These two incidents illustrate what and who is really valuable in the kingdom. The teachers of the Law were the ones who thought they were important. They should have lived as servants of God and servants of the people, instead they used their position to gain wealth for themselves and for self acclaim. Instead of serving the people they exploited them. This has always been a human trait. It happened in Israel, it happened in the early church, and it happens in the church today. We need to be on our guard against such people. We also need to take great care of ourselves if we have any positions of authority, whether it be in the church or in the world. The only authority God gives us is the authority to serve, and we will all be called to give an account. We should live our lives in reverent fear of the Lord.
Then Jesus shows them what true giving means.There is nothing wrong with being wealthy, nor of giving out of wealth, but it is wrong if we start taking pride in it. In monetary terms the widow gave hardly anything, but it was all that she had, and she gave out of a heart devoted to God. God looks at the heart, and the condition of our heart is more important than the condition of our bank account.
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