Mark completes telling us about Jesse’s ministry in the Temple during Holy
Week, probably on Tuesday and/or Wednesday. Jesus has challenged the religious
leaders repeatedly in debates and discourses and now he draws his Disciples
aside and paints a picture for them of the leaders He has been debating. It is
not a pretty picture. By the way , do you think the Pharisees all died out by
the end of the 1st century? What do you think? Are they all gone now? They’re
not gone! You mean there is a possibility I might meet a Pharisee today? Don’t
tell me I might be able to meet a Pharisee in my church this Sunday!
If I do meet a Pharisee what would he or she look like? Well Jesus tells us
quite clearly.
1. Clothes that announce their status in the world- designer cut, the latest
fashion, fine material, unique to their status if possible
2. An absolute need for the approval, recognition of status and respect from
their fellow human beings and a very negative reaction toward any who fail to
comply with their need
3. Overly concerned with the external appearance of religiosity, but hollow
inside of all but self
4. An absolute need for the status symbols of the world, preferred seating,
preferred parking and places of honor
5. Unworthy of the trust we place in them, especially if they are forced to
choose between our best interests and their self-interest.
6. They are nosy rather than caring and condemning rather than merciful.
7. The private matters of the lives of their people are not safe with them- they
gossip
Jesus finishes by saying that because they were entrusted with God’s Word and
entrusted with leading the people, the price for their failure will be great
condemnation. And you and I say, “Well I’m safe”.. But are we safe? Clarence and
getting naked. If I am very honest with you, I have to confess that there is
some Pharisee in me. Now this may just be just me and my problem. Maybe you do
not have that problem. Maybe I am the only Pharisee among us.. But I do not
think so. I’ll bet if you are honest with yourself, you see a little Pharisee
poking its head out of your actions and thoughts from time to time.
Jesus then walks out of the Court of the Gentiles and into the Women’s Court to
watch the people of the Passover add to the money chests of the Temple by
dropping their money into one of 13 trumpet or funnel shaped, metal containers.
A big “thunk” of a large coin in those days meant “Big Spender”! The “thunk” of
a half dollar in our brass plate today may mean just the opposite. Jesus
contrasts the attitudes of the Pharisees to the total commitment of a poor woman
who goes to a trumpet unnoticed by all but Jesus because the two coins, all the
coins she owns, are the two smallest coins in circulation and make no noise at
all. Jesus is NOT saying we have to give every penny we own to the church. He is
saying we need to get an attitude of total commitment to God as the poor widow
demonstrated and the Pharisees made a mockery of in their attitudes of
self-interest. Get an attitude like the poor widow shows to us.