Mark 12:38-44 — 38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
We as Christians are far more subtle in our religious pretext than these scribes in Mark 12:38-40. If we boil it down to the root heart issue, it’s pursuing the praise of man. Typically we won’t engage in this by our clothing, or the seats we pick or even in long prayers. Rather it’s anything we do or say for the purpose of creating a positive impression in another’s mind about us. So sometimes we’ll drop in a comment about something we did or didn’t do or something we know. Here’s another way to know if this is present—what if we don’t get the recognition or honor we are looking for? Are we still willing to do what God desires from us? Is this not why private prayer is so difficult for us to do—because no one else sees it. Do we need respect and honor from others before we obey God? If so, that’s backwards and anti-gospel thinking. Remember, this is exactly why the disciples were choking on Christ’s predictions of his death and resurrection back in chs.8-10—because it didn’t fit with their desire for earthy praise and prestige. Obeying Christ and seeking the praise of man are completely incompatible, meaning one will always prevent the other.