rwp - Mark:12:38-39

rwp@Mark:12:38 @{Beware of the scribes} (\blepete apo tn grammaten\). Jesus now turns to the multitudes and to his disciples (Matthew:23:1|) and warns them against the scribes and the Pharisees while they are still there to hear his denunciation. The scribes were the professional teachers of the current Judaism and were nearly all Pharisees. Mark (Mark:14:38-40|) gives a mere summary sketch of this bold and terrific indictment as preserved in strkjv@Matthew:23| in words that fairly blister today. strkjv@Luke:20:45-47| follows Mark closely. See strkjv@Matthew:8:15| for this same use of \blepete apo\ with the ablative. It is usually called a translation-Hebraism, a usage not found with \blep\ in the older Greek. But the papyri give it, a vivid vernacular idiom. "Beware of the Jews" (\blepe saton apo tn Ioudain\, Berl. G. U. 1079. A.D. 41). See Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 577. The pride of the pompous scribes is itemized by Mark: {To walk in long robes} (\stolais\), {stoles}, the dress of dignitaries like kings and priests. {Salutations in the marketplaces} (\aspasmous en tais agorais\), where the people could see their dignity recognized.

rwp@Mark:12:39 @{First seats in the synagogues} (\prtokathedrias\). As a mark of special piety, seats up in front while now the hypocrites present in church prefer the rear seats. {Chief places at feasts} (\prtoklisias en tois deipnois\). Recognizing proper rank and station. Even the disciples fall victims to this desire for precedence at table (Luke:22:24|).