Verses 35-44 “35And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David?
36For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
37David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.
38And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
39And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
40Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
41And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
42And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”
Jesus reveals the scribes and certain rich persons for who they really are: (1) they do not know how Jesus could be King David’s Lord; (2) they are proud and ostentatious, but they sin against widows (some of the most helpless in society); (3) even a poor widow can love God more and have more reality in her religion than all of them. Furthermore, it is obvious from what Jesus said about these religious leaders that He does not like to see proud publicity hounds, long prayers to impress others, self promotion, or special clothing to mark out a religious leader while he is out in public.