class, including the one who came to Jesus by night and heard of a new birth, we should not ignore the lesson that zealous faith may easily be corrupted into a pride which delights in its own piety and flaunts itself before the world. It is a good question: when does Christian witness become exhibitionism?
The following story is obviously meant to provide a contrast, whether or not it actually happened immediately after these scathing remarks. Free will offerings made by the people at the temple were put into thirteen collection boxes shaped like trumpets. Rich people put in their money ostentatiously and loudly; it cost them little to do so. The poor widow put in a gift that meant self-sacrifice, for she gave her whole livelihood, and had to do without other things that the money might have bought. This indication of her faith and devotion earned the praise of Jesus.
We had better ask: should our Christian faith lead us to give spontaneously our “whole living” to the service of God, and, if so, what does this mean in practice for us in our different individual situations?