Begin with prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you. 

Read Mark 12:35-44 in your Bible. 

As you are reading, ask the questions of who, what, when, where, why, and how as well as any repeated words or phrases. We’ll go through these together. Look for a verse(s) that stand out to you the most. The one that grabs your attention. 

Now let’s go through these questions together.

Who? Who is speaking, who is being mentioned?

Jesus, scribes, disciples, widow, crowd, and King David is referenced.

When?

Continuation from the previous verses. Keep on going.

Where?

Jerusalem

What? What is happening in these verses?

Jesus was speaking to a crowd. Scribes and other leaders had been asking him questions and now Jesus asked them a question. Jesus then gives a warning about the scribes followed by an observation he made while at the temple.

Why? Why is this being mentioned? Why is this/will be happening?

First, Jesus was trying to explain to the scribe about who the Messiah really was. Jesus was giving a warning about how the scribes were behaving and how not to conduct oneself. The chapter ends explaining how a widow who was giving an offering gave more than everyone collectively gave that day. 

How does this happen/take place?

He does all of this by asking them a question and being direct instead of telling a parable as he was known to do. 

Before we continue any further, what verse(s) stood out to you? 

Although there is a lot to learn in all of these verses, verse 44 is what I appreciated the most in these passages. 

What does this mean?

Jesus had spent time answering the leaders questions, and now He asks his own question. He was pointing out the Messiah was more than a man who was going to save them from their enemies. He was God. He’s making the point that they don’t understand who He really is and his purpose. Then Jesus warns the crowd of the arrogant scribes and how they were conducting themselves. The scribes did things for show and for recognition and not because they were holy people. There were not serving the people like they were suppose to.

Then we have the widow who gave an offering. Jesus was watching and observing all who gave. But Jesus noticed something different about the widow. Remember the widows were poor because I was the men who would bring in the financial support. Jesus tells the disciples that out of all the offerings, the widow gave the more than all of them combined. Everyone else gave out of their abundance, but the widow gave sacrificially. She gave all that she had. It cost her something to give to the Lord. 

What does this mean to me?

First, I need to know who Jesus really is and what it is that he did for me. Next, I need to beware of religious leaders who are in it for themselves and not the people. At the same time do not become one of those religious leaders. Finally, when I give, give sacrificially from the heart and not just out of an abundance. How I give is more important than what I give. 

What verse spoke out to you and what is God trying to show you through it? Write it out in your journal. Then say a prayer and have a conversation with God about it.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, today you showed me through your word on how I should conduct myself. You showed me that I am not to be like the religious leaders and scribes full of pride and arrogance. But I am to be a servant to your people. I am also to be giving. I should give money or whatever it maybe for recognition or for any other reason other than to give from my heart sacrificially to you and/or to your people, to those who you show me to whom I am to give to. Holy Spirit, help me to be aware of what my heart is doing. Show me when I am being selfish and arrogant. Help me be more like Jesus….the greatest example of what it means to serve. This I pray. AMEN!