Offering further condemnation to the religious leaders, Jesus exposes them because they “desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers” (12:40). Everything the scribes and Pharisees did was for recognition. Their hearts were far from Him. We must be careful that our motivation for doing religious acts is not to attract attention to ourselves or for selfish gain. Our service to God must flow from a life which has humbled itself before Him and is motivated by a genuine love for God.
As a timely illustration, Jesus was sitting near the treasury at the temple where people gave money (12:41). Those who were rich put in much, but a poor widow gave two mites which was equivalent to a penny in our day. Looking for an opportunity to teach His disciples, Jesus called them to Himself and said, “this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood” (12:44). Her motivation was purely out of love for God and His work while the religious rich just wanted to be recognized so that others thought they were spiritual. It was not the amount of money given which mattered, but the motivation behind the gift.
Dear God, help me to always do Your work out of humble heart. Forgive me for the times I have done things simply for notoriety.
