Scripture Notes: Mark 12 (Equal Sacrifice)

“Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.

Looking south on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
These gates are the gates which people would have come and left through
when they visited the iconic city of Jerusalem to bring their
offering to the Temple.
Photo taken May 2012

Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.’” -Mark 12:41-44 (NLT)


Many people get frustrated with the topic of “giving” in the church.  Understandably, to a degree, as it has been manipulated at times.  Even so, something that has been manipulated is not necessarily a wrong thing.

As human beings, we delight in a sense of security — having something to do, something to hold, something to call our own.  But is this Biblical?  I know of no Scripture telling us that it is wrong to have security.  However, if our security lies in anything but the sacrifice of Jesus, we have no real security at all!  Think about it — land and homes can be destroyed, friends and family have a free will that allows them to disrespect and disown us, currency burns and melts, and retirement funds can vaporize with a computer crashing or data erasing.  In a breath, everything we “own,” everything we “have,” can disappear.

Except for the gift of salvation.

• Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross provided the home for us that will never be destroyed.
• Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross provided a family for us that will never fall apart, that stretches throughout the earth and intertwines with generations past and to come.
• Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross provided us with access to the hand of God, who owns the cattle on a thousand hills and so much more.
• Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross provided an investment for us that out-spans retirement funds, trust funds, inheritance, estate, and income taxes.

Jesus provided it all for us.  Does it not make sense that we would take what little we have and invest in this plan?  The plan of salvation?  The way of the cross?

Yet, even with this justification, there is so much more to giving than just discussing material wealth.  As the widow understood, true wealth is seeded in the heart of sacrifice.  She gave what she had, though she had very little.  Jesus’ words about material wealth have so much less to do with letting go of material wealth than they have to do with having a heart of contented sacrifice.

A pastor I know coordinates hundreds of volunteers for a program that would be much less effective without their time serving.  His leadership plan includes this challenge: it’s not that you give equal time, but that you give equal sacrifice to the program.  One person may be able to give up more time a week than another, but there’s no comparison on our end.  Your sacrifice and your gift is a heart issue that is between you and God.

If you’re feeling pressured by the topic of giving, go to God.  Honestly ask Him for clarity in your own heart and mind regarding your perspective on sacrifice, and be willing to make changes in your attitude if necessary.

He has so much more to offer us, but we have to be continually willing to let go of things we hold onto so tightly so that He can replace them with even greater blessings.

Don’t be afraid of giving; instead, discover what you can give away so that you can keep receiving the abundance of what He has for you, starting with Jesus.




I'm reading through the New Testament and Psalms with my friends this year.  Would you like to join us?  This post is from our discussion on Facebook here, and we'd love for you to jump in on the fun!  Come stop by and leave your own thoughts on Mark 12!

Special thanks to my friends at outpostChurch.