In his teaching he said to them, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces,
Parallel translations
- 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,
- BSB In His teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, to receive greetings in the marketplaces,
- 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,
- NASB And in His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like personal greetings in the marketplaces,
- NLT Jesus also taught: “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces.
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 the crowds to beware of the scribes who crave status, flowing robes, and public honor. Religious pride is a deadly danger.
Overview
After silencing his critics, Jesus exposes the heart-corruption behind their teaching. The scribes loved the visible trappings of importance rather than humble service to God. This warning guards every generation against using religion to feed pride, and stands in sharp contrast to Jesus himself, who came not to be served but to give his life as a ransom.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Luke 20:45–47In the hearing of all the people, he said to his disciples,
- Matt 23:1–7Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples,
- Luke 11:43Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the marketplaces.
- Matt 6:5“When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.
- Mark 4:2He taught them many things in parables, and told them in his teaching,
- Matt 10:17But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you.
- Luke 14:7–11He spoke a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the best seats, and said to them,
- 3 Jn 1:9I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t accept what we say.
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 12:38 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
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