Sermon in Minneapolis 06.09.2009

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, let us begin our services with opening prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, Holy and Righteous God, we thank you for this opportunity to assemble before your Holy Word. We ask that you would be present through your Spirit, comfort and console us and uplift us with your Word, and feed us and nourish us with your everlasting Gospel. So we ask that you would bless us and protect us in this begun faith, until one day we can be translated from this life to that life there in the glory of Heaven. So all of this we ask, asking for service blessings in the name of your dear Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Today's Gospel text is from the Gospel according to St. Mark, chapter 12, verses 41 through 44. And Jesus said, "And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make one farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Clearly I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which have cast into the treasury. For all they did cast in of their abundance, but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all of her living." Amen.

The Bible says, and the previous chapter tells how Jesus chased out the money changers and those that were selling pigeons out of the temple area. And then he goes on to speak to the people around him, especially about the vanity of the Pharisees, saying how they often wish to dress in beautiful clothes, which in and of itself is an innocent thing, nothing wrong with it, but they were doing it for the honor and glory of man in order to get praise and adoration. And they wished to seek out and find the first or the most honorable places in the temple. They were also consumed by greed.

The Old Testament tells in many places how the widows are to be helped and taken care of and supported, yet they ate the widows out of house and home. So this leads up to our text where Jesus is watching what is taking place in the temple area. And he wishes, with this little incident, to compare between themselves, the Pharisees, and this woman. Or, in other words, to compare and contrast righteousness, which is by faith alone by grace, and that is that righteousness which is of the works of man, which is self-righteousness.

So Jesus was there in the temple area watching during, we could say, the time of collection, or collection at the end of the service, as we typically have here during our service as well. And he's wishing to compare and contrast the Pharisees of his time there in that occasion with this poor widow. This poor widow did not take anything from anybody. She had lost her sole source of income when the provider of the home, her husband, had passed away. And there before she had lost all of her possessions as well. They didn't have a social security system and network like we do in this country and many other western countries of the world.

So Jesus is watching as people were putting money into the temple area. And they were putting money into the coffer. And many of those people that were putting in money put in very large sums of money. And this in and of itself is a good matter. There's nothing wrong with it. And it helped to support the building and repair of the temple.

Last winter I was down in Florida for their winter services. And it's also a wintering spot for many Finns. And some of those Finns, several of them who were wintering down there are very, very wealthy. They had a service auction. And it was, we could say, mind-boggling. Some of the high prices they were offering for some of the services. And the income that was received was used for the furtherance of the work of God's kingdom there in that locality, in that city of Lake Worth for the renting of the church and for the other needs that they had.

But easily it could come to mind to some other person, some other individual who didn't have the means or the abilities to bid up the service to such high numbers that is it even worthwhile? Does it even pay? Will it have any significance at all what I buy at a lower price? And at lower numbers? Easily these types of thoughts may come to our mind.

But here Jesus is wishing to speak about and to the Pharisees when they were offering their great large sums of money and putting them into the coffers. They did it perhaps in such a way that all people would notice. That they'd be sure to see what they put in, how much. And this was becoming or came to them to be a merit and a good deed for the basis of their salvation.

Paul writes to the Corinthians even though a person would give away all of their possessions and even have their body burned at the stake if there is not associated with it that true Christian love which is and comes by faith. It is as a tingling bell and it's as a clanging cymbal.

So where did this practice come of putting these different chests for collection there in the temple area? It goes way back into the Old Testament times when the temple was falling apart and in need of repair. And this happened during the time of one of the kings, ungodly kings who had an ungodly queen, Italia. And then a new king came to power whose name was Josiah. And he was commanded and asked by God to begin to collect funds in order to repair and remodel and build. And he fixed up the temple.

But it didn't happen right away. During the course of 20 years nothing basically happened. And then God renewed his command. And then Josiah began to take collections, voluntary collections for the benefit of the temple. So it was like a voluntary temple tax in a way.

So there were 13 arks or chests that were placed in the temple area. Out in that area where women were yet allowed to come in. And beyond another door women were then no longer able to pass. So it was yet in what we could call the woman's courtyard. And each one of these 13 chests had a purpose, a significance, and a designated use for the money that were put in. And often, perhaps not always, but often there was a priest who was watching over as the monies were put in. And often the people donating the monies would show the amount to the priest and then put the money into the chest.

