The Best Seats In The House
Mark 12:38-40
When attending a concert, play or movie, you may want "the best
seats in the house." For optimum vision and listening, that desire is
understood. In the Jewish community of Jerusalem in the time of Christ, there
were men who desired the best seats in the house, but not in this sense. They
wanted the best places or "chief seats" as part of their exaltation of
themselves and their aim "to be seen of men," (Matt. 23:5).
During the last week of His life, our Lord described this evidence of selfish
ambition, and wanted the people to beware of these scribes.
"As he taught, Jesus said, 'Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to
walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the
most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They
devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be
punished most severely'." (Mark 12:38-40, NIV).
If Jesus says, certain people will be "punished most severely," we should do two
things: (1) Avoid that behavior and the attitudes that lead to it, and (2) Watch
out for those who exhibit that behavior; we must resist their influence on us.
While we must not act out of ugly anger, I believe we ought not to give them the
reverent salutations they covet.
These men never missed an opportunity to parade their status, show their rank
and remind people of their power. They wore religious garments to draw attention
to themselves. Their carnal sanctimonious attitude was fed when common people
saluted them. And in synagogues and banquets, they demanded VIP seating. These
men were driven by the attention they believed they earned. They were
hypocrites, with hearts filled with self-importance. Their "religion" had
nothing to do with any love for God.
This is obvious when you consider (1) their ungodly, ostentatious practice of
prayer, and (2) their dreadful mistreatment of widows. They were outwardly
religious, but inwardly corrupt. That corruption was evident in their devouring
of vulnerable widows. Some historical accounts suggest, these men robbed widows
of property, peace and livelihood to enrich themselves, pretending the money was
for the Lord!
Jesus warns us about self-exalted, unscrupulous people. He condemns them as
worthy of punishment. "Pretension ever hides emptiness, and often guilt. Fixed
for ever for our repugnance, hatred, and contempt is the character of the
religious pretender in the Gospel. Men need to be warned that there is more
danger to the soul in pretending to a piety we have not got, than in merely
having none at all." {E. Johnson, Pulpit Commentary, Mark 12}.
Notice in this context: Before this passage and after this passage -- Jesus
describes the opposite attitude and behavior. In Mark 12:28-34, love God with
all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. In Mark 12:41-44, He gives an
example of generosity from the very class oppressed by the scribes. In vivid
contrast to the greedy scribes, there is the widow who gave "all that she had to
the Lord."
If I am personally serious about avoiding the hypocrisy of the scribes, I will
love God, love my neighbor and give as the widow gave.
By Warren E. Berkley
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From Expository Files 9.1; January 2002
