College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Mark 12:38-40
8. JESUS WARNS AGAINST THE SCRIBES 12:38-40
TEXT 12:38-40
And in his teaching he said, Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and to have salutations in the market-places, and chief seats in the synagogues, and chief places at feasts: they which devour widows-' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers; these shall receive greater condemnation.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 12:38-40
685.
Were some of the scribes present to hear this warning? Wasn-'t this unfair to the honest scribes? Discuss.
686.
What is inferred in the reference to the long robes?
687.
Why desire the salutations in the market-places?
688.
What advantage was there in the chief seats?
689.
How would scribes be especially prepared or able to devour widows-' houses?
690.
How was it possible to rob and pray in the same day?
691.
Why would long prayers be needed by these scribes?
692.
Is Jesus teaching measures of punishment in hell?
COMMENT
TIME.A.D. 30Tuesday, April 4.
PLACE.The temple area, probably the court of the Gentiles.
PARALLEL ACCOUNTS.Matthew 23:1-39; Luke 20:45-47.
OUTLINE.1. Beware of certain scribes, Mark 12:38-39. Mark 12:2. They devour widow's houses, Mark 12:40.
ANALYSIS
I.
BEWARE OF CERTAIN SCRIBES, Mark 12:38-39.
1.
Those who love to walk in long robes.
2.
Those who love to be greeted in the market-places.
3.
Those who want the chief seats in the synagogue and at feasts.
II.
THEY DEVOUR WIDOWS-' HOUSES, Mark 12:40.
1.
To cover up their crime they pray long prayers (in public).
2.
They should receive heavier judgment.
EXPLANATORY NOTES
I.
BEWARE OF CERTAIN SCRIBES.
How much of Matthew's twenty-third chapter is parallel, as having been now uttered, it is perhaps impossible to say. A large part of that chapter has a close parallel in Luke 11:37-52, and Luke 13:34-35 is identical with the conclusion of the discourse in Matthew. According to Luke 11, the chief part of this discourse was spoken in a Pharisee's house, somewhere in Perea, It seems most probable that Matthew, not having recorded the Perean ministry, here combined several discourses of denunciation, which were actually delivered at various times. At the same time, the brief report in Mark and Luke may be only a fragment of what was said on this occasion. This appears to have been his last word with his enemies, as the discourse of John 14-16 was his last word with friends.
Beware of the scribes, which lovecorrectly, desireto go in long clothing, and (desire) salutations in the market-places, Luke inserts love before salutations, but Mark carries the verb desire through the sentence.In long clothing. Liddell and Scott render in full dressi.e. in whatever official robes they were entitled to wear; not, as Jesus, in the clothing of common life.Salutations, formal and prolix, forbidden by Jesus to his disciples on their journeys for work (Luke 10:4).Chief seats in the synagogues. The seats nearest to where the sacred rolls of the law were kept.Uppermost roomschief places, or couchesat feasts. The places of honor at the table. Uppermost rooms was once intelligible, but is strangely misleading now. Room meant place, not apartment, when the translators used it thus. (For explanation of the allusion, see Luke 14:7-11.)
II.
THEY DEVOUR WIDOWS-' HOUSES.
Devour widows-' houses. As if this were what they fed upon in their first places at the feasts. Covetous designs that we cannot further specify are meant. Insinuating themselves with defenceless women, as if they would truly be their defenders (Theophylact),These shall receive greateror more abundantdamnation, or condemnation. Greater, because they had misused their spiritual privileges, betrayed the trust of the simple, and brought reproach upon the name of God.Our Lord's denunciations of the representatives of Judaism in his day seem terribly severe and almost cruel; but what is known of the absurd and heartless refinements of the Pharisaism of that age fully supports the strong language that he used. What must have been the indignation of such a soul as his at such perversion of the religion of his Father! (W. N. Clarke)
FACT QUESTIONS 12:38-40
804.
How much of Matthew 23:1-39 is parallel to this account? Discuss.
805.
How do Mark and Luke relate to the longer discourse of Matt.?
806.
What did the love of full dress indicate?
807.
Is there something wrong in greeting one another? Cf. Luke 10:4Discuss.
808.
Where were the chief seats?
809.
What is meant by rooms in K.J.V.?
810.
Wasn-'t our Lord terribly severe with the religious leaders of His day?
811.
Discuss the deadly danger of pretence in prayer. i.e. today?