Post by M.R. Hagerty on Oct 7, 2023 20:27:45 GMT -7
43 "Woe to you . . For you love the chief seats in the synagogues . . . 44 Woe to you! For you are like concealed tombs . . ”
Leadership and positions of authority have their perks. Those who strive to rule often do so purely for the rewards and aggrandisements that come with the job. People in federal public office often betray that their reasons for running and staying in office are more about a house in the Hamptons than about serving the public. Actual service seems like a necessary nuisance in achieving their personal goals.
Having chief seats would be small potatoes in today’s estimation of perks, but in ancient times one’s outward appearance of importance and status was a functional component of wielding all the more authority over the masses. One’s place in public events and worship was something “seen” by all, so a great deal of fretting and energy was spent making sure one was seen. In many cases, being seen was making up for a prior life of being unnoticed.
In the Zefferelli film Brother Sun, Sister Moon (Paramount, 1973), the bishop of the town is seen working with the magistrates on a parade of dignitaries including the visiting emperor. The magistrates have designed a plan for who will be where in the procession, and the bishop immediately protests that his own position will be completely out of sight.
Where people were “seen” made a statement of their importance, and in these times, being important was the aim of life.
"For you are like concealed tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it."
The point is to say that people are unaware (or even reminded) of the corruption of the body taking place in the tomb. This is similar to the “whited sepulchers” analogy He makes elsewhere. The corruption within is concealed from view, so the outside gives the impression of purity.
Again, this focuses the indictment on their principle that what is “seen” is all important while neglecting true purity and cleanliness inside.
Luke 11:45-47
45 One of the lawyers said to Him in reply, "Teacher, when You say this, You insult us too."
So it is clear that an insult is in play. Jesus is actually indicting those to whom He is a guest.
Jesus did not address lawyers by using the general term ‘Pharisees.’ It was not necessary to be a Pharisee in order to be a lawyer. But what was the Law thus adjudicated by these lawyers? The Mosaic Law; which meant that lawyers were joined at the hip with the Scribes and Pharisees. So they perceived the insult also, even though aimed at the ruling class.
46 But He said, "Woe to you lawyers as well! For you weigh men down with burdens hard to bear, while you yourselves will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers.
There are lessons here for modern lawyers as well. For these in the verse, the burdens hard to bear were the legal entanglements with which the poor client had to comply in order to be represented or secure confidence in the outcome. In many cases, this involved paying for witnesses in one’s favor. It also, as now, involved lining the pockets of your counsel with cash.
Not even touching these burdens meant that they had loop holes for themselves when the time came. Lawyers also served to assist in the enforcement of the Law among the citizenry in the practice of giving legal advice about prospective actions. Clients would be counseled to follow overly burdensome procedures to ensure legality.
Today, there are additional things that introduce what we might see as “burdens.” The legal profession is all about winning, as opposed to letting justice prevail. It is about working the nooks and crannies of generally written laws so that one “wins” purely on technicalities, irrespective of the patent guilt of their clients.
The result is the creation of more law to cover the misuse or even the outright travesties of clever adjudicating.
47 "Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and it was your fathers who killed them.”
It is strange how magnanimous evil people can become when their enemies are out of the way. In Roman society, enemies of the ruling class were often celebrated with honorary funerals paid for by the very people who engineered their downfall.
In some cases, this was done to cast off any suspicions about their being involved – you couldn’t be connected with murder if you are honoring them. In other cases, it was simply a way of rejoicing about them being in the grave instead of the fly in your ointment.
All of this dissertation is speaking about hypocrisy.