And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
When I think of the scribes I reflect on the modern day religious leaders who hold to a very literal and legal interpretation of the scriptures. These modern day scribes can give you the Greek definitions of biblical words but often do not really understand the essence of what those words mean. These reduce life to knowledge living life from their own understanding and not really understanding that life is all about trusting the Lord with all of their heart.
I wonder if the Lord is subtly warning us about the dangers of becoming scribes in our hearts? Maybe it is the scribe within us that desires honor when we serve the Lord that we should most fear? I have been on both sides of that religious coin. I have found myself loving the attention of being a spiritual leader and I have seen the bad affects of leaders who do. It makes me want to pray short prayers and live a simple life of serving the Lord.
Help me to defeat my inner scribe Lord. Help me to live from my heart and not my head.
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Oh I pray the same thing, Bob. What a battle the "ego" is for all of us. The flesh loves and craves attention. May mine always lift up Christ and not myself is my prayer.
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