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SCRIBES

A class of well-educated Jews who studied and explained the law. Occasionally they were referred to as lawyers or rabbis (Matthew 23:7). They were not priests. Some were members of the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57). Because they were devoted to defending and preserving the law, they considered Jesus a threat to their security. They challenged and baited him (Mark 2:16) on numerous occasions and ultimately took part in plotting his death (Luke 22:1-2). (Etym. Latin scriba, official writer, clerk, scribe, from scribere, to write.)

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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