The Plight of the Widow
Image via Wikipedia“They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely”
(Luke 20:47).
After defeating the Sadducees in the temple, Jesus warned His disciples to beware of the teachers of the Law, because they loved outward show but were guilty of grossly unethical behavior. Jesus was speaking directly to his disciples, but the crowd was all around, as were many of these teachers.
The specific crime with which Jesus charged them was devouring widows’ houses. Keep in mind that in the ancient world the widow was legally and economically at the mercy of the power structures of the society. For the most part she had little means of income, and she certainly had no power in the courts. Thus, it is not by accident that the Bible singles out the widow, in her loneliness and helplessness, as one who is to be a special object of compassion in the community. Indeed, we are told that caring for widows is of the essence of true religion (James 1:27).
The teachers of the Law were not guilty simply of ignoring the plight of widows. They became some of the principal oppressors and exploiters. This was easy for them to do, because the widows looked to their religious leaders for comfort and guidance.
These men were forbidden to charge money for their teaching. As a result, they had to look to donations to pay for their living. One way they often did this was by taking advantage of the plight of widows. They would befriend widows, and then defraud them of their legacies by making great promises to them.
Jesus says that they would pray long prayers with the widows they were seeking to “devour,” but that these prayers were just for show. They used prayer to manipulate these poor women. Jesus concludes by saying that such men will receive an extremely severe punishment from God.
