HOFC Sermon Archive

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SERMON TIMELINE

10. Jesus Cleanses the Leper

11. Jesus Heals the Paralytic

12. Jesus and the Tax Collector

13. Jesus Questioned About Fasting

14. Of Wine and Wineskins

15. Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath & Resurrection Sunday 2025

16. Hard Hearts and Hard Thoughts

17. Three Responses to Jesus

18. Jesus Appoints the Apostles

19. The Family of Jesus

20. The Unforgivable Sin

21. The True Family of Jesus

22. Parable of the Four Soils

23. How Well Do You Listen

24. Parable of the Growing Seed

25. Parable of the Mustard Seed

26. Benefits of Private Teaching

27. Jesus Calms the Storm

28. Who is Afraid of Jesus?

29. The Touch of Jesus

30. When Familiarity Breeds Contempt

31. Principles of Evangelism

32. Weakness in the Seat of Power

33. The Need for Rest

34. Feeding 5000

35. Jesus Walks on Water

36. Healings at Gennesaret

37. The Danger of Traditions

38. The Source of True Defilement

39. Gentile Blessed for Her Faith

40. He Has Done All Things Well

41. Jesus Feeds 4000

42. Jesus Sighs

43. Beware of Leaven

44. The Blind Man at Bethsaida

45. Who Do You Say That Jesus Is?

46. Mindful of the Things of God

47. The Cost of Discipleship

48. The Value of a Soul

49. Ashamed of Jesus and His Word

50. The Transfiguration

51. The Disciples ask Questions

52. The Unclean Spirit

53. The Way to Greatness

54. Principles of Discipleship

55. God Hates Divorce

56. Jesus Blesses Children

57. The Problem with Wealth

58. The Cost and Reward of Discipleship

59. A Couple Days Before Palm Sunday

60. The Cup and Baptism

61. Greatness in the Kingdom Comes from Serving

62. Blind Bartimaeus

63. Triumphal Entry

64. Cursing and Cleansing

65. Faith and Forgiveness

66. Is it from Heaven or from Men?

67. Parable of the Wicked Vine Grower

68. Our Duty to God and Country

69. The Resurrection of the Dead

70. The Two Greatest Commands

71. David’s Son and David’s Lord

72. Beware the Pretentious Scribes

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Mark 12:38-40

“And in His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes who want to;

walk around in long robes,

and want respectful greetings in the marketplaces,

³⁹and best seats in the synagogues

and places of honor at banquets,

⁴⁰who devour widows’ houses,

and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers;

these will receive greater condemnation.”

INTRODUCTION

Teaching in the temple (it is still Tuesday of the last week before the cross during the Passover), Jesus has silenced His critics, the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, and Teachers of the Law, and even the Herodians.

Jesus has been bombarded with the doctrines and teachings of various religious and political leaders, to which He silenced them all with truth from scripture. Jesus now addresses the practices of the scribes (Mark 12:38-40) and the Pharisees (Matthew 23:1-39)

Today, we will focus on Mark’s account where Jesus reveals the pretentious, self-important, narcissistic behavior of the scribes. Which is not only ungodly and prideful, but brings greater condemnation.

I. THE PRETENTIOUS, SELF-IMPORTANT, ARROGANT SCRIBES IN THE DAY OF JESUS

a. They desire to wear long robes for attention.

i. Add collars, tall hats, and anything else used to draw attention to how “holy” and “close to God” they are.

ii. J. R. Edwards, a New Testament scholar and the author of The Gospel According to Mark in the Pillar New Testament Commentary (PNTC) series, says “Their "flowing robes" were full-length prayer shawls with tassels attached to the four corners, in contrast to the common Jewish dress.”

1. They scream, behold our glory, how great and set apart we are. We are special to God. We are closer to God than yourself.

2. And for this reason, you can see with your eyes, we are to be honored and treated specially.

iii. They relished the distinction of their robes and the attention it gave them.

iv. Scripture says we are to be known as followers of Jesus, but not by our hat and collar.

1. John 13:35 by our love for one another

2. Matthew 7:20 by our fruits

3. 1 Samuel 16:7 God tells Samuel not to judge a man by his appearance. God does not see the outward appearance as men do, but looks at his heart.

