Mark 12 - GNTD & KBTP

In a world that often values splendour and abundance, the Bible reminds us that even the smallest gifts can have a profound impact. God’s kingdom operates differently from the world’s standards, showing us that it is not the size of the gift that matters, but the heart behind it. Here are seven Bible verses that illustrate the transformative power of small yet significant acts of giving.

1. The Widow’s Offering

“Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:43-44)

The widow’s two small coins seemed insignificant compared to the large sums others gave, yet Jesus celebrated her gift because it came from her heart and her trust in God. Despite her poverty, she gave all she had, demonstrating an unwavering faith in God’s provision. This story teaches us that the value of a gift is not measured by its size but by the sacrifice and faith it represents. Her act challenges us to consider what we’re willing to give, even when it feels like we have little to offer.

2. The Boy with Loaves and Fish

“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” (John 6:9)

A young boy offered his small and inadequate lunch to Jesus, and it became the catalyst for one of the greatest miracles, feeding over five thousand people. His offering was small and ordinary, yet in Jesus’ hands, it became extraordinary. This story reminds us that God can take what little we have and multiply it beyond our imagination when we give with an open heart. The boy’s willingness to share what he had shows us the importance of trusting God to use our contributions for His glory.

3. A Cup of Water

“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:42)

A simple act of kindness, like offering water, does not go unnoticed in God’s eyes. Jesus emphasizes that even the smallest gesture, done with love and for His sake, carries eternal significance. Small gestures of kindness can make a significant difference in someone’s life and are cherished by God. This verse inspires us to recognize the value of everyday acts of kindness and how they reflect God’s love to those around us.

4. Faith as Small as a Mustard Seed

“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)

This verse reminds us that even the smallest contributions, when paired with faith, can achieve monumental results. Just as a mustard seed grows into a mighty tree, small acts of giving can create ripples of change. It’s not about the magnitude of what we bring, but the faith with which we bring it. When we trust God, even the smallest step can lead to extraordinary outcomes.

5. The Generosity of the Macedonians

“Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” (2 Corinthians 8:2)

The Macedonian believers gave generously despite their poverty, demonstrating that generosity is not about wealth but about a willing heart. Their joy in giving came not from abundance but from their love for God and others. They saw giving as a privilege rather than a burden. Their example encourages us to give cheerfully, no matter our circumstances, trusting that our contributions, however small, can make a meaningful difference.

6. The Woman Who Anointed Jesus

“She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.” (Mark 14:8)

The woman who anointed Jesus with perfume gave what she had, and her act of devotion was celebrated by Jesus. Though her gift may have seemed small in the world’s eyes, it carried eternal significance. Her act of love and sacrifice demonstrates that giving is not always about meeting physical needs but can also be an expression of worship and honor. This story challenges us to consider how our gifts reflect our love for Christ.

7. The Power of Partnership

“For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.” (2 Corinthians 8:3-4)

This verse highlights the collective power of small contributions. The Macedonians gave beyond their ability, showing that sacrificial giving often comes from a deep desire to serve. When we come together to give, even small gifts can combine to create a big impact, supporting God’s work in powerful ways. Their story reminds us that generosity is not limited by our resources but by the willingness of our hearts.

Conclusion

The Bible teaches us that small gifts, when given with a pure heart and faith, can have a big impact. Whether it’s a widow’s coins, a boy’s lunch, or a cup of water, God sees and honors every act of generosity. These stories remind us that in God’s hands, no gift is too small. This Christmas, let’s be inspired to give what we have—no matter how small—and trust that God will use it for His glory and the good of others. Even the smallest gift can be a seed for miracles in God’s hands.

The Parable of the Tenants in the Vineyard

(Matthew 21.33-46Luke 20.9-19)

1 Then Jesus spoke to them in parables: “Once there was a man who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a hole for the wine press, and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to tenants and left home on a trip. 2 When the time came to gather the grapes, he sent a slave to the tenants to receive from them his share of the harvest. 3 The tenants grabbed the slave, beat him, and sent him back without a thing. 4 Then the owner sent another slave; the tenants beat him over the head and treated him shamefully. 5 The owner sent another slave, and they killed him; and they treated many others the same way, beating some and killing others. 6 The only one left to send was the man's own dear son. Last of all, then, he sent his son to the tenants. ‘I am sure they will respect my son,’ he said. 7 But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the owner's son. Come on, let's kill him, and his property will be ours!’ 8 So they grabbed the son and killed him and threw his body out of the vineyard.

