Who’s First?

“He also said in His teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes, and who want greetings in the marketplaces, the front seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive harsher punishment.”” (Mark 12:38-40 HCSB)

My wife, Tina, and I are about to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary. It may have been a long time ago, but I remember that day like it was yesterday. In fact, sometimes I remember those days better than I remember yesterday. I remember stating my vows and thinking that fulfilling them would be easy, as I looked into the beautiful brown eyes of my young bride. Wow, was I wrong. You see, I had promised to put her needs before my own and I didn’t realize then just how hard that would be. To this very day, I am still struggling to keep that promise to her. Why? Because we are all inherently selfish and tend to put ourselves first in every relationship.

This tendency to put ourselves first doesn’t just apply to a marriage relationship as seen in Jesus’ discussion with the scribe in previous verses. We are obligated to put God first in our lives and to love our neighbors in the same way we love ourselves. That really is the focus of these verses as Jesus’ teaches in the Temple courts and confronts the fake piety of the religious leadership of Israel. Jesus confronts the difference between what we claim to believe and do and what we really believe based on what we do. When it comes down to it, we always do what we really believe is best for us or in our best interest. Whether that’s being prideful by seeking to elevate our position and power among our peers or obeying God by putting Him first in our lives. We will do whichever one we believe is best for us, in that moment.

But how do we change this tendency in ourselves? How do we overcome this innate desire to satisfy our ourselves instead of satisfying Him? It takes a change of heart, a change of attitude and a new way of thinking. Ultimately, it means we recognize that fulfilling our desires, wants, wishes, hopes and dreams are not what will bring us satisfaction, fulfillment and joy. We can only find those in God. It means recognizing that what we want is not really what we want and not what’s best for us but what God wants for us is best. The best version of me is the version that God seeks to make of me.

Here’s an example of what I mean: https://youtu.be/QWwWjROx_Hc

This is the testimony of a young woman who has achieved what most of us would call success. She and her softball teammates have reached the pinnacle of their college athletic careers with another championship win on Thursday evening. While we do celebrate their victory, I want you to notice how she recognizes that these accomplishments have not and cannot bring the things she really wants for her life. That can only come through the joy she has found in putting God first in her life. Softball can’t come first if she really wants to experience joy instead of momentary happiness. And that’s where these scribes and the other Jewish religious leaders miss the mark and where we often miss it, too. We tend to think momentary happiness will satisfy our longing, but it never does. It just leaves us empty, longing and looking for another quick“fix” dose of false, hollow happiness.

Jesus is trying to teach the crowd this same lesson…

First, He gives a “beware” statement regarding several issues that often lure us into and enslave us to this “happiness” trap. He starts out with enslavement to personal pride. He tells them, “Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes”. These scribes have fallen prey to the lure of pride and social recognition. They wear long robes that flaunt their “so-called” religious piety, power and position. The scribes are not priests who serve God in the Temple but are men who have dedicated themselves to developing a deep knowledge of the Mosaic law and related teachings. To be recognized and honored for this self-achievement, they began to wear distinctive white robes with long tassels that reach to the ground. The people began to refer to them with titles of honor, such as Rabbi, Father or Master (see also Matt. 23).

Pride is a very dangerous trap and it’s hard to escape its grasp once it has sprung. Its lure is also very enticing, especially when it originates with family, friends, trusted mentors and appreciative peers. Someone recognizes or acknowledges a skill, a learned/developed skill or notable accomplishment and then it becomes very hard to resist its enticing allure. In fact, it may even be that the allure of recognition pushes us to achieve higher levels of skill, knowledge or success. It’s not enough to be capable or skillful, to be knowledgeable or even to achieve a lifelong goal, we must be recognized and applauded for it.

That’s the attitude of the scribes Jesus describes (no pun intended). It wasn’t enough for them to become knowledgeable of God’s Word and the Mosaic Law. It wan’t enough for them to become skillful in their craft, they sought the recognition and honor they believed should accompany it. They wore long, flowing, heavily tasseled white robes just for this purpose. They wanted people to know who they were, what they knew and they deeply desired the glory and honor they believed they deserved. They wanted to be “first” in people’s eyes and thoughts when they walked by. They wanted the glory that belonged to God and His Word.

How often are we guilty of the same? One of the dangers of education, in general, but especially religious education and biblical study is to seek knowledge for this same reason – to be honored and recognized. To be honest, I think that’s why preachers often throw around Greek or Hebrew terms or bits of cultural, geographical or archeological trivia in their sermons. I can say this because I know I’ve been guilty of these same motives. I mean, who doesn’t like to hear someone applaud your knowledge or insight? But to wear the knowledge of God as pride instead of being humbled by it and obedient to it is the very issue Jesus is addressing. They sought the desire of the title and the recognition of men more than the honor of service and obedience to their God.

