Then He said to them in His teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.” (Mark 12:38-40)

Receiving A Greater Condemnation

The scribe had developed in the time of Jesus to be a man who was a teacher of the law, a man of letters, someone who read and interpreted the extensive and complicated Law of Moses. In modern times, they would be considered the lawyers of the day. When Moses wrote the Law, the priests served to teach the people the law, but after the captivity, scribes began to take a more influential role in teaching and interpreting the law. Ezra was a priest and a scribe who was an expert in the words of the commandments of the Lord and His statutes to Israel.

Jesus was often challenged by the Jewish scribes of His day. The people recognized that the teaching of Jesus was with authority, unlike the teaching of the scribes. More often than not, the scribes joined themselves with the sect of the Pharisees to attack Jesus. It was the Jewish elders, chief priests, and scribes who would convince Pilate to crucify Jesus. The teaching of Jesus addressed the iniquity of the scribes, who, under the semblance of piety, would demand that the people treat them with great pomp and circumstance, the best seats in the synagogues and feasts; who took from the poor and disenfranchised for their own gain and indulgence. A scribe would offer a glowing and lengthy prayer to show the people his pious heart. Jesus knew the hypocrisy of their hearts.

As leaders of the people, the scribes would be judged more harshly than the people they oppressed. There were many reasons why Jesus said the scribes would receive a greater condemnation. Under the mask of religion, the scribes had created a religious order that elevated themselves above the people in a proud, arrogant, and haughty manner. They oppressed the people by taking advantage of their ignorance and would take property through deceit from widows. The Law of Moses protected the poor and widows, and what the scribes were doing was an outrage against the will of God. They would receive a greater condemnation because they were supposed to be leaders of the people to protect them, not abuse them.

God holds spiritual leaders to a higher standard because of their position of influence. James pointed out that those who teach the word of God will be judged more strictly. It is a grave responsibility to teach the gospel of Christ. Preachers should never take lightly their responsibility in preaching God’s whole counsel. Shepherds of the church will give an account for their leadership. They serve the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Abusing the position of power and influence will be met with the greater condemnation of the Lord God.