“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses…therefore you will receive greater condemnation” (Matthew 23:14).
When Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for devouring “widow’s houses,” He was condemning them for taking advantage of others. However, the Pharisees did not take advantage of just anyone. Jesus used widows in His example for a reason. These were ones who typically were in need of assistance from others. Yet the Pharisees not only failed to help these ones in need, they also took advantage of them for their own benefit.
The Law of Moses specified that the widows were to be helped (Deuteronomy 14:28-29) and that His people were to be generous to all those who were poor among them (Deuteronomy 15:7-11). Not only that, they were specifically commanded not to do harm to the widows: “You shall not afflict any widow or orphan” (Exodus 22:22). The Pharisees should have been ones to defend and help these poor widows. Instead, they rejected God’s purpose in this regard.
This demonstrated a total disregard for the needs and circumstances of others. If we are not careful, we can do the same thing. Paul explained the attitude that we should have: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3-5). Like Jesus did when He sacrificed His life for us (Philippians 2:5-8; 1 John 3:16), we are to put others ahead of ourselves. Furthermore, when we see others in need, we are to help as we can. Paul wrote, “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Galatians 6:10). James said, “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27). To visit does not just mean to go see someone, but to provide assistance to the one who is in need. We are to be mindful of these needs and do what we can to help.
The Pharisees were condemned because they looked at others only for what they could get from them, rather than what they could do for them. Paul told the brethren in Galatia, “Through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Galatians 5:13). The Pharisees failed to show love for others in this way. Yet this type of love and service for others ought to be our goal.
So who are the real Pharisees today? They are the ones who use others for their selfish interests rather than providing help for those who need it.
