Transcript:
One of the topics addressed by the Bible is the rewards we will receive in heaven. The Bible makes it clear there will be rewards, but the identity of the rewards and the criteria to earn them is not clear. Most Christians are aware there will be rewards, but it is not talked about or taught very often.
To the extent Christians do think about eternal rewards, there is a default mindset that those who do the most here on earth, will receive the most in eternity. For example, the expectation is those who gain the most converts, give the most money, or build the biggest churches will receive the biggest rewards.
This mindset affects how we think about the role of women. If rewards are based on total output, then women would need to have equal opportunity as men to do ministry in order to earn eternal rewards. If women are not allowed to be Pastors or elders, then they are destined to have fewer rewards in heaven, according to the dominant mindset.
However, that is not correct. Jesus actually employs a very different outlook regarding success. He doesn’t evaluate total output. He evaluates sacrifice.
Jesus revealed His perspective on success when He was sitting in the temple. He observed a widow putting a small amount into the treasury. Jesus made a statement to His disciples that reveals He will reward those who do the most with whatever lot they are given in life. Someone who accomplishes very little here on earth can conceivably earn the greatest reward in heaven, and vice versa.
When Jesus took His healing and teaching ministry to Jerusalem, and threw the merchants out of the temple, the religious leaders became desperate to discredit and destroy Jesus. The priests, scribes, and elders challenged His authority. The Pharisees and Herodians tried to trap Jesus with a question about taxes. The Sadducees confronted Him regarding the resurrection. Jesus skillfully navigated through all those tests and escaped every snare.
Then a scribe asked Jesus which is the greatest commandment. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.
Mark 12:32 And the scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that HE IS ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM;
Mark 12:33 AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE’S NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
Jesus had listed the two greatest commandments, but He had not said anything about those commandments being greater than burnt offerings. That is something the scribe said on his own initiative.
Mark 12:34 And when Jesus saw that he had answered thoughtfully, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one would dare to ask Him any more questions.
This scribe was thinking correctly and Jesus acknowledged that.
The religious leaders failed to trap Jesus, so they stopped trying. Jesus was too wise for them.
Mark 12:35 ¶ And Jesus began to say, as He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?
Mark 12:36 David himself said in the Holy Spirit,
‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD,
“SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,
UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES BENEATH YOUR FEET.”’
This is a quote from Psalm 110. Psalm 110 was written in Hebrew and reads, “Yahweh says to my Lord.” David recorded something that Yahweh said his lord. David was referring to the Christ when he talked about his lord.
Mark 12:37 David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; so in what sense is He his son?” And the large crowd enjoyed listening to Him.
Jesus asked how the Christ could be both David’s lord and David’s son. I don’t think Jesus was expecting an answer. It was a rhetorical question.
Jesus accomplished a couple things with His question. He demonstrated that He was wiser than the religious leaders. He illustrated that the leaders did not have the mastery of the scriptures they pretended to have. He proved that some aspects of theology are beyond human ability to understand.
Mark 12:38 ¶ And in His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes who want to walk around in long robes, and want respectful greetings in the marketplaces,
Mark 12:39 and best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets,
Mark 12:40 who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation.”
Jesus warned the people about certain scribes. They appeared righteous, but they were devouring widows.
We have a similar problem in evangelicalism today. There are pastors who have built huge churches and appear righteous. However, behind the scenes they have been abusing people, stealing money, and committing adultery. Christians need to be wise and discerning and not allow external appearances to blind us to reality.
Mark 12:41 ¶ And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the crowd was putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums.
The rich people were putting large sums of money into the temple treasury.
Mark 12:42 And a poor widow came and put in two lepta, which amount to a quadrans.
A widow put a very small amount into the treasury.
Mark 12:43 And calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all those putting money into the treasury;
Mark 12:44 for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
The widow put in more than the rich because she gave a greater percentage of her possessions.
Humans tend to think those who contribute the most money, or gain the most converts will receive the most rewards in eternity. However, Jesus does not evaluate people based on total output. He evaluates what people do with whatever lot in life they are given.
Mark 13:1 ¶ And as He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!”
Mark 13:2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.”
This was probably unthinkable to most people living at that time. The temple complex was huge. It felt very secure. It was easy for them to assume the temple would always exist. However, around 40 years later, in 70AD, the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem and the temple.
We make similar assumptions today. We look at the current geopolitical status quo and assume things will always be this way. Americans believe the United States will always be a superpower. People can’t imagine China not being a communist country. The fighting in the Middle East seems destined to never end.
However, things do change. The cold war ended. Russia is no longer a communist nation. Europe has changed dramatically in recent years. We should learn from history and recognize that change is inevitable, even drastic, unbelievable change.
Mark 13:3 ¶ And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately,
Mark 13:4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?”
One of the topics addressed by the Bible is the rewards we will receive in heaven. The Bible makes it clear there will be rewards, but the identity of the rewards and the criteria to earn them is not clear.
Humans tend to think those who contribute the most money, gain the most converts, or build the biggest ministries will receive the most rewards in eternity. This mindset affects how we think about the role of women. If rewards are based on total output, then women would need to have equal opportunity as men to do ministry in order to earn eternal rewards.
However, Jesus does not evaluate people based on total output. He evaluates what people do with whatever lot in life they are given. He evaluates sacrifice.
Jesus stated that the widow who gave a small amount actually gave a greater amount than all the rich people, because she gave almost everything she had. Meanwhile, the rich people gave from their surplus.
People who have lesser talents or fewer opportunities to do ministry will not necessarily receive fewer rewards in eternity. Women, having restrictions on the roles they can perform, will not suffer less recognition due to those restrictions. Instead, women, and all people, will be evaluated on how well they obeyed God. Their rewards will be based on what they did with what God gave them, and how well they used those gifts within the parameters spelled out in the Bible.
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”
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