EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Mark 12:40
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 12:40 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
- New International Version (NIV)They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."
- New King James Version (NKJV)who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”
Context of Mark 12:40
38As 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. But 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.’ 41Many people were giving their gifts for the temple. There was a box for money there. People threw their coins into it. Jesus sat near the box and he watched them. Many rich people put a lot of money into the box. 42But then a woman came there. Her husband had died and she was very poor. She put two small coins that had only a little value into the box.
Read all of Mark 12Mark 12:40 word by word
οἱ κατεσθίοντες τὰς οἰκίας τῶν χηρῶν καὶ προφάσει μακρὰ προσευχόμενοι, οὗτοι λήμψονται περισσότερον κρίμα.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whichὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- devourκατεσθίωkatesthiō · to devourG2719
- widows’χήραchēra · widowG5503
- housesοἰκίαoikia · homeG3614
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- for a pretenceπρόφασιςprophasis · pretenseG4392
- makeπροσεύχομαιproseuchomai · to prayG4336
- longμακρόςmakros · long/distantG3117
- theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- shall receiveλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
- greaterπερισσόςperissos · excessiveG4053
- damnationκρίμαkrima · judgmentG2917
Cross-references for Mark 12:40
- Ezekiel 22:25The rulers in the land hurt people, like strong lions that tear animals in pieces. They use their power to destroy people. They take for themselves riches and valuable things that belong to other people. They have killed many men so that there are now many widows in the land.
- Micah 2:2When they want fields, they take them from other people. When they want houses, they take them. These cruel people take other people's homes and fields; then those people's families have nothing.
- Micah 3:1Then I spoke to the leaders: Listen to me, I said. You are the leaders of Jacob's people, you are the rulers of Israel. You ought to know what is right or wrong.
- Matthew 23:14[It will be very bad for you, teachers of God's Law and Pharisees. You are hypocrites! You take things away from women after their husbands have died. You pray for a long time so that other people will praise you. God will punish you much more than other people.]
- Luke 20:47They 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.’
- 2 Timothy 3:6Among those people, there are some men who find a way into people's homes. They get power over silly women who feel very guilty about their sins. Those women want to do wrong things and they cannot stop themselves.
- Matthew 6:7When you pray, do not say the same words many times. People who do not believe in God do that. They use many words that mean nothing. They think that when they pray like that, their gods will hear them.
- Matthew 11:22Yes, when God judges everyone, he will punish the people from Tyre and Sidon. But he will punish much more you people from Chorazin and Bethsaida.
- Matthew 23:33You are like a family of dangerous snakes! You will not be able to run away. God will surely punish you, and he will send you to hell.
- Luke 12:47A servant may know what his master wants him to do. Then he should prepare himself and do that. If he does not, his master will punish him very much. He will hit him a lot.
Commentaries on Mark 12:40
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 40Which devour widows‘ houses - Which devour the families of widows, or the means of supporting their families. This they did under pretence of counseling them in the knowledge of the law and in the management of their estates. They took advantage of their ignorance and their unprotected state, and either extorted large sums for their counsel, or perverted the property to their own use. No wonder that our Saviour denounced them! If there is any sin of…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. 40The teachers of religious law broke the second command by failing to love their neighbors, as was seen in their cheating widows of their property. They clearly were cheating the most vulnerable and needy people despite God’s concern for widows (Deuteronomy 14:29; Psalms 68:5; 146:9; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 7:6; 49:11) and his condemnation of those who mistreat them (Isaiah 1:23; Ezekiel 22:7; Zechariah 7:10; Malachi 3:5). The teachers of religious law…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4040. Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation--They took advantage of their helpless condition and confiding character to obtain possession of their property, while by their "long prayers" they made them believe they were raised far above "filthy lucre." So much the "greater damnation" awaited them. (Compare Mt 23:33). A lifelike description this of the Romish clergy, the true successors of…Read the comment
Topics related to Mark 12:40
In the dictionaries
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
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