One of the Pharisees asks Jesus what is the greatest of the commandments. In Matthew, it seems like another question to test Jesus. In Mark, the Pharisee seems genuinely curious.
Jesus responds with a modified Golden Rule. Jesus says to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.
In Mark, the Pharisee approves and says that these are more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. To this, Jesus approves and states that he is not far from the Kingdom of God.
On other occasions, Jesus has indicated that the Sabbath was a sacrifice. This shoes that these two commandments are more important than the Sabbath.
Likewise, it seems that this man is close to faith.
The Pharisees are otherwise intimidated by Jesus and stop asking him questions. Jesus then asks the rhetorical question, how can the teachers of the law say he is the Son of David while David called him Lord? The question remained unanswered other than the crowd listened to Jesus with delight.
Jesus then warns that the leaders of the law boast themselves, but mistreat widows. In particular they devour widows houses, but make long prayers This seems to be a reference of the prior statement about the second of he greatest commandments. I other words, the leaders of he law do not love their neighbors as themselves, which is more important than all the sacrifices.
Finally, Jesus watches the crowd put money in the offerings. The rich put in a lot of money, but w widow put in two small copper coins. Jesus notes that she had put in more than the others, not because of the absolute value of the coins, but that it was all this woman had.
Note, this is not an expectation that God wants us to give all our money to the church. This amount was far in excess anything required in the law. Rather, God wants all our trust. The woman is putting all her trust in God. Likewise, the sacrifice we make will be viewed in proportion to what we have been given.
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