those who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”
Parallel translations
- KJV Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
- BSB They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”
- NKJV who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”
- NASB who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive all the more condemnation.”
- NLT Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished.”
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
These same scribes exploit defenseless widows while masking their greed with lengthy prayers. Jesus says they will face greater condemnation.
Overview
Beneath an outward show of piety lay oppression of the vulnerable, whom the law commanded Israel to protect. Hypocrisy that cloaks injustice in religious language invites stricter judgment, for greater knowledge brings greater accountability. The contrast with the poor widow in the next verses is deliberate: Jesus condemns those who devour widows and then honors a widow's wholehearted gift.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Luke 20:47who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these will receive greater condemnation.”
- Matt 23:33You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna?
- Matt 23:13“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
- Matt 6:7In praying, don’t use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.
- Ezek 22:25There is a conspiracy of her prophets within it, like a roaring lion ravening the prey. They have devoured souls. They take treasure and precious things. They have made her widows many within it.
- Luke 12:47–48That servant, who knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes,
- Mic 3:1–4I said, “Please listen, you heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: Isn’t it for you to know justice?
- 2 Tim 3:6For some of these are people who creep into houses, and take captive gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
- Matt 11:22–24But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
- Mic 2:2They covet fields, and seize them; and houses, and take them away: and they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.
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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 12:40 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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