Mark 12:38

Mark 12:38 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
• New International Version (NIV)As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces,
• English Standard Version (ESV)And in his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then He said to them in His teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces,

Context of Mark 12:38

36The Holy Spirit helped David himself to say: “The Lord God said to my Lord: Sit at my right side until I win against your enemies. The you will be able to put your feet on them.” 37In these words, David himself calls the Messiah his Lord. So can you really say that the Messiah is David's son?’ The large crowd liked to listen to the things that Jesus was saying. It made them happy. As Jesus was teaching the people, he said, ‘Be careful not to do the same as the teachers of God's Law. They want people to think that they are important. So they walk about in beautiful long clothes. They like people to praise them in the market place. 39They want to sit in the best seats in the meeting places. They choose the most important places at special meals. 40But these men take things away from women after their husbands have died, even their houses. Then they pray for a long time so that other people will praise them. Because they do these things, God will punish those men much more than other people.’

Mark 12:38 word by word

Καὶ ἐν τῇ διδαχῇ αὐτοῦ ἔλεγεν· βλέπετε ἀπὸ τῶν γραμματέων τῶν θελόντων ἐν στολαῖς περιπατεῖν καὶ ἀσπασμοὺς ἐν ταῖς ἀγοραῖςRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• he saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• doctrineὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• doctrineδιδαχήdidachē · teachingG1322
• Bewareβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
• ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
• the scribesγραμματεύςgrammateus · scribeG1122
• loveθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• to goπεριπατέωperipateō · to walkG4043
• long clothingστολήstolē · robeG4749
• salutationsἀσπασμόςaspasmos · salutationG783
• the marketplacesἀγοράagora · marketplaceG58

Cross-references for Mark 12:38

• Mark 4:2Jesus used stories to teach them many things. He said to them,
• Matthew 10:17Be careful! People will be against you. They will take you to stand in front of their leaders. They will punish you with whips in their meeting places.
• Matthew 23:1After that, Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples.
• Luke 20:45All the people were listening to Jesus. Jesus then said to his disciples,
• Matthew 6:5‘Also, you must not pray in the way that the hypocrites pray. They like to stand and pray in their meeting places. They like to do it on the corners of the busy streets. Then many people will see them and they will praise them. I tell you this. They have already received their gift from people. God will not give them anything more.
• Luke 11:43Yes, it will be very bad for you Pharisees! You like to sit in the best seats in the meeting place. And you like people to praise you in the market place.
• Luke 14:7Jesus watched how people chose the best places to sit at the meal. So he told this story to those who were sitting there:
• 3 John 1:9I have already written something to the group of believers. But Diotrephes refuses to accept our authority. He really wants to be the only leader among them.

Commentaries on Mark 12:38

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38Beware of the scribes - See on Matthew 23:1; (note), etc.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38In his doctrine - In his “teaching,” for so it should be rendered. Beware of the scribes - Be on your guard. Be cautious about hearing them or following them. Scribes - The learned men of the Jewish nation. Which love to go in long clothing - In long, flowing robes, as significant of their consequence, leisure, and learning. Salutations … - See the notes at Matthew 23:6-7.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 35-40Verses 35-40 When we attend to what the Scriptures declare, as to the person and offices of Christ, we shall be led to confess him as our Lord and God; to obey him as our exalted Redeemer. If the common people hear these things gladly, while the learned and distinguished oppose, the former are happy, and the latter to be pitied. And as sin, disguised with a show of piety, is double iniquity, so its doom will be doubly heavy.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 38-39the scribes: See 1:22. This warning is similar to the one against the Pharisees and Herod in 8:15. The scribes violated the two greatest commandments (12:30–31). They broke the first commandment by not loving God and by seeking respect and praise for themselves instead of reserving it for God. long robes: These were likely clothes worn by religious men. To receive greetings perhaps meant being called Rabbi (see Matthew 23:7). The chief seats were in the…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3838. And he said unto them in his doctrine--rather, "in His teaching"; implying that this was but a specimen of an extended discourse, which Matthew gives in full (Mt 23:1-39). Luke says (Lu 20:45) this was "in the audience of all the people said unto His disciples." Beware of the scribes, which love--or like. to go in long clothing--(see on Mt 23:5). and love salutations in the market-places,Read the comment

Topics related to Mark 12:38

• Ambition
• Hypocrisy
• Jesus, the Christ
• Pride
• Satire
• Temple

In the dictionaries

• Catch
• Empty
• Gladly
• Salutation
• Whence
• Dress
• Greeting
• Jesus Christ
• Mark, the Gospel According to
• Market; Marketplace; Mart

Commentaries on Mark 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings