Beholding HOW, not how much

 In Mark 12 is the famous story of the widow's mite: [41] And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

[42] And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
[43] And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
[44] For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

"Jesus has the discussion with them and then goes and sits down right next to the treasury box; the money box where everybody's heart is," explains Jordan. "Notice, He beheld HOW the people cast money in. The issue with God is never how MUCH; it's always the motive. How? Where did it come from? In II Corinthians 8, the main issue under grace is never how much; it's what does it say about your heart?

"So Christ is evaluating their heart. With the widow, it was ALL IN. Now why would she do that? By the way, the rich young ruler went away because he had great possessions. He didn't cast any in. The young man in Mark, he's not far, but one more step and that's it: 'Follow me.' 

"This poor little lady is a picture of the Believing Remnant in Israel, what Jesus called the little flock. Luke 12: [31] But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

[32] Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
[33] Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
[34] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

"You see, folks, if you go back today and try to make Matthew, Mark, Luke and John your doctrine, you're going to wind up bankrupt.

"Mark 12 is painting the picture of the indictment of the nation. Christ is letting them indict themselves out of their own mouth and then He demonstrates, 'Here's that one step you need to take. Follow me.' That little widow, she got it."

*****

“I was reading a biography written by E. Skyler English of Harry Ironside, the former pastor of Moody Church. Ironside carried on an itinerant teaching ministry all across the nation for many years prior to that. He was quite an influential figure in the ’30s and ’40s in Chicago and in fundamentalism. In fact, he was called ‘The Archbishop of Fundamentalism.’

“I can remember a number of times talking to C.R. Stam about Mr. Ironside. You folks here from the old North Shore church days will remember that Pastor J.C. O’Hare used to really contend with Pastor Ironside about doctrine.

“O’Hare would write these little books with these wonderful titles. He had one called, ‘Much Ado About Something.’ Another one is, ‘An Open Letter to M.R. DeHahn, Harry Ironside and other misinformed Baptist preachers.’ He was very subtle, about like a jackhammer.

“I used to talk to Mr. Stam about what went on in the late ’30s and early ’40s, and there was a great recovery of truth. In fact, one of the things O’Hare used to do is review sections of Ironside's commentary on Ephesians 3 and Colossians 1, when Ironside taught very clearly the separate, distinctive ministry of Paul from the 12, and grace from law and the Body of Christ from Israel. He would have taught it just like I would have taught it, or Pastor O’Hare would have taught it, or Pastor Stam.

“But he was denying it then, and Pastor O’Hare was trying to make the point that, ‘If you just believe what you say in your books and you still sell your books, you would agree with us.’ And there was a great controversy that arose.

“Mr. Stam used to tell me that there was a point in the early ’40s when he and Pastor O’Hare and many others really genuinely believed and thought that all those brothers like Ironside and Gabelein and Pettingill and Halderman and Newell and all those great Bible teachers . . .  Otman and Grey and Barnhouse and all those guys.

"He said they all understood the distinctiveness of Paul’s ministry from Israel and they thought they were all going to stand for it and that, more than any other one person, it was Harry Ironside who could have made the day by taking a stand for it, and the others would have felt comfortable following, but he refused. Ironside refused by standing up and saying, and he wrote a book about it, ‘Imagine the audacity of these O’Harites! . . .’ You see, they’ve always called us names . . ."

(new article tomorrow)