St Luke 20 : 41 – 47
Then Jesus said to them, ‘How can they say that the Messiah is David’s son? For David himself says in the book of Psalms,
“The Lord said to my Lord,
‘Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.’”
David thus calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?’
In the hearing of all the people he said to the disciples, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’
Reflection
Some of Jesus’s harshest words in the Gospels are reserved for the scribes and the teachers of the Law. The word “hypocrite” is seldom far from our saviour’s lips when he’s chastising people who should know better.
Who are “the scribes” in our societies today? Who are the people that prance about, and want the best seat, and do things for the sake of appearance? Are they our politicians? Turning up for photo shoots at their local food banks but then failing to vote for measures that would alleviate the root causes of poverty. Or are they our social media influencers? Promoting brands on TikTok or Instagram or Facebook but failing to disclose that they’re being paid for their product placements. All too often, I fear the scribes of our age are us – Christians. Many of us say long prayers for the sake of appearance but then fail to play our part in putting our prayers into action.
Jesus’s words are especially sobering for any of us in positions of responsibility. Whether we’re ministers or elders, lay preachers or worship leaders, verses 45, 46, and 47 of Luke chapter 20 should be a litmus test when we’re trying to discern the right course of action – whether it’s writing a sermon, or visiting a friend, or opening our big mouths in public.
Franciscan friar and popular writer Richard Rohr offers another useful litmus test: “I would even say that anything said with too much bravado, over-assurance, or with any need to control or impress another is never the voice of God within us… Why do humans so often presume the exact opposite – that shaming voices are always from God, and grace voices are always the imagination?” [1]
As we continue our journey together through Lent, let’s try our hardest to listen for those voices of grace, giving us the words to share that will build people up, instead of those voices of shame, criticising other people to make ourselves feel better.
[1] https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-loving-voice/
Prayer
Loving God,
please help me to be more like Jesus and his disciples,
and less like the scribes and the teachers of the Law.
Please help me to listen to your words of grace
echoing throughout my heart,
drowning out the shameful cries of my ego.
Please help me to keep my prayers short,
and to be your servant in the marketplace and at the banquet.
In Jesus’s name I pray, Amen.