9 “What, then, will the owner of the vineyard do?” asked Jesus. “He will come and kill those tenants and turn the vineyard over to others. 10 Surely you have read this scripture?

‘The stone which the builders rejected as worthless

turned out to be the most important of all.

11 This was done by the Lord;

what a wonderful sight it is!’”

12 The Jewish leaders tried to arrest Jesus, because they knew that he had told this parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd, so they left him and went away.

The Question about Paying Taxes

(Matthew 22.15-22Luke 20.20-26)

13 Some Pharisees and some members of Herod's party were sent to Jesus to trap him with questions. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you tell the truth, without worrying about what people think. You pay no attention to anyone's status, but teach the truth about God's will for people. Tell us, is it against our Law to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor? Should we pay them or not?”

15 But Jesus saw through their trick and answered, “Why are you trying to trap me? Bring a silver coin, and let me see it.”

16 They brought him one, and he asked, “Whose face and name are these?”

“The Emperor's,” they answered.

17 So Jesus said, “Well, then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay to God what belongs to God.”

And they were amazed at Jesus.

The Question about Rising from Death

(Matthew 22.23-33Luke 20.27-40)

18 Then some Sadducees, who say that people will not rise from death, came to Jesus and said, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote this law for us: ‘If a man dies and leaves a wife but no children, that man's brother must marry the widow so that they can have children who will be considered the dead man's children.’ 20 Once there were seven brothers; the oldest got married and died without having children. 21 Then the second one married the woman, and he also died without having children. The same thing happened to the third brother, 22 and then to the rest: all seven brothers married the woman and died without having children. Last of all, the woman died. 23 Now, when all the dead rise to life on the day of resurrection, whose wife will she be? All seven of them had married her.”

24 Jesus answered them, “How wrong you are! And do you know why? It is because you don't know the Scriptures or God's power. 25 For when the dead rise to life, they will be like the angels in heaven and will not marry. 26 Now, as for the dead being raised: haven't you ever read in the Book of Moses the passage about the burning bush? There it is written that God said to Moses, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 27 He is the God of the living, not of the dead. You are completely wrong!”

The Great Commandment

(Matthew 22.34-40Luke 10.25-28)

28 A teacher of the Law was there who heard the discussion. He saw that Jesus had given the Sadducees a good answer, so he came to him with a question: “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

29 Jesus replied, “The most important one is this: ‘Listen, Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second most important commandment is this: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment more important than these two.”

32 The teacher of the Law said to Jesus, “Well done, Teacher! It is true, as you say, that only the Lord is God and that there is no other god but he. 33 And you must love God with all your heart and with all your mind and with all your strength; and you must love your neighbor as you love yourself. It is more important to obey these two commandments than to offer on the altar animals and other sacrifices to God.”

34 Jesus noticed how wise his answer was, and so he told him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”

After this nobody dared to ask Jesus any more questions.

The Question about the Messiah

(Matthew 22.41-46Luke 20.41-44)

35 As Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he asked the question, “How can the teachers of the Law say that the Messiah will be the descendant of David? 36 The Holy Spirit inspired David to say:

‘The Lord said to my Lord:

Sit here at my right side

until I put your enemies under your feet.’

37 David himself called him ‘Lord’; so how can the Messiah be David's descendant?”

Jesus Warns against the Teachers of the Law

(Matthew 23.1-36Luke 20.45-47)

A large crowd was listening to Jesus gladly. 38 As he taught them, he said, “Watch out for the teachers of the Law, who like to walk around in their long robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplace, 39 who choose the reserved seats in the synagogues and the best places at feasts. 40 They take advantage of widows and rob them of their homes, and then make a show of saying long prayers. Their punishment will be all the worse!”

The Widow's Offering

(Luke 21.1-4)

Small Gifts, Big Impact

41 As Jesus sat near the Temple treasury, he watched the people as they dropped in their money. Many rich men dropped in a lot of money; 42 then a poor widow came along and dropped in two little copper coins, worth about a penny. 43

He called his disciples together and said to them, “I tell you that this poor widow put more in the offering box than all the others. 44 For the others put in what they had to spare of their riches; but she, poor as she is, put in all she had—she gave all she had to live on.”

