45 Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples, 46 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; 47 Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation. (Luke 20:45-47 KJV)
Beware of the Scribes
Here, Christ described the scribes in harsh terms, and Christ publicly warns his disciples to beware of them (Luke 20:45-47), as recorded also in Mark 12 and in more detail in Matthew 23. Christ warned: “Beware of the scribes,” that is:
Take care not to imitate their behavior or follow their example. Don’t be to the Christian church what they were to the Jewish church. Also, be on guard against their schemes, as Jesus warned in Matthew 10:17: “Beware of men, for they will hand you over to the councils.”
They were proud and arrogant. They loved to walk in long robes, acting as if they were above ordinary concerns, and sought admiration in public places. They were proud of their elevated status in synagogues and banquets, and thought highly of themselves while looking down on others.
They were also greedy and abusive, using religion to cover their wrongdoing. They devoured widows’ houses—taking over their estates through deception or manipulation—and disguised their exploitation with long, showy prayers. Perhaps they prayed with the widows in their grief, pretending to care deeply for them, just to gain their trust and gain access to their resources. People would trust such outwardly devout men with anything, but the scribes used that trust to enrich themselves.
Christ pronounced their judgment in plain terms: “These will receive greater condemnation.” Their sin was twofold: they abused both the vulnerable and the practice of religion itself. Their false piety made their wickedness even greater.