Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Mark 12:38

ἐν τῇ διδαχῇ αὐτοῦ ἔλεγεν. As often, Mk has imperf. where Mt. and Lk. have aor. Only a brief denunciation is here common to all three; somewhat more is common to Mk and Lk.; but the greater part is in Mt. alone, who, however, has evidently strung together in one discourse denunciations which were uttered on other occasions. Lk. gives some of them in other and more probable settings. With the exception of Luke 20:45-47, none of the denunciations which are common to Mt. and Lk. are placed by Lk. as uttered on this occasion. Matthew 23 is a mosaic like the Sermon on the Mount. On the other hand, it is likely that more was said on this occasion than is placed here by Mk and Lk.; “in His teaching” almost implies that more was said than is recorded.

Βλέπετε�. See on Mark 8:15. Salmon quotes A.V. of this and Luke 20:46 as illustrating the differences which arise through independent translation of the same words. Here “love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the market-places and the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts, which for a pretence make long prayers.” In Lk. the same Greek words are translated respectively, “desire, walk, robes, greetings, markets, highest, chief, show.” Vulg. also varies considerably. Mk’s conversational style is illustrated by the coupling of περιπατεῖν and ἀσπασμούς after θελόντων. This use of θέλω = “I like” is found here only (Mk, Lk.) in N.T.

στολαῖς. Robes (R.V.) rather than “clothing” (A.V.); cf. Mark 16:5. The word implies dignity, as in liturgical vestments or royal robes or festal array (Exodus 28:2; 1 Chronicles 15:27; Luke 15:22; Revelation 7:9; Revelation 7:13-14). Here and in Luke 20:46 Syr-Syn. has “in colonnades” (στοαῖς for στολαῖς).

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Mark 12:38

Old Testament

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