Watch out …

Mark 12:38-40

³⁸ As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, ³⁹ and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. ⁴⁰ They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

How easy is it to think, “Oh, those teachers of the law! What a dreadful place their hearts are in!” How could they parade around but ignore, or worse, harm those who need help? But, ironically, even thinking that means that I am elevating myself above them and falling into the same trap!

I think there are three points to this passage. The most obvious one is about leadership. In Jesus’ upside-down kingdom, the greater the leader is, the greater the servant they should be. It’s not about parading around enjoying accolades; it’s about serving people and helping others become the best ministers they can be as well.

The second point here is about looking after people. As leaders, we should be going out of our way to help others less fortunate, not helping ourselves to what belongs to them, as these teachers of the law seemed to be doing. Micah 6:8 says that we should “act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God”, and that should always be our aim.

But Jesus also warns us in this passage to “Watch out for the teachers of religious law”. What are we watching out for? That we don’t try and justify ourselves because of others’ behaviour. If I see a leader doing something unhelpful, it is easy for me to say, “If they can do it, and they’re more important than me, then I can do it too”. Watch out! We are all responsible for our own behaviour – we can’t justify ourselves by following a bad example.

Lord Jesus, thank you for the warnings in this passage. Please help me to always seek to love and serve others with justice and mercy, and never seek to elevate myself. Amen

Written by Megan Cornell