Next, they want cultural and social recognition and privilege more than they want God’s praise. Jesus says, “Beware of the scribes… who want greetings in the marketplaces”. One of the “rules” that developed out of the Talmud was for these religious leaders to be honored when they walked through the streets and markets. All of the people they encountered, with the exception of the shop owners, were to acknowledge their presence as they passed by. I should probably note here, the scribes received no pay or compensation from their religious studies. The priests and Levites received a portion of what was sacrificed or given in Temple tax or gifts, but the scribes did not. They would receive fees for their legal services or representation, but they were not paid for their religious expertise and services to the community, Temple or local tabernacle.

But when someone of prominence, position or power comes into your place of business, what are you going to do? Go out of your way to accommodate them? Provide product or services to them free or at a greatly reduced price? Probably? Likely? Of course, you are. Why? To attract and draw in business from those who can and will pay. It is very much like the “influencer” culture in modern social media platforms. When one of these men, or their wives, walked through the market and you greeted them and they stopped at your shop then others would gather and you would, likely, have an increase in business sales from the crowd. Who knows, maybe you even arranged for them to come by and receive a free loaf of bread. Not only would it bring in more business, but it would look good among your peers, customers and friends. Double win, right? The scribe gets what he sought, and you get what you sought – but does God?

Next, there’s a bit of a word play in the next two statements that were implied but not explicitly stated in the previous two – first seats and first honor. Who should be first in our lives? Well, the greatest commandment says that the Lord should always come first. We must love Him above anything and everything else in our lives. But what do these men seek? They desire the first seat in the synagogue and the first honor at the banquet. In other words, they weren’t putting God first they were putting themselves first in these situations.

There’s an old custom among some cultures to leave an empty seat at a meal for a missing or recently deceased relative or even a deity. While I didn’t live through it, I certainly heard many stories of how families left open seats at their table during World War II for those who were deployed or had died. Where do we put God in the order of our everyday lives? Does He get the best seat and the place of highest honor, or does He get forgotten or pushed aside? When we sit down for a meal do we take time for God before we take time for ourselves by asking His blessing on our family and upon the meal? Let me be honest, over time it is easy for this to become more of a ritual than to be real. This is not only true of the blessing at mealtime but is also true of our religious observances and religious holidays. How often have we become so involved in the busyness of Christmas that we completely left Christ out of our celebration? However, He is worth it! He is worthy of our effort and of the steps needed to keep these times of honor, remembrance and celebration fresh and real.

Next, these scribes are guilty of devouring widow’s homes for personal benefit and of saying long prayers just for show. In other words, they weren’t just seeking first seat at synagogue and the highest honor at banquets, they were oppressing widows for their personal gain and pretending to pray to God just for showmanship. Wow! In other words, they were oppressing the weak and vulnerable and using their position just for show. Obviously, their knowledge and understanding of God’s Law and its moral obligations didn’t extend to their own actions.

How can you claim to know what God wants and desires of men and then ignore these principles in your own life? Well, this seems to be something we are really, really good at doing. We are really good at judging the actions, attitudes and intents of others and really bad at judging our own. In fact, Jesus explicitly states that “these will receive harsher punishment.” Wait, what? These scribes know the Word of God. They are even called “experts” in the Law of Moses, but they are unwilling to apply these same principles and expectations to their own actions.

Let me state this very clearly, Jesus strongly condemns these “religious experts” because they use their position and knowledge to exploit and oppress the weak and vulnerable among them and their religious piety and acts of worship are all for show and not to worship or honor God. “These WILL receive harsher punishment!” Oh, my! If that doesn’t hit you in the gut then maybe you should go back and read it, again. Oh, you don’t consider yourself a religious expert? Listen to me: when you know the truth, you will be held to a higher standard and will receive a harsher punishment if you refuse to obey it. That means you are now accountable before God for these things.

It would be far, far too easy for me just to apply this to these scribes and all of the false religious teachers I see on TV and on the Internet. They will be held accountable for their words and actions. But so will we! We have no excuse.

“In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained.” (Philippians 3:16 HCSB)

My tendency is to take these words and to consider who fits this mold. To consider who of my brothers that occupy pulpits across this city, throughout this state, across our nation and around the globe that may be guilty of these things and to shove this in their faces. But that’s NOT the purpose of Jesus’ words. He’s not saying this to the crowd so that they can look around and identify who His words might fit or describe but to stop and consider whether His words apply to their own lives. Am I guilty of knowing God’s Word and refusing to believe it, to obey it, to live by it and be transformed through it? Are you?

Let me leave you with this thought from the Apostle Paul: “For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.” (Philippians 3:18-21 HCSB)

Are you living as an obedient servant to our Lord or are you living as an enemy of the cross of Christ?