Now the 13th chest or copper was designated for an offering that was to be given unto God. It was for burnt sacrifices. And some of these monies were also used to buy sacrifices for people and individuals who didn't have the means themselves to buy these sacrifices. And so the 13th chest was designated for the burnt offerings which would become burnt offerings which would be offered unto God for the praise, honor, and glory of God.

And so we could say that in this situation where Jesus was standing and observing what takes place brings forth or makes manifest the two deepest intentions of a person's heart. And actually there was a minimum amount that an individual could put. If a person wanted to put something into one of these 13 coppers or arks, there was a minimum amount, say $10, just for example purposes. And if you didn't have at least $10, then you weren't supposed to put in any.

So it's $10 and above then you could put money into these arks. And so the Pharisees who had plenty of means were putting in large sums of money. And we could imagine that they were surely making known to everyone how much they were putting in.

But then Jesus was standing by this 13th copper or chest and along comes this poor widow whose spouse had died and didn't have any possessions left. Yet she wanted to help out in any way she could. And all that she had left was what's the term? She had two mites. And we could say in our terms of money it was one-eighth of one penny. It wasn't even one penny. It was one-eighth of one penny. Or in wages of that time it was worth about 15 minutes of wages. Or one-one-hundredth of a typical day's wage.

So she had two coins. And the mite is the Greek denomination of money that they were apparently using at that time. And now Jesus is watching and observing and only Jesus knows, only Jesus sees, and God the Heavenly Father as well. Only He knows and only He sees.

At times when people attempted to put in money and didn't reach the minimum amount, they were turned away with scorn and disgrace. So I'm sure this widow is wondering, I don't even have enough to reach that minimum amount as scholars have described. And she had two mites. She could have saved one for herself and put in only one. And then what was remaining would only be half. But she put in all that she had.

Jesus knew. Jesus saw. God knew. And God saw. And after this he called his disciples unto him and he said unto them, "Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow has cast more in than all they, all the others, all the others put together that have cast into the treasure."

So here we can see that it isn't in the amount how much one puts in, but it is with the attitude and the mind of the heart with which one puts in.

We remember that in the Old Testament there was that widow of Seraphath. And prophet Elijah who had been fed by the ravens at the brook of Cherith then was led to this widow's home in that heathen area of the country called Seraphath. And she was a widow having one child, and they also had very few, if any, possessions. They just had a few morsels of bread and a little bit of flour to make a little bit of bread.

And what did she do? With all the rest of her possessions that were remaining, she took that flour and made it into bread to serve this guest, the prophet of God, the prophet Elijah.

We remember the example when Samuel was seeking out and looking to find a new king of Israel. Saul, King Saul, the first king of Israel, had lost his crown because of his disobedience before God and before man. And Samuel was sent into the house of Jesse, where there were eight boys. And he said, "I am here to seek out the new king of Israel, and one of your boys will be the new king of Israel."

So I'm sure Jesse thought that it must be the oldest boy. He's the tallest, he's the strongest, and he's the most handsome, he's the wisest. So he was brought in, and Saul was brought in, and Samuel the judge said, "No, it is not he." The second oldest, the third oldest, on down to the seventh oldest were all brought in. And each time Samuel said, "No, it is not he. It is not God's choice."

For we as human beings look at another human being at their outward appearance. But God, who is all-seeing and all-knowing, he looks beyond a person's outward appearance. He looks into the depths of a person's heart.

So when we think of ourselves, and when we think of the mind of a child of God, isn't it this mind that we have, that others have, others are better than I? And I surely am the greatest sinner here upon earth.

And Jesus, likewise in another story, wished to compare and contrast two individuals, the two people who were praying in the temple. Again, the one was a Pharisee who was there at the front of the temple area and talking out with a loud voice and telling all of the deeds that he had done. "I have done this and I have done that. And I have not done this," like the publican who was there at the rear of the temple.

