Luke 20:47Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Now nothing is more powerful than to argue from the Prophets. For this is even of more weight than miracles themselves. For when Christ worked miracles, He was often gainsayed. But when He cited the Prophets, men were at once silent, because they had nothing to say. But when they were silent, He warns against them; as it is said, Then in the audience of all the people he said to his disciples.

For as He was sending them to teach the world, He rightly warns them not to imitate the pride of the Pharisees. Beware of the Scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, that is, to go forth into public, dressed in fine clothes, which was one of the sins remarked in the rich man. (Luke 16:19.)

The passions of the Scribes were the love of vainglory and the love of gain. That the disciples should avoid these hateful crimes, He gives them this warning, and adds, And love greetings in the markets.

In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter fifty-six, Christ addressed the scribes and Pharisees, proclaiming, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you devour the houses of widows," and further expounded on this truth.

He does not forbid those to sit first in the synagogue, or at the feast, to whom this dignity belongs by right, but He tells them to beware of those who love this unduly; denouncing not the distinction, but the love of it. Though the other also would not be free from blame, when the same men who wish to take part in the disputes in the market, desire also to be called masters in the synagogue. For two reasons we are bid to beware of those who seek after vain-glory, either lest we be led away by their pretences, supposing those things to be good which they do, or be inflamed with jealousy, desiring in vain to be praised for the good deeds which they pretend to.

Following these events, the Lord departed from the temple, delivering a stern condemnation directed at the Pharisees and the priests, who were accountable for leading the people into corruption. He issued warnings regarding the impending judgment of God. As He concluded His earthly mission, He affirmed that He would continue His work among them through His messengers. However, the Pharisees would also pursue these ambassadors, along with the previous witnesses of the truth, thereby increasing the measure of their ancestors' transgressions. Ultimately, the judgment of God would be manifested in response to the sins of Jerusalem.

In the critique directed at the Pharisees, as recorded by the Evangelist Matthew (with Mark and Luke preserving only fragments), Jesus initially addresses His disciples with a warning and counsel (verses 2-12). He then shifts to a tone of rebuke aimed at the Pharisees and the scribes (verses 13-36). This address extends to the Jewish populace (verses 34-36) and culminates in a lamenting tone directed towards Jerusalem (verses 37-39). For a comprehensive interpretation, refer to the entirety of Matthew chapter 23.

Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders, for you seek to showcase your devotion by lingering in false prayer, and through your insincere spirituality, you deceive widows and the needy, exploiting them of their last resources under the guise of offerings for the Lord's work! If there are severe repercussions for such actions, what judgment awaits you who mask your wrongdoing with feigned holiness and false righteousness?

Following these events, it became clear to everyone that there was no common ground between the Jewish authorities and Christ. With the Pharisees and scribes resolved to eliminate Christ at any cost, it was no longer feasible to address them with the same leniency as before. It was essential for the Savior to publicly denounce them, which He did in His final major condemnation. Surrounded by the familiar throng, including both scribes and Pharisees, the Savior directed His words pointedly at the latter, uttering a rebuke that could only penetrate a truly awakened conscience. "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!" He initiated His condemnation, and then, like the booming sound of thunder, His voice reverberated with compelling and forceful accusations.

After addressing the Pharisees and silencing their objections, He recognized that His adversaries were afflicted with an irreparable malady. He discerned the hidden motives and desires of the hypocritical envious, and as His earthly journey approached its conclusion, He delivered a discourse in which He condemned the flaws of the scribes and Pharisees, who masked their vices with outward religiosity. The grave woe that these spiritually blind leaders had previously heard from Him (Luke 11:42-44, 47-51; 13:34, 35) was now reiterated with renewed intensity, no longer hoping for the repentance of the hardened, but desiring "to safeguard the people, lest they also fall into such vices as they" (St. John Chrysostom).