Always Wanting To Be A ‘big Shot’ Series

Luke 20: 45 – 47

Always Wanting To Be A ‘Big Shot’

45 Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 47 who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

We are really ripping through the bible aren’t we? Today we are going to do our swift passing through the Scriptures as we take a look at three whole verses. In case you are in wonder, I say all this tongue in cheek. The way I look at it I see so much great truth, you just cannot rush by. It’s like having a great chef prepare you his amazing dish and you wolf down the food. You miss out some fine interactive blends. I just can’t let that happen.

We see if we scan the other Gospels that both Matthew and Mark also write about this incident. Let’s take a look at them to see if there is any extra information.

Matthew 23” Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’

Mark 12 “38 Then He said to them in His teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, 39 the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 40 who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

What do you think about all three when you compare them to each other? This highlights for me the great advantage to all who seek deeper insights into God’s Holy Word. You dig and dig to find out more golden nuggets of information.

This is how I look at all three Gospels together. Since you have been studying Jehovah Elyon’s - The Lord Most High’s - Amazing Truth, let me ask you this, ‘who wrote the first Gospel? The answer is Matthew. Then five or so years later the spiritual son of the apostle Peter, the disciple Mark, penned his version. Then about ten years after this came Luke’s. Are you somewhat catching what I am leading to? The disciple Luke had as a reference tool both Matthew’s and Mark’s Gospel. Now, let’s take a look at all three again.

You will note that all three agree on the specific phony attitude of the religious leaders and their hypercritic action. Look at what they all agree on;

1. They love the best seats in the Synagogues

2. They love greetings in the marketplaces

3. They love the best places at feasts

It is possible when you set apart Luke’s and Mark’s Gospel you see that Luke utilized Mark’s description of our Lord’s teaching for it is almost word for word. This makes Matthew’s version uniquely different. Now, this might disturb some people. You might be saying, hey that is wrong; it appears that Luke plagiarized his writings. Not so fast my friends.

This is what I think happened. Remember Matthew was the first to write his Gospel. He is writing about a different situation than Mark and Luke. You see ever teaching our Lord did was not specifically unique. He on occasions added some past teaching into his dialogue. Our Great and Holy Lord was constantly teaching during His three and a half years of His ministry. He incorporated some past teaching when appropriate. Look at your bibles and flip through the Old Testament. You got to see the constant repetition of basic truths our Wonderful Holy Spirit wants us to grasp. Still not clear? Do you see all the repetitive generation lists? There you go!

Now back to the issue of the similarities of Mark and Luke’s version. Well, try this on for size. How about these snippets of the God’s Word? ‘Moses, Moses! Or Samuel, Samuel.’ When our Precious Holy Ghost wants to get across a significant truth He repeats it twice. So, if you see three repeats, what does that say? – It says ‘PAY ATTENTION HERE’