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By Steven C. Wright|Published Date: November 20, 2010
Mark 12:38-40
38And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
The Story: Having just noted the deficient doctrine of scribes (vv. 35-37), Jesus turns to consider their poor practice. Those in the kingdom of God are to be marked by orthodoxy (right doctrine) and orthopraxis (right practice). The scribes failed on both counts. Jesus counsels the crowds, “Beware of the scribes.” The first problem is that the scribes used their status as religious leaders to cultivate honor from men. Their distinctive garb was used as a calling card for deferential greetings and perks that came with their office, like “the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts.”
It is one thing humbly to accept such honor when it happens to come one’s way. It is quite another thing to seek it out, to view it as one’s right, and to allow it to feed pride and arrogance. That is how the scribes lived. Such selfishness also led them to use religion as a cloak for avarice. Widows were among the most vulnerable members of society, dependent upon the charity of the community if their families could not provide for them. Scribes might be expected to be advocates of widows, but too often they manipulated widows for their own selfish gain.
The scribes’ pretentious prayers provided just the right religious atmosphere to “devour widows’ houses” by bilking them for all they were worth. Every age has such religious charlatans. Jesus taught that those in the Kingdom were to be known for their self-denial in the service of God and neighbor, but these scribes were experts in self-promotion. Such rapacious behavior now would exact a high cost in the future: “They will receive the greater condemnation.” It is no wonder Jesus warns against looking to the scribes as religious role models!
The Structure: This episode functions in two ways in this chapter. Retrospectively, this characterization of scribes in general shows how remarkably exceptional was the case of the scribe who was “not far from the kingdom” (v. 34). Prospectively, we are being prepared for another study in contrast when we move from hearing of selfish scribes who take all they can get from widows to witnessing an exemplary widow who gives all that she has (vv. 41-44).
Do you have an inordinate desire to receive praise from men? If so, pray that God would deliver you into the freedom of living for His praise alone.
For more insight to the Gospel of Mark, get the book, Mark, by J. C. Ryle, from our online store.
The Worldview Bible examines the teaching of Scripture according to the Story and Structure of Truth – the Framework of Christian Worldview – using only other Scriptures for illumination. Information about The Framework of Truth is available on this site. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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