Here, as Leith
Fisher (Will
you follow me?) puts it – “Jesus
goes on to complain that scribal piety is a cloak for the oppression of widows
and the powerless of the land.”
The promotion of
justice, and in particular the matter of looking out for the widow and the orphan,
is a strong element within the Biblical tradition. That is Jesus’ concern here.
It seems likely that the background to this outburst is that customarily the
scribes would be those who would look out for the vulnerable in society and
ensure that their rights were protected. They were trusted figures as part of
the religious leadership. Jesus’ claim is that they use this aspect of their
role for their own financial advantage. A commission would be payable and
appropriate, but too easily inflated. Very possibly this is part of Jesus’
broader questioning of religious custom and whether it is truly in line with
what God seeks.
The scribes,
with their long robes and lengthy prayers, put on the appearance of being excellent
models of religious practice. However, the outward show can disguise a use of
the position for personal advantage. The trusted individual too easily abuses
that trust. As Fisher describes it – “scribal piety is being attacked and
debunked as a thin veil for economic opportunism and exploitation. The fat cats
of the Temple system are scathingly exposed.” This is to be condemned, and
that is exactly what Jesus does.
I wonder where
we might see position or role being used in a way that does not really seek the
best for those who are allegedly being helped. I wonder where we would identify
as the main places where we see power being abused.
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