Mar 12:38 | MHM | STEP | v. 38 : Jesus warned the people to be careful about the scribes (Mark 12:38 ). He wanted them to avoid copying the scribes’ pride and hypocrisy. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus gave a longer warning about this (Matthew 23:1-39 ), but here he makes his point more briefly. v. 38-40 : Jesus described how the scribes tried to look important. They wore long robes and liked to walk around in public, wanting people to notice and respect them. They also liked to pray long prayers in public, not out of real love for God, but to look holy in front of others. They enjoyed being greeted with honor in the marketplaces, and sitting in the best seats at the synagogue and dinners. Even worse, they took advantage of widows, sometimes stealing their property while pretending to be religious. Jesus said that these hypocrites would receive a much greater punishment. Their outward show could not hide their sin from God, and pretending to be holy made their guilt even worse (Mark 12:40 ).

‏ Mark 12:38

v. 38: Jesus warned the people to be careful about the scribes (Mark 12:38 ^a). He wanted them to avoid copying the scribes’ pride and hypocrisy. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus gave a longer warning about this (Matthew 23:1-39 ^b), but here he makes his point more briefly.

v. 38-40: Jesus described how the scribes tried to look important. They wore long robes and liked to walk around in public, wanting people to notice and respect them. They also liked to pray long prayers in public, not out of real love for God, but to look holy in front of others. They enjoyed being greeted with honor in the marketplaces, and sitting in the best seats at the synagogue and dinners. Even worse, they took advantage of widows, sometimes stealing their property while pretending to be religious. Jesus said that these hypocrites would receive a much greater punishment. Their outward show could not hide their sin from God, and pretending to be holy made their guilt even worse (Mark 12:40 ^c).