Mark 12:28

The Greatest Commandment

12:28 Now ¹  one of the experts in the law ²  came and heard them debating. When he saw that Jesus ³  answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

Mark 12:38

Warnings About Experts in the Law

12:38 In his teaching Jesus ⁴  also said, “Watch out for the experts in the law. ⁵  They like walking ⁶  around in long robes and elaborate greetings ⁷  in the marketplaces,

Mark 15:1

Jesus Brought Before Pilate

15:1 Early in the morning, after forming a plan, the chief priests with the elders and the experts in the law ⁸  and the whole Sanhedrin tied Jesus up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. ⁹ 

Mark 15:31

15:31 In the same way even the chief priests – together with the experts in the law ¹⁰  – were mocking him among themselves: ¹¹  “He saved others, but he cannot save himself!

[12:28]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

[12:28]  ² tn Or “One of the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 1:22.

[12:28]  ³ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[12:38]  ⁴ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[12:38]  ⁵ tn Or “for the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 1:22.

[12:38]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ sn There is later Jewish material in the Talmud that spells out such greetings in detail. See H. Windisch, TDNT 1:498.

[15:1]  ⁷ tn Or “and the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 1:22.

[15:1]  ⁸ sn The Jews most assuredly wanted to put Jesus to death, but they lacked the authority to do so. For this reason they handed him over to Pilate in hopes of securing a death sentence. The Romans kept close control of the death penalty in conquered territories to prevent it being used to execute Roman sympathizers.

[15:31]  ¹⁰ tn Or “with the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 1:22. Only “chief priests” is in the nominative case; this sentence structure attempts to capture this emphasis.

[15:31]  ¹¹ tn Grk “Mocking him, the chief priests…said among themselves.”