“Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts;
- KJV Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;
- BSB “Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.
- NKJV “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts,
- NASB “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love personal greetings in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus warns against the scribes who love status, public honor, and the best seats.
Overview
He exposes religious leaders who use their position to gain admiration rather than to serve God and others. Their flowing robes, sought-after greetings, and prized seats reveal hearts craving human praise. True discipleship under Christ takes the lowly path of humble service, not self-exaltation.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Mark 12:38–39In his teaching he said to them, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces,
- Luke 11:43Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the marketplaces.
- Luke 14:7He spoke a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the best seats, and said to them,
- Phil 2:3–5doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;
- Matt 16:6Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
- Luke 12:1Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell his disciples first of all, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
- Matt 23:5–7But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments,
- 2 Tim 4:15of whom you also must beware; for he greatly opposed our words.
- 3 Jn 1:9I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t accept what we say.
- Rom 12:10In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another;
- Prov 29:23A man’s pride brings him low, but one of lowly spirit gains honor.
- Mark 8:15He warned them, saying, “Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 20:46 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.