The scribes were copyists of the scriptures. They preserved in written form the oral law, and faithfully handed down the Hebrew scriptures. In New Testament times, they were students, interpreters, and teachers of the Old Testament. Their functions regarding the law were to teach it, develop it, and use it in any connection with the Sanhedrin and various local courts. They were ambitious for honor, which they demanded, especially from their pupils, as well as from the general public. This respect was granted them (Matthew 23:5-11).

Ezra was a scribe during the Babylonian captivity of the Jews, and he was a very godly man. The office of a scribe was a worthy one, but the scribes of Jesus' day were often rebuked by Him for having gone beyond the job of copying out the scriptures. They had a large amount of interpretations that they had added to the scriptures based on traditions, and had made "the word of God of none effect" (Mark 7:13).

The scribes became an independent company of interpreters of the law and leaders of the people. Even they, themselves, sought to avoid certain of their own precepts (Matthew 23:2-4). They clashed with Jesus for He taught with authority and condemned the external formalism that they promoted (Matthew 7:28-29). They persecuted Peter and John (Acts 4:3-7) and had a part in Stephen's martyrdom (Acts 6:12). Although the majority of them opposed Jesus, some did believe (Matthew 21:15).

Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of the scribes by dealing with issues of the heart. They appeared to be holy outwardly, but their hearts were far from God.