Luke 20:39-47: a reflection

39Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you speak well.” 40They didn’t dare to ask him any more questions. 41He said to them, “Why do they say that the Christ is David’s son? 42David himself says in the book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 43until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.”’ 44“David therefore calls him Lord, so how is he his son?” 45In the hearing of all the people, he said to his disciples, 46“Beware of those scribes who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts; 47who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

In the hearing of the crowd, Jesus warns his disciples about the scribes, the religious professionals of the day. Beware of them, he says, for they love recognition and status: the flowing robes, the greetings in the marketplaces, the seats of honor in the synagogues, the places of honor at feasts. And worse, they use a show of piety to cover exploitation: they devour widows' houses while making long prayers for a pretense. They will receive, Jesus says, the greater condemnation.

Notice what Jesus condemns in the scribes: a religion of status and show that lacked real substance and even harmed others. They loved the recognition their religious position brought, the honor and the greetings and the best places; and their piety was partly a pretense, a show of long prayers that covered the exploitation of the vulnerable. Their religion served their own status and appearance, not God or their neighbor.

That is a warning against a religion of status and show. It is possible to be drawn to faith partly for the recognition and standing it can bring, to love being seen as devout, to make a show of piety while the heart and the conduct do not match. But Jesus condemns this sharply; a religion that seeks status and appearance while lacking substance, and covers wrong with a show of devotion, is worse than no religion. Examine your own faith for the love of recognition and the temptation to show. Seek to be devout before God, not to be seen as devout by others; pursue humble sincerity rather than status and show. Let your religion serve God and your neighbor, not your own standing and appearance.

Lord Jesus, you warned against the scribes who loved recognition and status, the seats of honor and the greetings, and made long prayers for show while exploiting the vulnerable; you said they would receive the greater condemnation. Warn me against a religion of status and show. It is possible for me to be drawn to faith partly for the recognition and standing it can bring, to love being seen as devout, to make a show of piety while my heart and conduct do not match. But you condemn this sharply. Examine my faith for the love of recognition and the temptation to show. Help me seek to be devout before you, not to be seen as devout by others; help me pursue humble sincerity rather than status and show. Let my religion serve you and my neighbor, not my own standing and appearance. Keep me from the scribes' error, and give me a sincere and humble faith.