Matthew 23:14 “How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You devour widows' houses and say long prayers to cover it up. Therefore, you will receive greater condemnation!”

Some of you may have Bible versions that omit this text. Instead of going into detail of how the Bible was written, let's just look at the other texts in the Bible which support the above text.

Exodus 22:22-24 You shall not afflict an orphan or a widow. If you afflict him, if he at all cries to Me, hearing I will hear his cry, and My anger shall glow, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall become widows, and your sons orphans.

Mark 12:40 those devouring the houses of widows, and for a pretense praying at length. These will receive more abundant judgment.

Luke 20:47 who devour the houses of the widows, and under pretense pray long. These will receive a more severe judgment.

The Pharisees used their long prayers and appearance of Godliness to convince the widows to sell their homes and possessions. They would make it look like they were taking care of the widows, but the widows got very little for their estates. They were wrong when they took everything from the widows, but they were doubly wrong when they used their status in the church and a great show of holiness to cover up their action. When a person uses religion to harm another or to get their own way, they are smearing God's name and reputation. The person who does that will receive a more severe judgment.

There are still churches and religious institution who are taking homes, or at least trying to take homes, from widows. It is still being done under the guise of religion. Money may be offered or the suggestion is made that they donate the estate to the church. I don't have any statistics of how much money is offered or if the widows are given enough to take care of their needs, but I do know that no amount of money can replace the memories in the walls of those homes. The home is full of memories of the widow's husband. It may also contain his handiwork all through the house. Stripping her of her home and the memories contained in it is a cruel and callous act.

The Christian church is about worshipping our Savior, encouraging and helping each other, and bringing the lost back home. When the dollar becomes so important that we lose our compassion and love for each other, we have lost the true mission of the Church. Even worse is when we use religion to manipulate someone in turning over their estate or other sources of fund, we are using God's good name and reputation. We tarnish the reputation of God and turn people away from Him. When you consider Jesus on the cross, suffering so we can be saved, anyone who uses Christianity for their own greed and causes another to turn away from Jesus deserves a very severe judgment.

Christianity is about loving Jesus and living like Him. It's about putting aside our own selfish desires and making sure the needs of others are met.

John 13:34-35 I give a new commandment to you, that you should love one another; according as I loved you, you should also love one another. By this all shall know that you are My disciples, if you have love among one another.