Joel M Bradshaw

38And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”–Mark 12

OUTSIDE: They liked to be noticed and recognized. They liked receiving honor and praise. They were in public and received accolades. They were given the best things and enjoyed that.

INSIDE: Yet their ministries brought destruction rather than healing. They prayed to be further noticed. Ministry was more about them than about God and other people existed to feed that.

This passage is very convicting. I write this as a church pastor where many people call me “Pastor Joel” rather than simply “Joel”. The heart issue for me becomes am I more like these scribes in my heart than I would like to admit? Everyone in public ministry needs to fight against what the scribes were doing on the outside and inside. Even if not a pastor, I personally think anyone reading these verses of Jesus could be convicted regarding their motivations in life. If other people exist simply to praise you or give you things, you are not a good friend. Hypocrisy is a sneaky thing, but stay intentional.–JMB