A WIDOW’S OFFERING

Mark 12:35-44

Key Verse: 12:44 – “They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-all she had to live on.”

1. Read verse 35. What does it mean to call the Christ the son of David? Why had Jesus come to Jerusalem? How would Jesus accomplish his mission? (See Lk 2:26-32. What does Simeon’s testimony tell us about Jesus? How is he different from the teachers of the law?)

2. Read verses 36-37. In Psalm 110:1 (which Jesus quotes), what does it mean that David calls the Messiah “Lord”? What promise does the Lord God give the Messiah? What did David believe?

3. Read verses 38-40. What was the inner life of the teachers of the law like? Why couldn’t they accept a spiritual Messiah? How did Jesus warn them?

4. Read verses 41-42. As Jesus watched the crowd putting money into the temple treasury, what was the great contrast which he noticed? Why might the disciples have thought about this?

5. Read verses 43-44. What did Jesus teach his disciples? Why did he say that the widow put in more than the rich people? What does this show about Jesus’ value system? What kind of offering does God want? What can your “heart-offering” be to God?