Then some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” For they no longer dared to ask him any question. But he said to them,
“How can they say that the Christ 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 is he his son?”And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and 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.”
The interactions between the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes and Jesus in the gospels is so interesting. For sure these religious leaders had many differences amongst themselves but we often miss that because they all seem to be united against Christ. In this setting Jesus gives an authoritative answer to the Sadducees question about the resurrection and the Scribes give kudos to Jesus because he agreed with "their" perspective but not the Sadducees.
Even so, Jesus now turns the tables on the Scribes and tells his disciples that, although they agree with him on the resurrection, these men are no different than the Sadducees. He points out that the Scribes, like the Sadducees, also do not have an accurate understanding of the nature and ministry of the Christ. These also do not understand what it means to be a spiritual leader. These who were charged with the care of the helpless did nothing to alleviate their pain.
Help us Lord to be people who are more concerned with the pain of others than our image.
These are truly scary words for a fundie like me. They say there are no guarantees. Being right doesn't mean you're not a threat to the innocent, but being wrong doesn't either. Being silent doesn't even save us. We have to dare with the best heart we can find within ourselves.
ReplyDeleteLife is a humbling thing. At times it feels like a walk in the park, but at times it feels like a high-wire act over Niagara Falls with vertigo and fear of heights. And these verses seem to pull away the net. But our Lord had that kind of courage and has that kind of faith in us.
Thanks, Bob, for the reminder.
"Being right doesn't mean you're not a threat to the innocent, but being wrong doesn't either."
DeleteWell said Kevin. I have often thought that that my desire to be right eclipsed my need to be righteous.