April 9. 2025-Meditation Luke 20:41 – 21:4 Scribes and the Widow

 

Scribes and the Widow

Luke 20:41 – 21:4

In Jesus’ time, the Jewish people had certain expectations of the Messiah, the Christ. They believed the Messiah would deliver them from Roman oppression and establish a new earthly kingdom. Their understanding of the Messiah, as foretold in the Old Testament, was of a political and military king.

But Jesus challenges this idea. He points out that even David called the Messiah “Lord.” In doing so, Jesus is teaching them that the Messiah is not merely a political king like they imagined, but someone far greater.

We know who the Messiah truly is. God promised a King who would save humanity from sin — not a ruler who would build an earthly nation, but one who would restore broken sinners to the Kingdom of God. Jesus came not to set up a worldly throne, but to bring us back under God's rule as His people.

Isn’t this so different from what the Jews were expecting?
And even today — what do we expect from Christ?
Don’t we sometimes expect Him to give us a long, healthy life, success in all we do, and miraculous breakthroughs? And when those things don’t happen, don’t we sometimes start to doubt Him — even question His very existence?

We must reflect on what we truly expect from Christ, and what we are really praying for. May we live with a right understanding of who Jesus is and what kind of salvation He came to bring.

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Next, Jesus speaks about the hypocrisy of the scribes.

Hypocrisy is like wearing a mask of faith. It’s pretending to be spiritual on the outside while being far from God in real life. Hypocrisy uses religion as a tool — to deceive others, or even to try and deceive God.

People may not see behind the mask, but God sees through it all.

In Jesus’ time, the religious leaders — the scribes — were guilty of such hypocrisy. They wore long robes to appear holy, loved being greeted in public with honor, and desired the best seats in the synagogue and at banquets. Outwardly they seemed righteous, but in reality, they were using their position to take advantage of others.

Jesus specifically says, “They devour widows’ houses.”

Widows were some of the most vulnerable people in society — without a husband, often without protection or financial security. The scribes, under the guise of religious authority, exploited them.
They would say things like:

“Give your possessions to God, and He will bless you.”

But in truth, they were using God’s name to rob the weak.
This is the exact opposite of what God commands in Scripture. God tells His people to care for widows and orphans — to protect and provide for them. But the religious leaders of the time ignored God’s heart and used religion to take money for themselves.

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Today, the same danger still exists.

Many churches have become corrupted by money. Some use promises of “blessing” to pressure people into giving. But this is not faith — it is using God as a tool, which is an act of deep hypocrisy.

To use religion to satisfy our greed or elevate ourselves is to fall into the same sin as the scribes. And we must never forget — God sees it all. Even when we wear a mask, God sees behind it.

Let us not live a life of hypocrisy, but one of sincerity.
If we look holy on the outside, may our actual lives reflect that holiness. May we fight — truly struggle — to live righteously in every part of our lives.