38 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, 39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: 40 Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation. (Mark 12:38-40 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Observe here, What it is that our Saviour condemns; not civil salutations in the marketplace, not the chief seats in synagogues, not the uppermost rooms at feasts; but their fond affecting of these things, and their ambitious aspiring after them. It was not their taking but their loving the uppermost rooms at feasts, which Christ condemns.
Observe, 2. How our Saviour condemns the Pharisees for their gross hypocrisy, in covering over their covetousness with a pretence of religion, making long prayers in the temple and synagogues for widows, and thereupon persuading them to give bountifully to corban; that is, the common treasury for the temple, some part of which was employed for their maintenance.
Whence we learn, That it is no new thing for designing hypocrites to cover the foulest transgressions with the cloak of religion. The Pharisees made long prayers a cloak and cover for their covetousness.
BURKITT : | Mark 12:1-8 | Mark 12:9-12 | Mr 12v13-17 | Mr 12v18-27 | Mr 12v28-34 | Mark 12:35-37 | Mark 12:38-40 | Mr 12v41-44 | KJV Comm