Mar 12:38-40 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Mark 12:38-39: 12:38-39 teachers of religious law: See 1:22 . The warning here is similar to the one against the Pharisees and Herod in 8:15 . The scribes broke the two greatest commands (12:30-31 ). They broke the first command by failing to love God and failing to reserve for him alone the reverence and adoration they sought for themselves. • Flowing robes were probably the garments worn by religious men; respectful greetings perhaps meant being called “Rabbi” (see Matt 23:7 ). The seats of honor were in the front of the synagogue facing the congregation.

Summary for Mark 12:38-39: 12:38-39 ^a teachers of religious law: See 1:22 ^b. The warning here is similar to the one against the Pharisees and Herod in 8:15 ^c. The scribes broke the two greatest commands (12:30-31 ^d). They broke the first command by failing to love God and failing to reserve for him alone the reverence and adoration they sought for themselves.

• Flowing robes were probably the garments worn by religious men; respectful greetings perhaps meant being called “Rabbi” (see Matt 23:7 ^e). The seats of honor were in the front of the synagogue facing the congregation.
12:40 ^f The 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 (Deut 14:29 ^g; Pss 68:5 ^h; 146:9 ⁱ; Isa 1:17 ^j; Jer 7:6 ^k; 49:11 ^l) and his condemnation of those who mistreat them (Isa 1:23 ^m; Ezek 22:7 ⁿ; Zech 7:10 ^o; Mal 3:5 ^p). The scribes wore a hypocritical cloak of false piety (see Matt 6:5-6 ^q; Luke 18:11-12 ^r).

• they will be more severely punished: In the final judgment (Mark 9:42-48 ^s; see Luke 14:11 ^t).