An Audience of One

If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 20:45.  I want to share with you a message entitled, “An Audience of One.”  I’ll come back to this idea in just a moment.

 

We are still in Passion Week.  It is Tuesday, and Thursday’s Passover is coming.  Therefore, remember that Jerusalem is full of first-century Jews.

 

Jesus has spent a lot of time in the temple on Tuesday.  He was answering questions, and He was asking questions. Today, we will see Him teaching His disciples.

 

Here are the two instructions. Forsake the hypocrisy of the scribes.  Follow the humility of the widow.

 

Thinking about an audience of one, why do you do what you do?  Why do you do what you do as a husband, as a wife, as a child, as an employee, as a student?

 

Why do you do what you do?  Is it for the applause of men or is it for an audience of One?  Is it for the approval of God, you heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, His Son?

 

 

 

1. Forsake the Hypocrisy of the Scribes, Luke 20:45-47.

 

 

45 Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 47 who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

 

In verses 45-47, Jesus warned and condemned the scribes’ hypocritical behavior.  He listed five hypocritical acts.

 

First, they liked to walk around in long robes.  These were white robes designating a devout and noted scholar.

 

Second, they liked prestigious greetings in the market places.  These included Rabbi and Father.

 

Third, they liked the best seats in the synagogues.  These were situated at the front of the temple, and facing the congregation.

 

They liked places of honor at banquets.  These spots were located next to the host so as to receive preferential treatment.

                                                             

Fourth, verse 47 speaks to their most atrocious behavior.  The scribes received no monetary pay for their temple services.  However, they were often designated estate planners by the husbands of these widows and embezzled their wealth.

 

Fifth, and as it relates to number four, for show, they pray long prayers over these women that encouraged them to serve God by supporting the temple or the scribe’s holy work.  The longer they prayed, the more they would get paid! 

 

Notice the end of verse 47.  Jesus pronounced greater condemnation for their hypocrisy!

 

BTW…Is all sin really the same?  It is in the sense that all sin and every sin violates the holiness of God and demonstrates our need for a Savior.

 

However, a white lie is not the same as sexual abuse,  And here, Jesus said some sin will receive greater condemnation.  That implies that all sins are NOT equal.

 

2. Follow the Humility of the Widow, Luke 21:1-4.

1 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. 3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

 

In verse 21:1, we see that Jesus was still in the temple.  The treasury was located in the court of women.  It was the furthest point in the temple that women could go. 

 

It was here that there were 13 trumpet-shaped collection receptacles for individuals to give their offerings.  Almost half of them were labeled “free-will offerings,” which is where this money was most like being deposited. 

 

It seems as if Jesus was people watching.  He watched probably thousands of individuals drop their money into these collection pieces during this Passover season. 

 

Verse 1 simply says that as He was watching people that He saw the rich putting their gits into the treasury.  This isn’t a positive or a negative.  It simply a fact. 

 

However, in verse 42, He also saw a particular poor widow.  She put in two mites. 

 

She came to give at the treasury without any flare or any pomp or any grandeur.  I believe she may even have had her head down as she dropped in her two small copper coins.

 

A mite was a small copper coin.  In our terms, it was equivalent to an 1/8 of a cent so she gave ¼ of a penny.   

 

Notice how Jesus described what the widow gave in verse 3.  He said she put in “more than” all. 

 

In verse 4, He went further with His explanation.  Commenting on the wealthy or the rich, they put in out of their abundance.  However, this poor widow put in all the livelihood she had. 

 

Let that sink in.  She put in the last penny to her name.  In other words, she wouldn’t be able to buy any more food until she earned more money.

 

Jesus’ explanation is this: when it comes to money or financial giving, the quality of the giving or your attitude in giving is worth more than the quantity in giving or your action of giving.  The Lord sees your heart and your hand, and don’t forget that He can do a lot with your little. 

 

 

Applications

So here is the first takeaway from today’s text.  Are you living for the approval of men or an audience of One? 

 

For our teenagers, what’s most important?  Do you long for likes and clicks or is well done sufficient?

 

Second, Jesus doesn’t want your leftovers.  He wants your livelihood.  This is true with your money, your energy, and your time. 

 

If you wait until all bills are paid before you write the tithe check, you’ll never have enough.  Is Sunday morning church a Saturday night decision for you?

 

Third, for those who have never answered the call to salvation, this story foreshadows Jesus giving His all for you in the same way this widow gave her all.  Jesus died on the cross in your place and for your sins.  Today, will you answer His call to put your faith and trust in Him as Lord and Savior?