Mk. 12:32-44, Righteousness That Exceeds the Scribes

Let’s take this post and meditate on those called “scribe” in the Bible.  A “scribe” is one who takes notes.  Kings of Israel and Judah often had these “recorders.”  But there came to be “scribes” who had significant religious standing, men who copied the scriptures, who thus studied the scriptures, and became “experts” in the scriptures.

·       The destiny of the scribe, Mk. 12:32-34.  We have met a scribe of whom Jesus said, you are not far from the kingdom of God.  He was not IN the kingdom of God.  Jesus told the people they needed to do what the scribes said because they “sit in Moses’ seat.”  But he also said, “do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do” (Mt. 23:1-3).  In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus told people that “unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:20).

·       The deficiency of the scribe, Mk. 12:35-37.  We have noted from Jesus question about being David’s “Son” and “Lord” that the scribes problem was that he did not know Jesus, that He was both the Root and Offspring of David (Rev. 22:16; 5:5; Isa. 11:1).  He had not submitted himself to Christ.  In case you are wondering, there was once, in the early days of scribes, one who was a godly man.  Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Lar of Moses (Ezra 7:6).  But before Ezra as well as after they were often deficient at was this man in Mark 12.  Read Jer. 8:8-12 where there are scribes who are supposed to be wise and revered men of God, but who were “given to covetousness,” and for money’s sake preached a message of “peace, peace” which people wanted to hear rather than the message of warning God wanted preached. 

·       The danger of the scribe, Mk. 12:38-44.  These are dangerous men because they are excellent hypocrites.  Everybody thinks they are holy and righteous.  They do all they can to exalt the scribe, thinking this will give them a better standing with God.  But because the scribe is false, he brings down all those who follow them.  Matt. 23 is an entire chapter where Jesus rails on the “scribes and Pharisees.”  They like to be called “Rabbi” but Jesus calls them hypocrites (13) and blind guides (16).  The people who listen to them He says are “fools and blind” (17,19).  The scribes that God sends they reject, persecute, kill and crucify (34). 

We have many people who speak for God in our day.  We need to be careful who we consider to be genuine.  Remember: if you do not have the word of God you are not wise.  If you follow those who do not have the word of God you are not wise.  If you do not have the Christ of the Bible you do not have Christ as all!  True Christianity does not look “rich and famous.”  It looks like Mark 8:34-38!