E-pistle for June 26, 2015
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E-Pistle
FreeWay Foundation June 26, 2015
the widow's two mites
(Mark 12:1-44)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Jesus told the parable of the wicked vinedressers, vv. 1-12.
2. Jesus taught about paying taxes to Caesar, vv. 13-17.
3. Jesus taught about the resurrection, vv. 18-27.
4. Jesus taught about the greatest commandment, vv. 28-34.
5. Jesus taught about the Messiah being David's descendant
yet also being David's Lord, vv. 35-37.
6. Jesus taught the disciples to beware of the scribes, vv. 38-40.
7. Jesus observed and taught about the widow who gave two
mites, vv. 41-44.
II. Meditation: on the account of the widow who gave two mites
1. Jesus sat near the treasury, watching how the people gave.
v. 41.
2. He took account of how much each gave, vv. 41-42.
3. He judged their gifts on the basis of what percentage they
gave of what they possessed . . . and how much was left over
after the gift, v. 43. (Does my "sacrificial" gift ever really
alter my standard of living?)
4. The woman was commended, not for the amount she gave,
but because she gave all she had, v. 44.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual truths seen here
1. Jesus is interested in our giving to His kingdom work . . .
He watches and takes note of our contributions and our
circumstances. (His audit is far more accurate than the IRS!)
2. In God's sight, the amount given is not as important as
how much remains for personal use. (In fact, we're
responsible for that portion too.)
3. The Lord evaluates and judges our giving, taking into
consideration our resources and abilities. (Did Jesus reveal
Himself to the widow and meet her needs? I think so,
because He's like that.)
4. The woman's gift of everything she possessed reveals her
priority . . . God is FIRST!
(See Matthew 6:33 and study II Corinthians 8 and 9)
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to understand that . . .
1. God is watching how much I give, as well as my
motivation for giving . . . and everything else in my life.
2. Whether tithe, talent, or time, God measures how much I
give Him compared with how much I keep for myself.
3. I am not going to be judged in comparison to others, but
on my own faithfulness as a percentage of my potential.
4. Sacrificial giving (and service) is something I know very little
about . . . when did I last give "ALL THAT I HAD?"
great is your faithfulness!
(Lamentations 3:1-66)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Using the first person singular; Jeremiah identifies with Israel,
describing himself as sick and injured; as dead and buried;
as a prisoner being tortured; as a traveler making slow
progress, being attacked by wild animals and shot at with
arrows; as an object of ridicule eating and drinking bitter,
contaminated food, vv. 1-24.
2. Jeremiah changes his writing style from poetry to prose
and exhorts the people on what they should do under the
harsh discipline of the Lord, vv. 25-39.
3. Jeremiah then identifies so closely with Israel that he speaks
in the first person plural: "WE" and "US" rather than "I" or
"YOU" vv. 40-47.
4. Jeremiah closes this third poem by returning to the use of the
first person singular, again "becoming" the suffering nation of
Israel, vv. 48-66.
II. Meditation: on some key verses in this chapter
1. "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because
His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great
is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul,
'Therefore I hope in Him!'" vv. 22-24.
2. "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who
seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord," vv. 25-26.
3. "Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the
Lord; let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven," vv. 40-41.
4. "You drew near on the day I called on You, and said 'Do not fear!'
O Lord, You have pleaded the case for my soul; You have redeemed
my life," vv. 57-58.
III. Revelation and Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Hope in the Lord's mercies, His compassions, His faithfulness, and
His promise to be my "portion" (my inheritance and providential
supply), Psalm 16:5-6; Philippians 4:19.
2. Wait patiently for the salvation (deliverance) of the Lord, Psalm 27:14.
3. Examine my ways; repent of my sins; lift my heart and hands to the
Lord; ask for His mercy and grace, Acts 20:21; I John 1:9.
4. Draw near to the Lord; hear His words of encouragement; receive His
redemption, James 4:8; Galatians 3:13; Revelation 5:9.
"The best way to forget your own problems is the help
someone else solve theirs."
--unknown
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