4. What is in the heart of someone who is always looking for attention and praise from others? SELF!

b. They LOVE receiving greetings in the marketplace

i. Where everyone can see and hear how great they are

ii. They love hearing the people call out to them ‘rabbi’

iii. Jesus does not rebuke them for people speaking to them in public, but because they desired and were always longing for a public demonstration of respect, public recognition of their prominence.

iv. They desire titles that distinguish and elevate them above others.

c. They expected the best seats in the synagogue

i. They expected the best seats in the house…for them, the ones that faced the congregation so they could be looked at, honored, exalted.

ii. Ever notice how some churches have chairs near the pulpit for people to sit at while the preacher is preaching? For people to be seen, honored.

iii. The “first seats,” as they are referred to in the Greek text, were reserved for teachers and those of high “importance.”

iv. They loved the honor and attention such seats gave them.

d. The best seats at the banquets as well!

i. Seating here was usually according to age or importance (C.A. Evans (WBC))

ii. What did Jesus say about this practice?

Luke 14:7-11 “He [Jesus] was telling a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they were picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them,

⁸“When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not recline at the place of honor, lest someone more highly regarded than you be invited by him, ⁹and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in shame you proceed to occupy the last place.

¹⁰But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who recline at the table with you.

¹¹For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

iii. They want privileges they felt due to them because of their position and stature

iv. Are you a humble servant of Christ, or do you use Christianity to obtain your true desires…

e. They devour widows’ houses.

i. Terri and I knew a person who bilked a woman out of her home, and many out of their money, and I know no one who wore a bigger cross about his neck, or carried a fatter bible than he.

ii. Embezzling, freeloading on the kindness or hospitality of widows, mismanaging estates or wills of widows entrusted to them.

iii. They use their position to take advantage of others for selfish gain

f. If there be any doubt remaining about their holiness

i. If the fancy cloth, dog collar, or tall hat does not convince, they are capable of lengthy, eloquent prayers

ii. Though done in pretense, empty and void of true meaning, consistent with their ostentation in dress and pursuit of honors and recognition

iii. They parade their religious knowledge and false piety

iv. These do exist today as well

II. THE PRETENTIOUS, SELF-IMPORTANT, ARROGANT SCRIBES OF TODAY

a. Ministers, preachers, teachers, etc., with elevated egos

i. Distinctive clerical garb with no biblical authority or foundation for such dress

ii. Bloated religious titles

1. Call me reverend, father, pastor, preacher…

2. Though we see pastor, elder, deacon, evangelist, and teacher as descriptive terms in scripture…they are not used as religious titles.

iii. Some want seating on stage facing the congregation as the scribes did…to be honored and looked at

iv. They have preferred treatment at social gatherings

v. Unaccountable control over financial resources

vi. Even well-intentioned respect can easily lead to pretentiousness

vii. An elderly couple began attending our church, and the man asked what I wanted to be called, and I said Bruce, because that's my name.

1. He said, I could never call you that; I’ll call you pastor.

2. I have never asked anyone to call me by pastor, reverend, or anything other than my name, though some from older generations feel it necessary because of respectful address.

b. Some ministers elevate themselves.

i. Choosing to wear clothing to stand out in hopes of gaining respect

ii. Expecting others to address them with religious titles

iii. True ministers of Christ are called to be humble servants

Matthew 23:11-12 “…the greatest among you shall be your servant. ¹²And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”

CONCLUSION

The words of Jesus should serve as a warning. Not just to those who may be led astray by these types of people, but to the arrogant, prideful, self-important, narcissistic people calling themselves Christian, who are not true ministers of Christ, but of self.

FINAL THOUGHT

It’s not just religious leaders who can fall into this sin-trap. The average Christian may find themselves acting in a way in which their conduct is not Christian, or their clothing is not becoming of a follower of Christ.

They may be arrogant toward others, even thinking they are better than others, or more important.

Matthew 23:12 warns, “…whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”

Keep placing yourself above others, and you will be humbled. God exalts those who are humble. Who do you desire to be lifted by? The world, or God?

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Thursday, July 23, 2026

Gospel of Mark Part 72: Beware the Pretentious Scribes