Humans are naturally drawn to what looks good on the outside. That, in and of itself, is not an issue. However, it can lead to a certain set of misconceptions because outward appearances tend to not be a great litmus test for what is true and what is false. Outward appearances only tell part of the story.
Jesus warns about this in Mark. People in that day were drawn to the teaching of the teachers of the law, but more so because of how they dressed and acted and how they were perceived by the community. The warning was needed because although they looked good, their teaching was false and their actions toward the poorest in society reflected poor teaching.
In today's sermon, we will dig into the applications from Jesus' warning and also why this is important for us today. We will also make the connection between part one of this text and part two which includes the widow's offering.
