Text -- Mark 12:38-40 (NET)

Warnings About Experts in the Law

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

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Mar 12:38

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

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

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.

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

NET Notes: Mar 12:39

¹ sn See the note on synagogue in 1:21.

NET Notes: Mar 12:40

¹ tn Grk “who,” continuing the sentence begun in v. 38.

² 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).