47 Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

Other Translations of Luke 20:47

New International Version

47 They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely."

English Standard Version

47  who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."

The Message

47 And all the time they are exploiting the weak and helpless. The longer their prayers, the worse they get. But they'll pay for it in the end."

New King James Version

47 who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."

New Living Translation

47 Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be severely punished."

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 20:47

Commentary on Luke 20:39-47

(Read Luke 20:39-47)

The scribes commended the reply Christ made to the Sadducees about the resurrection, but they were silenced by a question concerning the Messiah. Christ, as God, was David's Lord; but Christ, as man, was David's son. The scribes would receive the severest judgement for defrauding the poor widows, and for their abuse of religion, particularly of prayer, which they used as a pretence for carrying on worldly and wicked plans. Dissembled piety is double sin. Then let us beg of God to keep us from pride, ambition, covetousness, and every evil thing; and to teach us to seek that honour which comes from him alone.