Rev. Chris Snow

North Hill Christian Church

March 10, 2024

Mark 12:28-34, 38-44

Throughout our lives we are faced with the choice of living in a world of purely cerebral theology or practical theology. Whether our faith is primarily focused on what we think about God, or if we put our belief’s into practical use within the world. 

Today’s texts create an interesting narrative about the scribes, in that we have a scribe asking Jesus a question of the first commandment, and receive praise for the discussion that followed. Then almost immediately the whole of the scribes are treated in general terms with regards to their actions.

Now before we jump into the text we need to know who were the scribes. They were the “class of learned men who made the systemic study of the law and its exposition their profession…also called lawyers, doctors of the law, rabbis…” (Zondervan’s Compact Bible Dictionary). This group of individuals reminds me of some professors I have encountered in my day. Who wanted to make sure I knew my information, without much regard to putting things into practical application. Perhaps like some of my philosophy professors they wanted me to be able to dissect the nuance of the texts.  

On the one hand, our scripture readings started with an question of knowledge. More than that an easy question that most any faithful person of the day would have known the answer. “The first is, ‘Hear O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one.” the Shema. An affirmation that was and is central within morning and evening prayers within the Jewish tradition. A statement that in my mind is would have and is more commonly heard in the Jewish households than the Lord’s prayer, or the golden rule. It is an affirmation of God’s singularity within the Jewish tradition and by extension our own. 

One could say the scribe was asking a question as simple as me asking you, what is the golden rule. We have all heard it throughout our lives. “Do unto others as we would have them to to us.” Easy… Simple…Straight forward. 

Jesus continues on with his answer, “‘you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe agrees and Jesus indicates that the man is not far from the kingdom of God. He knows the answers, but if we were to leave the reading there we would miss out on next part. Highlighting there is a difference between simply knowing the answers and living them.

It is easy for us to quote the greatest commandments, or the golden rule. However it is something else entirely to live those statements out. Just as it is easy to put words onto paper naming our vision and mission statements, and it takes much more energy to put those words into reality. 

We go from Jesus praising the scribe in vs 34 to then condemning the scribes as a whole in vs 38-40. Condemning them by saying, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of the appearance say long prayers.” 

I can’t help but think back to my seminary days when I was an intern at Webster Groves Christian Church and the interim minister had me wear my first clergy robe, with the big puffy sleeves that made me feel like was going to fly away anytime I moved my arms. Robes meant to attract attention and demand respect. Or those times people force prayers to go far longer than needed simply for the attention. Or those who demand respect and praise simply for their position of authority. 

Or better still, remembering back to my days of working in food service, where time and time again on Sunday after the church services have ended the lunch rush would begin. With all the church people in their Sunday best, but treating the wait staff incredibly rudely. Wanting to be seen as a good Christian, but treating those who are providing a service with absolute disrespect. 

But one statement that Jesus makes highlights the disconnect between knowing the commandments and living the commandments. “They devour widows’ houses.” One of several demographics that the prophets time and time declare should be cared for, and yet this group of learned men cause them even greater harm through their actions. 

There is a difference between knowing the commandments and practically living them. From knowing the golden rule and truly letting it guide our actions in the world. There is a difference in believing the Good News of Jesus Christ, and living according to that good news as it demands us to be a light of hope in the world. 

Interestingly after Jesus condemns the scribes, naming their treatment of widows, the next teaching moment happens to highlight that which the rich and scribes failed to do.  

We hear that Jesus and likely his disciples are sitting down opposite the treasury, (think modern day offering plate for comparison) watching the people. Noting a difference in the giving between the rich and the widow. “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had. all she had to live on.” 

If we put this teaching moment along side the other two sections of text, we might make the conclusion that the scribes and others may have followed the commandments just as far as it benefited themselves. Much like the rich gave out of their abundance as far as it did not impact their lives. Yet the widow gave all that she had. She embodied the ways in which we are called to live the commandments. With our whole selves, not just a part that we won’t miss. 

So, as we continue our journey towards Jerusalem and the cross, let us be mindful of how we have fallen short of living out the greatest commandments. How we have not loved God with our whole selves, and how we have not loved our neighbor as ourself. Let us continue to look within our selves and recognize how we still have room to grow and change into the vision God has for us. Let us take a cue from the widow rather than the scribes. The widow who embodied what she believed rather than the scribe who knew all the right answers but refused to put them into action.