Beware the Trap of Pride
Just after commenting that a certain scribe was very close to the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus condemns the scribes as a whole. The warnings he gives to us are important for us to understand. We may not have a group of people known as ‘scribes’ walking among us today, but, I believe, as we study the warnings Jesus gives us, we will see the description still applies to some misguided people of our day.
Jesus gave us five characteristics of a scribe we should be warry of. 1) They like to go about in long robes. Does God really care about the clothing we wear? To some extent, yes, but this warning honestly has nothing to do with the fabric or the cut of the outfit. This was a time in history when wearing long robes was anything but convenient. It symbolized a leisurely lifestyle. These were not working men’s clothing. The scribe set himself apart from the day-to-day needs of the people he was meant to serve by being inaccessible to them. Imagine arriving at the ‘aid’ of a person whose car was stuck in mud wearing high heals and a long, white dress. Unless you are prepared to lose a shoe and ruin your clothing, you are not truly there to offer assistance. There is a time for advice and guidance, but what we all need is someone who is willing to get in the mud and help us push.
2) They love to have salutations in the market places. These men cared more for the image of being holy than the Holy God they were meant to worship. False Christians are all around us. There are those who look the part for their own purposes and their desires. These may fool a few people, but they can never fool their God. He sees through the golden cross, the scripture tee-shirt, and the worship music. It matters not how we appear but how our hearts truly are.
3) They demand the best seats in the synagogues and feasts. We need to be on guard against wanting recognition for what we do for the Lord. If our goal is in this life, we will receive it. As Jesus says in Matthew 6:2-4, “Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
4) They devour widows’ houses. In Jesus’ day, a teacher could not be paid for his service. Many twisted this rule and used manipulation to convince weak people to donate extravagant gifts. When we work for the Lord, He will provide for us. If we work for the Lord to gain riches and wealth in this life, we might want to examine our motives and our tactics.
5) They love long prayers. G. Campell Morgan wrote that when a man is away his wife for a short period of time, the letters between them are short. When the separation is long, so are the letters. If we have an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father, we wont need to make a grand show of our prayers. They will be a continuation of our conversation. Prayer is a beautifully intimate thing. The words we say need not be flowery or eloquent, simply sincere. Our conversation with our Father looks and sounds quite different than our conversations with a stranger. This is how it should be. God doesn’t want our beautiful prayers. He simply wants our hearts to long to have a conversation with Him.
Let us not be like those who wear their faith as a label. Let us long for truth in our relationship with God. Let us serve others whom He places in our path without worrying about getting our feet dirty. Let us care more about Him and His goals than our own pride or advantages. If being a Christian makes us poor, let us love the simple life. If being a Christian makes us reviled, let us find peace in the exclusion. Wherever God leads us, let us follow in humble submission.
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
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