Devouring Widow's Houses and Making Long Prayers - Mark 12:40

Mark wrote how Jesus, “said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces. And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts”, and in chapter twelve and verse forty of his book, Mark shared how Jesus tells His disciples how the scribes, “devour widow's houses, and for a pretense make long prayers” where we read:

Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers:

these shall receive greater damnation.

The verse reads, “Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers:” Mark began with the words, “which devour” or “who consume, eat up, squander and waste” “widow's houses” or “the homes and dwelling places of women whose husband's died”, “and for a pretense” which means “and as a pretext, pretended cause and alleged reason” “make long prayers” or “offer lengthy orations and worship phrases to God”. Mark shared how these “scribes” also “consume” women's houses who have lost their husbands to death, and they “offer lengthy orations” to God in a dissembling way.

The verse goes on to say, “these shall receive greater damnation.” Mark continued with the words, “these shall receive” which means “the scribes who do these things will procure, apprehend and obtain” “greater damnation” or “exceeding, super-added, further, superior, extraordinary and surpassing degrees, judgment and condemnation of wrong and faults”. Mark shared how the “scribes” Jesus warned about would “receive” an “exceeding and super-added” “judgment and condemnation” for their attitudes and deeds.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we discover more of the traits of these “religious leaders” known as “scribes”. Not only did they love “long clothing, salutations, chief seats and uppermost rooms”, but they also “wasted” “widow's homes” and made “long prayers” just to be acknowledged by other people. Jesus said they will “receive” a “greater” condemnation for their behavior. God knows all, sees all and is recording the actions, attitudes and behavior of everyone, and lest we be like unto these “scribes”, let all who read these words humbly yield their lives to Jesus Christ who is able to expose any “habit” or “way” that is contrary to Him. Otherwise, the “greater judgment” reserved for the “scribes” will be theirs as well.

Next time Mark shares how “Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".