Tjifaniso tje balimi mu nnda we mizhambi

(Matewu 21:33-46Luke 20:9-19)

1 Jesu katangisa kulebeleka nabo nge zwifaniso eti, “Mmwe nlume wakati kathama nnda we mizhambi, kaushoshela, katsha gomba linokobolegwa zhambi pakati kwawo, kabaka thungamakole muuli, kawusayidza bamwe balimi, ngono iye kayenda ku imwe shango. 2 Kwakati tjabe tjibaka tje zhambi, katuma nlanda uwe kuti anontolela dzimwe zhambi dzadwa mu nnda we mizhambi. 3 Bakatola nlanda bakanloba, bakanshandusa akalembedza maboko. 4 Mweni we nnda kapapha katuma mmwe nlanda, ngono na iyebo bakaswika bakamphobola mu nsholo, bakanthama zwithu zwinobhatisa shoni. 5 Kabuya katumila mmwe nlanda kakale, bakaswika bembulaya, bakathama beijalo mu bamwe banjinji bakatumwa shule kukwe bakabaloba, bamwe bakababulaya. 6 Ngono wakabe atjisaligwa nge nkololo uwe waakabe eda kwazo. Gwe bupelo katuma iye, ezwidwa eti, ‘Banowoteta nkololo wangu.’ 7 Koga balimi ibabo be nnda bakalebeleka tje kwabo bakati, ‘Oyu ndiye n'gali we thaka, ngatimbulayeni, kuti ndizo thaka ibe yedu.’ 8 Bakambhata, bakambulaya, bakanlashila kuzhe kwe nnda we mizhambi.

9 “Mweni we nnda unowothama eyitini kene? Unowobuya kawolobesa balimi ibabo, ngono unowosayidza nnda iwoyo we mizhambi kuna bapoga. 10 Amuzobala matama amu hwalo dze Ndzimu anoti,

“ ‘Bgwe lakalambiwa nge babaki,

ndilo lakabe bgwe linotambunudza mbako;

11 ikoku kwakayitiwa ndi She,

ngono kotjenamisa mu mesho edu?’ ”

12 Batungamili be Bajuta bakashaka zila yabangansunga ndiyo, ngobe bakabe babona kuti unodwa ibo, koga bakatja mbunga we bathu. Ndizo bakansiya bakayenda.

Jesu unobhuzwiwa ngekwe kulipa lukhetho

(Matewu 22:15-22Luke 20:20-26)

13 Batungamili be Bajuta bakantumila Bafarasi bamwe ne batobeli* ba Herode kuti bambhatshile mu ndebo dzidze. 14 Bakazha bakan'dwa bakati, “N'diyi, toziba kuti muna malebeswa, amuna hanya kuti nthu ndiani, nge kuti amutolinga mamo e bathu, koga nge malebeswa modiya zila ye Ndzimu. Apa kwakafanila kuti tilipe lukhetho kuna Kaisara kene tisilipe?”

15 Tigulipe kene tisigulipe? Koga Jesu kaziba butjengedzi gwabo, ngono kabadwa kati, “Apa ini mundilika kene? Zhisani ngeno loso ling'ompela ndibone.”

16 Ngono bakalizhisa. Kabadwa kati, “Ifano tjaani itjetji ne zina nge laani?” Bakanshandula bakati, “Nge zwa Kaisara.”

17 Jesu kabadwa kati, “Ipani Kaisara zwithu zwa Kaisara, mupe Ndzimu zwithu zwe Ndzimu.” Bakankaabalila.

Bhuzo ngekwe kumuka kwe bafi

(Matewu 22:23-33Luke 20:27-40)

18 Basadusi, ibo bathu bakabe beti akutomukiwa mu bafi, bakazha kuna Jesu. Ngono bakambhuzwa bakati, 19 “N'diyi, Mushe wakatikwalila eti, ‘Ha nlume angafa esiya nkadzi asina bana, nnung'una we nfi wakafanila n'galathaka, kuti anthamile bana.’ 20 Kwakabe kuna bamwe balume bakazwagwa bali kutendeka, bali bana be nthu. Hwola katola nkadzi, ngono kafa ensiya asina mwana. 21 Nnung'una uwe kan'galathaka, ngono na iyebo kafa asina mwana naye ne we butatubo katobela. 22 Bose bali kutendeka bakasheta mwana wabasiya. Bhelelo nkadzi kafabo. 23 Mu kumuka kwe bafi, unowobe nkadzi waupi? Nge kuti bose bali kutendeka bakabe bakanlobola.”

