They ostentatiously make their prayers long, yet they devour widows’ houses. They will receive a very severe condemnation.”
Here the Lord reveals the most dreadful side of false religiosity. Those who should have protected the weak were exploiting widows, one of the most defenseless groups of people. At the same time, with long prayers they were pretending to be devout. This shows that outward prayer, if separated from justice and mercy, becomes hypocrisy. The greater condemnation comes because they were sinning knowingly, under the cover of religious knowledge and office. The greater the spiritual responsibility entrusted to a person, the heavier the judgment if he uses it for his own benefit.