(1) Background:
walking around in long robes
(IVP) some Jewish teachers wore a special identifying garb; this seems to have been a long, white linen robe, similar to those of priests and temple officials
elaborate greetings in the marketplaces
(BKC +IVP) with formal titles—Rabbi (teacher), master, father—by the common people who respected them highly...marketplaces, which were full of people, would provide many opportunities for these teachers to receive such recognition.
the best seats in the synagogues
(IVP+BKC) teachers could take a seat in full view of most of the rest of the assembly (like ministers in most churches today) ...situated in front of the chest containing the sacred scrolls of Scripture and facing the whole congregation
(IVP+BKC) teachers could take a seat in full view of most of the rest of the assembly (like ministers in most churches today) ...situated in front of the chest containing the sacred scrolls of Scripture and facing the whole congregation
What is significant is their status in a status-conscious society; synagogues were the most important assembly places for the community
the places of honor at banquets
(BKC) special evening meals at which they were seated next to the host and received preferential treatment
(2) Key words:
3 actions of the experts in the law: they liked the things listed above, they devoured the socially powerless people and they prayed as a show.
(IVP) They may have lingered long in their individual prayers in the synagogues; it is not the longevity of prayers but the motive of this longevity that Jesus criticizes here. Like the Old Testament prophets, Jesus sees social injustice and religious hypocrisy as inextricably linked, and he stands on behalf of the economically powerless.
2 verbs used by Jesus: Jesus wanted His audience to watch out for the experts in the law and Jesus warned that they would receive a more severe punishment.
(3) Reflection:
Do we like walking around and receiving praise for our clothing? Do we like people telling others our achievements? Do we like more people to know how good we are? Do we like to be looked up to? Do we like to have a special place in front of others? For nowadays the liking of praises may come from receiving the "like '' in social media, or by hanging out with certain types of friends. If yes, then we need to be careful.
Do we like walking around and receiving praise for our clothing? Do we like people telling others our achievements? Do we like more people to know how good we are? Do we like to be looked up to? Do we like to have a special place in front of others? For nowadays the liking of praises may come from receiving the "like '' in social media, or by hanging out with certain types of friends. If yes, then we need to be careful.
Jesus warned the experts in the law for a more severe punishment. Compared to whose judgment? There may be people who devoured other's properties and they would be judged, but those who used their position in the religious groups and exploited others and then appeared to be very religious they would be judged more severely. We should always have these consequences in mind right at the beginning when we "like" these kinds of praises and honors.
Audrey
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