Not for Show — TDW Kids

Long Robes and Long Prayers

☐

Just before the poor widow gave her two coins, Jesus gave the crowd in the temple a warning. It was about people who did religious things in order to be seen.

Beware. “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” (Mark 12:38-39). Luke says Jesus said this to His disciples while all the people were listening (Luke 20:45-46).

Long robes. Scribes were teachers of God's law. Some of them loved to wear long robes so that everyone would know how important they were.

Greetings. They loved it when people greeted them with honor in the busy marketplace. They wanted respect and attention wherever they went.

Long prayers for show. Jesus said they “devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers” (Mark 12:40). They cheated poor widows out of their homes. Then they prayed long prayers so that people would think they were holy.

To be seen. Matthew tells us Jesus said that these leaders did their works to be seen by people (Matthew 23:5). Their goal was not to please God. It was to look good.

Clean on the outside. Jesus also said they were like a cup that is washed on the outside but dirty on the inside. He told them to clean the inside first (Matthew 23:25-26).

God is not fooled. Jesus said, “These will receive greater condemnation” (Mark 12:40). Condemnation means being judged guilty. God sees what is real, and a show cannot hide a heart from Him.

Not every scribe. Not all scribes were like this. On that same day Jesus told one wise scribe, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34).

A danger for anyone. Wanting to look good is not only a problem for scribes. Anyone can do good things just to be noticed: praying out loud to sound holy, helping only when people are watching or giving so others will praise us.

The one Jesus pointed to. Right after this warning, a poor widow gave two tiny coins. Jesus did not point His disciples to the men in long robes. He pointed them to her.

What to do. Before you do something good, ask yourself whether you are doing it for God or to be seen. Ask Jesus to make you the same on the inside as you are on the outside.

The setting (Mark 12:38). “Then He said to them in His teaching, ‘Beware of the scribes…’” Luke says Jesus spoke these words to His disciples while all the people were listening (Luke 20:45).

What they loved (12:38-39). “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.” Each of these is a way to be noticed: clothing that shows rank, honor in public and seats where everyone can see you.

Prophasis (12:40). “who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers.” The word for pretense is prophasis (say: PROF-ah-sis), a cover story, an outward show that hides the real reason. Their long prayers were a cover for greed. Paul uses the same word in 1 Thessalonians 2:5, where he says he never used a cloak, a cover story, for greed.

Devouring the defenseless. Widows were among the people God most often commanded Israel to protect. The very men who taught the law were swallowing up the homes of the people the law defended.

Seen by people. Matthew records that Jesus said the scribes and Pharisees did all their works to be seen by people. They made their phylacteries broad, the small boxes holding Scripture verses that they wore, and they lengthened the tassels of their robes (Matthew 23:5).

Outside and inside. Jesus compared them to a cup cleaned on the outside while the inside stayed full of greed. He told them to clean the inside first, so that the outside would be clean too (Matthew 23:25-26).

Greater condemnation. “These will receive greater condemnation” (Mark 12:40). People who use religion to cover sin will be judged more strictly, because they knew God's law and used it as a mask.

A way of life, not a job. Jesus was not warning against every scribe. On the same day He told one of them, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34). He was warning against a way of living.

A mirror. The pull to perform for an audience did not end with the scribes. It shows up whenever we pray to impress, serve only when someone is watching or give in order to be praised.

The contrast. Right after this warning, a poor widow gave two lepta. Jesus did not point His disciples to the long robes. He pointed them to her.

For you. Ask God to make your inside and your outside match. Jesus does not want a better performance from you. He wants a true heart that belongs to Him.

The Praise of God

☐

Everyone likes to be told they did a good job. It is not wrong to be glad when someone thanks you. But Jesus warned about loving the praise of people more than the praise of God.

Jesus did not need it. Jesus said, “I do not receive honor from men” (John 5:41). He came in His Father's name, and His Father's approval was enough for Him (John 5:43).

A hard question. Jesus asked some leaders, “How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?” (John 5:44). Wanting people's praise more than God's can even keep a person from trusting Jesus.

Rulers who wanted honor. John tells us that many rulers believed in Jesus, but they would not confess Him (John 12:42). John gives the reason in the next verse.

Why? John says, “for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:43). They cared more about what people thought of them than about what God thought.

Two kinds of praise. The praise of people comes and goes. One day they cheer, and the next day they forget. The praise of God lasts, and He sees what nobody else sees.

Jesus honored His Father. Jesus said, “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true” (John 7:18). Glory means honor and greatness.

Not His own glory. Jesus also said, “And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges” (John 8:50). The Son of God trusted His Father to honor Him at the right time.

Paul learned it too. Paul told the believers in Thessalonica that he spoke to please God, who tests our hearts, not to please people. He said he did not look for glory from anyone (1 Thessalonians 2:4-6).

He went lower. Jesus did not chase honor. He “made Himself of no reputation” and “humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:7-8). There He died for our sins, including every time we have lived for people's praise instead of God's. On the third day God raised Him to life.

Already loved. When you trust Jesus, you do not have to earn God's approval. God already loves you and welcomes you as His child. That frees you to do good without needing anyone to notice.

What to do. This week, when you catch yourself wanting people to praise you, stop and pray. Tell God that His praise is the one you want most.

Doxa. In John's Gospel the word translated honor, praise and glory is often doxa (say: DOK-sah). It can mean the good opinion others have of you: your reputation. The question Jesus raised is whose doxa a person lives for.

John 5:41. “I do not receive honor from men.” Jesus did not depend on human approval for His sense of who He was or what He must do.

John 5:44. “How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?” The hunger for human praise can shut a heart against faith. If people's approval is what you live for, a Savior whom people reject will never look worth following.

John 12:42-43. “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” The love of praise kept them silent about Jesus.

Whose doxa? In 12:43 the same word is used twice: the praise of men and the praise of God. The rulers valued the smaller one more.

John 7:18. Jesus gave a simple test for any teacher: “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.”

John 8:50. “And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges.” Jesus left His honor in His Father's hands.

Paul's aim. Paul wrote that he spoke not to please people but God, who tests our hearts. He did not use flattering words, and he did not look for glory from people (1 Thessalonians 2:4-6).

The way down. Jesus “made Himself of no reputation” (Philippians 2:7). The One who deserved all glory chose the cross and died there for our sins, the sins of people who have loved the praise of men. Then the Father raised Him and gave Him the highest honor.

Freed from performing. In Christ a believer is accepted by God as a gift. Paul says God has made us accepted in the Beloved, His Son (Ephesians 1:6). People who already have the Father's welcome do not need to buy the crowd's applause.

For you. Pay attention to what you do when no one is looking. Let the praise of God be enough, and do good whether anyone sees it or not.

📖

Complete all sections to finish!

Read each section and answer the questions correctly.