The scribes were the theological lawyers whose chief responsibility was to copy and preserve as well as interpret and safeguard the Law of God. They were the professional theologians, whose roots could be traced all the way back to Ezra in the Old Testament. After Jesus unleashes the first three woes against the Pharisee who’s hosting him for dinner, a scribe nearby in the room chimes in telling Jesus, “You do know that to insult a Pharisee is to insult as well.” But instead of recanting, when Jesus could have laid down his arms, he locks and loads on the scribes as well issuing another three woes, indicting them for burdening sinners without helping them, for embellishing in the prophets when they were no different than their ancestors who killed them, and for obscuring the truth of God's Word.