And isn't this a very human tendency? We believe by faith alone it is a gift of God. And faith is the substance of things that we hope for, the evidence of things not seen. And by faith, with the great promises of the Gospel, we cling to this everlasting treasure, this imperishable treasure.

Isn't this then a human tendency that if we as an individual could reach out, cling onto something and hold something that is tangible, that would be a sign, that would give that evidence that yes, I am truly one of God's own. I am a child of God. This is a sign, a proof, an evidence of it.

But isn't it so that many times we must be aware of the fact that we must feel how it may feel, seem how it may seem, in the place of a wretched sinner, in the midst of our doubts and temptations, and many times bad and evil thoughts in the midst of our corruption. We must grit our teeth and cling by faith to the great promises of God through the Gospel message.

And yes, that Gospel message does give us happiness, peace, freedom, and joy.

So, the Old Testament Psalm writer in Psalm 51 says in this way, that the only sacrifice that is acceptable unto God, the Heavenly Father, is a broken and a contrite heart.

We do not know what the thoughts of that poor widow were as she was there standing before that thirteenth chest, that coffer, about to drop in the last of her possessions, those two mites, which were worth only a fraction of a one day's wage. Perhaps she thought that these monies are so insignificant, does it pay to even offer?

But God saw, however, and they were acceptable unto God, the Heavenly Father. And they came from a believing heart with no intentions of trying to gain any merit, honor, and glory for herself.

So, God does not look at the amount of money that we can see, but God looks at the mind and the thoughts and the intentions of the heart.

Paul also writes in a similar vein about this similar, same topic. He said that what we give and what we offer is not that it should be demanded, but what we give it is given with a willing mind.

The left hand does not know what the right hand does, neither does the right hand know what the left hand does. God loves, the Bible says, a cheerful giver. And this is all not to gain any merit, but no, it comes as a fruit of faith. Faith, through love, then begins to produce fruits. They are a result of faith, not in order to be a result of the result of the result or for fruit.

The Bible says that even giving a glass of water, which is done in faith, will not go without reward when given to another.

We remember when Jesus was talking about the last judgment. How everyone will be gathered before that final judgment throne. And then separated into two different groups. Those on the left side and those on the right side.

And he says to his own, those on the right side, that when I was hungry, you fed me. When I was thirsty, you gave me drink. When I was naked, you clothed me. When I was without a place to live or stay, you took me in.

And the disciples then began to wonder and think, "When have we done any of these things to you?" If they had done them, they had a short memory; they didn't even remember anymore. They were drawing a blank.

Then Jesus said unto them, "What you have done to the least of my brethren, to another child of God, you have also done unto me."

We often have this mind of the disciples after they had been working in the vineyard. And upon conclusion of the work maybe of one day or one period of time, they said in this way that we are but meritless, profitless servants. We have only done that which has been done.

And that is the end of the sermon.

And that is what allander legs have repeatedly asked of us, The shakes they suffer in the place therefore little simple guidance.

As we were talking about Saul. When Saul returned from the battlefront feature and had been disobedient, Samuel said unto Saul that obedience is better than sacrifice.

When at that time garlic and received,chaft frszy Jesus to the will of God and the desire that God has of us.

But then also has been that common saying that when a child of God has been born, they have come into the kingdom with all of their possessions. And then God kindles that mind and that heart and that wish and desire to help in the work of God's kingdom in the ways that they can and in the amount that they can.

And the Bible also talks about giving one's life. For all that they did cast in, they did of their extra, their abundance, Jesus said, speaking of the Pharisees. But she gave of her want, her needs. She cast all that she had. Even all of her living.

So the Bible speaks in this way that we give our life.

We have an example of Jesus who left from the glory of heaven, who was there at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. And he stepped down. He was down here upon this earth. He traveled those lower parts of this earth, often despised and ridiculed and rejected and spat upon.

But he traveled this way to fulfill that sacrifice, that offering, which is for you and for me and for all mankind.

And actually, at the conclusion of this little speech, which was basically one of the last speeches of his life, he then gave everything for you and I.

Now began the way of suffering. Now began the road of via dolorosa, the way of suffering. Soon he would be captured, judged and condemned to death, and he would be hanged by nails between heaven and earth.

