IDENTITY | Appearances vs Reality
Steve McKenzie

The Great Commandment

28 uAnd one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, andseeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the mostimportant of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, v‘Hear, O Israel: The Lordour God, wthe Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart andwith all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 xThe second is this:y‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment zgreater thanthese.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that wheis one, and athere is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and withall bthe understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, cismuch more than all dwhole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that heanswered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” eAnd afterthat no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Whose Son Is the Christ?

35 fAnd as gJesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that htheChrist is the son of David? 36 David himself, iin the Holy Spirit, declared,

j“‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at my right hand,

until I put your enemies kunder your feet.”’

37 David himself calls him Lord. So lhow is he his son?” And the great throng mheard himgladly.

Beware of the Scribes

38 nAnd in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in longrobes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagoguesand othe places of honor at feasts, 40 pwho devour widows’ houses and qfor a pretensemake long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Offering

41 rAnd he sat down opposite sthe treasury and watched the people tputting moneyinto the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came andput in two usmall copper coins, which make a penny.6 43 And he called his disciples tohim and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, vthis poor widow has put in more than all thosewho are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of theirabundance, but she out of her wpoverty has put in everything she had, all xshe had to liveon.”