Meeting guide · command 32

Beware of the Scribes

Guard against religious leadership that seeks honor while exploiting vulnerable people.

Read

Read the complete passage aloud.

Primary passage

Luke 20:46–47

46 “Beware of those scribes who like to walk in long robes, and 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.”

World English Bible

After confronting Jerusalem's leaders, Jesus publicly warns His disciples about scribes who enjoy status and public devotion while consuming widows' households.

Discuss

Listen carefully to what Jesus says.

  1. What does Jesus command?
  2. What does this passage reveal about Him?
  3. Where do we resist this command?
  4. What is difficult or unclear?
  5. How can the desire to be respected quietly distort spiritual leadership and our treatment of people who cannot benefit us?

Practice

Choose one specific act of obedience.

Review one role, title, or area of influence you hold. Choose a concrete way to surrender attention and use that influence to protect or serve someone with less power.

Return

Come back and discuss what happened.

Where did you release status or use influence for another person's good, and what did that reveal about your motives?

Close together

Pray. Then prepare to teach.

Pray

Jesus, expose pride and exploitation in us. Make our service honest, humble, and protective of those who are vulnerable.

Teach

Keep Jesus' two concerns together: love of public honor and private harm. Apply the warning first to ourselves and to accountable leadership practices.