Foxes have dens, he said, and birds have nests where to lay their young. But the Son of Man does not even have a place where to lay his head.

And so when we think of ourselves even today, when the collection plate comes, we may wonder or consider how much we desire or wish to put in.

Or if we can think in a broader scope of society around us, there would be many places that need charitable donations. Donations. UNICEF, the Red Cross, and the list goes on and on and on and on.

We may get mailings in the mail, and we may get phone calls at home, and all needing money to support their very important causes.

But also there are other brothers and sisters in living faith, some who may be very close to us, and some who may be more distant to us.

And at times we hear of situations and cases and scenarios where a person or a family, individuals, may be in financial difficulties, and health issues may be a cause, or unemployment or whatever the cause may be, they have need for help and support.

And then, we consider, perhaps with our family or individually, that, that, can I help, and do I want to help, and how much do I want to help.

So, this is our decision, our thoughts, and our minds that we have to consider, and then, we then act upon it and do what we can do.

So, the disciples were there in that situation, and watching and listening, and Jesus was the close observer who actually saw what was actually taking place.

And then Jesus then turns to his disciples and wished to comfort them, help them, and support them on their way and walk of faith in their life.

Many times, perhaps, we have the thought of, same thought as the Apostle Peter. When Jesus had been teaching them and talking to them, and visiting with them, Peter said the thoughts of his heart out loud.

And he said in this way that, we have given up everything. In the end, what benefit is it to us? We have given up, many of us have given up our former occupations. We have left them behind. We have begun to follow you as one of your disciples, as one of your followers.

In the end, what is the final result? What is the ultimate benefit to us?

And perhaps, there may be someone who has the trials of Job, who lost his family, who lost his possessions in the storms, and whatever means by which he lost them, and then was stricken very ill with ailments and sores over his body. He had lost everything, was destitute.

And yet, in the midst of those severe trials, he was able to sing out that God gives, but God also takes. In the end, blessed be the name of the Lord.

In one hymn that Luther wrote, which was formerly 201 in our old songbook, I don't know what number it is by heart in the new songbook, but it's, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.

And then he talks about, at times we lose what we may have in the outward sense. Take all then what they will. But yet, in the end, we still have God's kingdom.

So, Jesus Christ in the end is that greatest of all treasures that we can own and possess. It is worth, in place, infinite value, worth more than any perishable treasure that is attainable here upon this earth during this life.

So, whether God has given much to a person or less to a person, whether we are healthy or whether we are sick, whether we are single or whether we are married, these temporal situations, in the end, are nothing compared to that treasure which we have by faith.

The gift of loving faith. The assurance that our name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life in heaven. And of that assurance that we are God's home and heaven acceptable.

We remember when Jesus was visiting in that home there in Bethany. And it is also a place of worship, a place of worship. It is also a gospel text, or at least it used to be for the same Sunday. Or is it for next Sunday? The good portion Sunday. I think it is next Sunday. Or two Sundays from now.

He was visiting with Mary and Martha. And Martha apparently was kind of the homemaker type of person. And always busy and bustling around. And very energetic and active.

And Jesus came to visit that home again. And Jesus was visiting and talking and teaching. And Mary wished to sit at the feet of Jesus and soak up like a sponge every word that Jesus had to say.

That time at least, Martha became very impatient and a little bit discouraged that Mary also wasn't helping out with the temporal chores. The chores there. In the home.

Jesus then says to Martha. And Martha was doing a very noble work. And very important work. And work that needs to be done.

But then comparing it to imperishable treasures. Martha, Martha. You are toiling and concerned over things.

But, let us remember that Mary has chosen that good portion. That portion which shall not be taken away from her.

And this is that good portion which we have. Even tonight. At this moment. The portion of a child of God.

Our sins are forgiven. We have peace with God in heaven. And we are on our journey toward that heavenly home.

So even now you can, just as you are. Just as you find yourself. You can believe. Sins forgiven. And His name and precious atonement blood. That power of the gospel will lift us. Carry us and bring us to our destination.

And this is also the gospel. I wish to hear it for myself. Can I believe my many sins and doubts forgiven? I wish to believe together with you. In Jesus name. Amen.