24 Jesu kati ku bali, “Apa kusaziba hwalo kene simba le Ndzimu kwenyu ate iko kunomulasha kene? 25 Nge kuti ha bemuka mu bafi abatolobola, kakale abatolobogwa, koga banowobe benga batumwa be kudzimu. 26 Koga ngekwe kumuka kwe bafi, apa amuzobala kene mu lukwalo gwa Mushe panolebgwa ngekwe denje, kuti Ndzimu wakadwa Mushe ukati, ‘Ndimi Ndzimu wa Abhurahama, ndimi Ndzimu wa Isaki, ndimi Ndzimu wa Jakubo kene?’ 27 Ate Ndzimu we bafi, koga Ndzimu we batjili. Mose moleyanya.”

Ngekwe nlayo nkulu

(Matewu 22:34-40Luke 10:25-28)

28 Mmwe we Badiyi be nlayo kati esedzela pejo, kabahwa benyanyayidzana, ngono kati ehwa kuti Jesu wadabila zubuyanana, kambhuzwa kati, “Ndiupi nlayo nkulu pa mimwe?”

29 Jesu kadabila kati, “Nlayo nkulu pa mimwe ndi hwoyu, ‘Hwililani imwi Baiziraela, She Ndzimu wedu, She bang'ompela. 30 Ida She Ndzimu uwo nge moyo uwo wose nenge meya iyo yose nenge nkumbulo uwo wose nenge masimba awo wose.’ 31 Nlayo nkulu kutobeledza ndihwoyu, ‘Ida mmwe nthu sekwa unozwida.’ Akuna mmwe nlayo unopinda iyeyi.”

32 N'diyi we nlayo kadwa Jesu kati, “Molebesa tjose, N'diyi. Malebesa kuti Ndzimu nng'ompela, ngono akuna mmwe Ndzimu kuzhe kwa iwo woga. 33 Ngono kuti tiwude nge moyo wose nenge njalakang'wa dzose nenge masimba wose nenge kuda mmwe nthu sekwa unozwida, ikoku kopinda zwipo zose zwinopisiwa ne zwimwe zwibhayilo.”

34 Jesu kati ehwa N'diyi we nlayo an'dabila nge butjenjedu, kan'dwa kati, “Aute uli kule kule ne bushe gwe Ndzimu.”

Kudwa ipapo akuna mmwe wakatongo shaka kumbhuzwa bhuzo kene ili yakatini.

Bhuzo ngekwe Mesiya

(Matewu 22:41-46Luke 20:41-44)

35 Jesu kati ediya mu Ng'umba ye Ndzimu kati, “Ini badiyi be nlayo beti Mesiya nkololo wa Dafite kene? 36 Dafite nge kukwe wakati elaugwa nge Meya yakayengemala, kalebeleka kati,

“ ‘She bakati kuna She wangu,

gala ku luboko gwangu gwe luji

kudzina ndibiga zwita zwizo pasi kwe makumbo awo.’

37 “Apa Dafite ungati en'dana eti ‘She,’ ungabe nkololo uwe tjini kene?”

Bunjinji gwe bathu bakabe bakanhwilila gukashathisiwa nge ndebo iye.

Jesu unolaya bathu ngekwe badiyi be nlayo

(Matewu 23:1-36Luke 20:45-47)

38 Mu zwidiyo zwizwe wakalebeleka eti, “Muzwitjengete mu badiyi be nlayo, banoda kuambala hazu ndefu ndefu ne kulezwiwa ku matengeselo. 39 Banoda magalo mabuyanana mu ng'umba ye ntembezelo ne kuda bugalo gwe mamo ha kuli mu mizano ye zojiwa. 40 Banotjebela tjilikadzi, bezwiyedza bathu bakalulwama nge mitembezelo yabo milefu. Shamu yabo inowobe hwulu.”

Tjipo tjakadusiwa nge tjilikadzi

(Luke 21:1-4)

41 Jesu kagala kulingisana ne panodusigwa zwipo zwe mari, kalingilila bathu banjinji belonga mari abo panolongwa zwipo mu Ng'umba ye Ndzimu. Bafumi banjinji bakalonga mari manjinji. 42 Kukazha nshayi we tjilikadzi kalonga mari mabili e themba tukununu tjose. 43 Ipapo Jesu kadana badiyiwa babe kabadwa kati, “Ndolebesa nditi, iyeyi tjilikadzi isina tjayo, yadusa kupinda bose. 44 Bamwe bawungunula mu fumwa yabo, koga iye nenguba ali nshayi, wadusa kose kwaanako mu butjilo gugwe.”