Mark 12:38-40

Warnings About Experts in the Law

12:38 In his teaching Jesus ¹  also said, “Watch out for the experts in the law. ²  They like walking ³  around in long robes and elaborate greetings ⁴  in the marketplaces, 12:39 and the best seats in the synagogues ⁵  and the places of honor at banquets. 12:40 They ⁶  devour widows’ property, ⁷  and as a show make long prayers. These men will receive a more severe punishment.”

[12:38]  ¹ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[12:38]  ² tn Or “for the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 1:22.

[12:38]  ³ tn In Greek this is the only infinitive in vv. 38-39. It would be awkward in English to join an infinitive to the following noun clauses, so this has been translated as a gerund.

[12:38]  ⁴ sn There is later Jewish material in the Talmud that spells out such greetings in detail. See H. Windisch, TDNT 1:498.

[12:39]  ⁵ sn See the note on synagogue in 1:21.

[12:40]  ⁶ tn Grk “who,” continuing the sentence begun in v. 38.

[12:40]  ⁷ tn Grk “houses,” “households”; however, the term can have the force of “property” or “possessions” as well (O. Michel, TDNT 5:131; BDAG 695 s.v. οἶκια 1.a).