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Jesus' condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees sounds eerily similar to the egocentric practices of our modern celebrity preachers:

"Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes [flashy & expensive suits], and love greetings in the marketplaces [bloated titles and "honor"] and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts [luxury cars; plush offices; first-class airline seats; etc.], who devour widows' houses [money-hungry prosperity gospel that fleeces naive widows and elderly of their money] and for a pretense make long prayers [Note the word "pretense". Many of these preachers bleed pretense. Arrogant mannerisms. Over-hyped preaching. Personality-driven ministry. Making outlandish guarantees about their ministries; etc.]. They will receive GREATER condemnation [Emphasis mine].

Certainly, my comments are critical and some might argue that I'm stirring up controversy or being negative. But it's Jesus who said beware of such people! Why? Because he doesn't want widows to be fleeced! He doesn't want a religious establishment in place that models values adversarial to the kingdom of God. (Just consider how many simple, good-hearted people have been poisoned by prosperity-driven, egocentric ministry because that was the only model they've been exposed to!