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40. κατεσθίοντες τὰς οἰκίας. Here again we have an easy conversational style; τῶν θελόντων is forgotten. These Scribes abused the hospitality and benevolence of devout women. Widows are mentioned as being those who ought least of all to have been thus treated (Exo 22:22-24; Deu 10:18, etc.). Josephus (Ant. XVII. ii. 4) says of the Pharisees, οἷς ὑπῆκτο ἡ γυναικωνῖτις. The primitive Church seems to have suffered much from the greed of officials (1Th 2:5; 1Ti 3:3; 1Ti 3:8; 1Pe 5:2). see on 2Co 2:17; 2Co 8:20; 2Co 11:20.
προφάσει. Sub obtentu prolixae orationis (Vulg.), but in Lk. simulantes longam orationem. They pretended to pray for a long time in order to gain influence over religious people. There was a Rabbinical saying that long prayers make a long life.
οὗτοι. “Such people as these,” isti, who turn prayer into an instrument of wickedness, “shall receive a sentence of much greater severity.” Cf. Jam 3:1. They act a part in order to rob the poor and the bereaved, and they employ the most sacred actions in religion in order to do this with success. Others may rob the fatherless and the widow, but they do not make a show of piety in doing so.