27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27 (ESV)
1. A statement of warning
45 And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes . . .
Luke 20:45-46a (ESV)
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. Matthew 10:34 (ESV)
2. The defiled motivations
46 “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, 47 who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers . . . Luke 20:46-47a (ESV)
- Vanity:
20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:20 (ESV)
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)
2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips Proverbs 27:2 (ESV).
27 It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory. Proverbs 25:27 (ESV)
11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 14:11 (ESV)
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think . . . Romans 12:3 (ESV)
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 (ESV)
- Thievery:
17 learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. Isaiah 1:17 (ESV)
1 Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression, 2 to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey! Isaiah 10:1-2 (ESV)
- Hypocrisy:
7 . . . For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7b (ESV)
3. A statement of greater condemnation
. . . They will receive the greater condemnation.” Luke 20:46-47 (ESV)