May 29, 2012 Self-Focused Teachers

Self-focused Teachers Mark 12:38-40 as he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.” HYPOCRISY is a great evil in Jesus’ eyes. He condemns the Pharisees for the ways they use their status to their advantage. Jesus is particularly harsh as he says they “devour widows’ houses”. What does he mean by that? The Pharisees had the authority to exact an excessive tithe of 20-30 per cent from the people. Such a requirement of a widow could make her homeless. Jesus severely condemns this practice. The Son of God often speaks of widows’ care as a sign of belief in God. And God’s law specifically required the Jews to care for a widow’s daily needs. Causing widows to become homeless was clearly a sin. Now Jesus deals with the sin as he speaks to spiritually “defrock” the ones who wear flowing robes but wear no heart for their people. The Pharisees’ pride has become a stumbling block to the heart of God. Jesus calls them out of their hypocrisy into reality. He wants them to be “real” before God, so they will be “real” before his people. The Pharisees have the knowledge to teach people of God’s glory. But pridefully they point to their own glory. This is a grave sin. Keeping people from God will keep the Pharisees from God forever. Pause and consider: is there any hypocrisy in your heart that might keep someone from God?