Luke 20:45-47 45And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, 46“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at the feasts, 47who devour the houses of widows and for show make long prayers. They will receive greater condemnation.”
In his next teaching, Jesus focuses on speaking to his disciples in thee form of a warning. Many different types of people were gathered in the temple area going about various pious acts. Some were sincere, like Jesus’ parents in 2:41. Others came only for the social prestige to impress. The next two stories illustrate these two approaches.
Jesus gives the first scenario as a warning. The focus of his criticism was the scribes, who were the scholars who should have known the fine points of the Jewish faith. Hanging around the temple precincts would have provided them an opportunity to study Scripture and teach about the law. Jesus’ characterization may not have fit every scribe since there have always been sincere people in every group, but there would have been enough of them at the temple that the disciples would have easily recognized them.
Verse 46 is all about how the scribes tried to look impressive and get people’s attention. The first description is of their long flowing robes. They wore fancy clothes that made them obvious to others. In today’s terms, they would be in the latest style that people notice. They dressed to impress. They also liked getting people’s attention out in the marketplaces, which is where a lot of the social mingling took place. The best seats in the synagogue were upfront, where people noticed. The places of honor at a banquet were at the head table or by the host. All of these actions showed how they elevated themselves so that they got the honor and attention.
Verse 47 gives a strong contrast. On the one hand, they are so filled with selfish ambition that they cheat widows out of their property. In today’s world, this is seen by swindlers who take advantage of the elderly or charge exorbitant prices for labor and services. Widows were one of the most vulnerable groups of that time, which little recourse or means of support. On the other hand, they try to look pious by their long prayers. God does not need us to say long or loud prayers. These scribes looked religious on the outside, but on the inside, they were full of greed and selfishness. The two cannot go together. The serious outcome for people like that is great judgment.
Disciples should not be like this kind of people. Disciples must take a servant attitude and not be out front to get people’s attention. Our hearts and actions should be like our Teacher, Jesus, who was compassionate and gracious and showed what true piety is about.
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