Luke 20:47 - who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these will receive greater condemnation.”
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What does "Luke 20:47" mean?
This verse, Luke 20:47, is a sharp criticism leveled by Jesus against the scribes (religious teachers) of his time. Let's break it down:
"who devour widows’ houses...": This is the core accusation. Widows, often vulnerable and without male support, were particularly susceptible to exploitation. The scribes, instead of helping them, were taking advantage of them. This could mean:
Financial exploitation: Perhaps they were fraudulently managing widows' estates, taking excessive fees, or pressuring them to donate property to the temple or to the scribes themselves.
Taking advantage of their generosity: Maybe they were constantly soliciting donations, using their religious authority to manipulate widows into giving more than they could afford.
Literally living in their houses: In some cases, the scribes might have been living with widows, ostensibly as helpers or advisors, but in reality, they were consuming the widow's resources.
"...and for a pretense make long prayers...": This highlights the hypocrisy of the scribes. They presented themselves as pious and devout by making long, public prayers. However, their actions contradicted their words. They used their perceived piety as a cover for their greed and exploitation. The "pretense" emphasizes that their long prayers were not genuine expressions of faith, but rather a performance designed to impress others and maintain their reputation.
"...these will receive greater condemnation.": This is the consequence. Because of their hypocrisy and the harm they inflicted on vulnerable individuals, the scribes would face a stricter judgment from God. Their position of religious authority and their outward displays of piety amplified their guilt. It implies that those who abuse their power and trust, especially those who do so under the guise of religion, will face a more severe punishment.
In Summary:
The verse condemns religious leaders who exploit the vulnerable while using outward piety to mask their greed and hypocrisy. Their actions are particularly egregious because they contradict the very principles they claim to uphold and cause significant harm to those they are meant to protect. The verse serves as a warning against using religion for personal gain and emphasizes the importance of genuine compassion and ethical conduct.
Luke 20:47 - who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these will receive greater condemnation.”
What does "Luke 20:47" mean?
This verse, Luke 20:47, is a sharp criticism leveled by Jesus against the scribes (religious teachers) of his time. Let's break it down:
"who devour widows’ houses...": This is the core accusation. Widows, often vulnerable and without male support, were particularly susceptible to exploitation. The scribes, instead of helping them, were taking advantage of them. This could mean:
Financial exploitation: Perhaps they were fraudulently managing widows' estates, taking excessive fees, or pressuring them to donate property to the temple or to the scribes themselves.
Taking advantage of their generosity: Maybe they were constantly soliciting donations, using their religious authority to manipulate widows into giving more than they could afford.
Literally living in their houses: In some cases, the scribes might have been living with widows, ostensibly as helpers or advisors, but in reality, they were consuming the widow's resources.
"...and for a pretense make long prayers...": This highlights the hypocrisy of the scribes. They presented themselves as pious and devout by making long, public prayers. However, their actions contradicted their words. They used their perceived piety as a cover for their greed and exploitation. The "pretense" emphasizes that their long prayers were not genuine expressions of faith, but rather a performance designed to impress others and maintain their reputation.
"...these will receive greater condemnation.": This is the consequence. Because of their hypocrisy and the harm they inflicted on vulnerable individuals, the scribes would face a stricter judgment from God. Their position of religious authority and their outward displays of piety amplified their guilt. It implies that those who abuse their power and trust, especially those who do so under the guise of religion, will face a more severe punishment.
In Summary:
The verse condemns religious leaders who exploit the vulnerable while using outward piety to mask their greed and hypocrisy. Their actions are particularly egregious because they contradict the very principles they claim to uphold and cause significant harm to those they are meant to protect. The verse serves as a warning against using religion for personal gain and emphasizes the importance of genuine compassion and ethical conduct.