These will receive all the more condemnation.

Luke 20:27-47 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

Now some of the Sadducees (who maintain that there is no resurrection) came to Him, ²⁸ and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife, and he is childless, that his brother is to marry the wife and raise up children for his brother. ²⁹ So then, there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless; ³⁰ and the second ³¹ and the third married her; and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children. ³² Finally the woman also died. ³³ Therefore, in the resurrection, which one’s wife does the woman become? For all seven married her.”

³⁴ Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and the women are given in marriage, ³⁵ but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; ³⁶ for they cannot even die anymore, for they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. ³⁷ But as for the fact that the dead are raised, even Moses revealed this in the passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. ³⁸ Now He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to Him.” ³⁹ Some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” ⁴⁰ For they did not have the courage to question Him any longer about anything.

⁴¹ But He said to them, “How is it that they say the Christ is David’s son? ⁴² For David himself says in the book of Psalms,

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand,
⁴³ Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’

⁴⁴ Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord,’ and so how is He his son?”

⁴⁵ And while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples, ⁴⁶ “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love personal greetings in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, ⁴⁷ who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive all the more condemnation.”

In today’s text Jesus says:  “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love personal greetings in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive all the more condemnation.”  The scribes knew scripture. They were those who copied the written word to preserve it. They were teachers and interpreters of God’s word. In Luke 12:47-48 Jesus says:  That slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accordance with his will, will receive many blows, but the one who did not know it, and committed acts deserving of a beating, will receive only a few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.  James 3:1 says:  Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.  It might seem then that it is better not to know God’s word; not to study and meditate on it, so that there would be less accountability. Perhaps that’s the root of the saying ignorance is bliss. In truth though, a person cannot know real joy, happiness, peace and contentment if they do not know God. Furthermore, it is also true that ignorance of the law is no excuse. Those who are unaware will still be accountable to what they do not know or understand. Just as a person who does not understand the law of gravity, will still be subject to it if he falls off of a rooftop, so will those who don’t know God’s word still be subject to the consequences of disobedience.

Romans 1:18-32 says:  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.   Now you know.   From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more and ignorance or ignoring is no excuse.   

John 3:16 says:  God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.  Not believing in Jesus does not exempt a person from the consequences of sin. It only exempts them from redemption and eternal life with Him.   

May the words of the psalmist in Psalm 119:97-105 be our prayer: O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever mine. I have more insight than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, Because I have observed Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, For You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.  Amen.