Beware: Danger Ahead

What did Jesus Christ have against the scribes and Pharisees? There are many passages in the Gospels where Jesus Christ speaks out against the doctrine and the practices of the scribes and Pharisees. One of the harshest passages is in Luke 20:45-47, which reads: “Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”What does this passage mean for us? It is a short passage, but packed within its short length is a fair amount of insight about why Jesus Christ wanted his believers to be careful for the scribes. Is there an attitude within the portrayal of the scribes here that we ought to be careful of? If so, what kind of warnings are being given here?