“Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, 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 greater condemnation.” Mark 12:38-40

As we enter into an intense and raucous political season, like Jesus, we need to see through all the words for actions, and all the actions for motives.

Here the proud religious leaders of the day, who bellowed out sanctimonious prayers in public, were devouring widows houses in private.

Jesus saw them for what they were, “white washed tombs.” (Matthew 23:27)

It’s one thing to primp and strut about for the show of it, it’s quite another to use piety as a front to shake down the poor and downtrodden.

We need to see through all the pomp and circumstance for true magnaminity.