To the young ruler our Lord named one command as great-the love of one's neighbor. Now, in answer to this scribe, he turned with unerring choice, first to Deuteronomy 6:4-5, and then to Leviticus 19:18, for the two pillars on which the collective and individual life of man must rest. The reverent answer of the scribe proves that he was no ordinary questioner; and our Lord acknowledged this when He told him that a few steps more would bring him into the kingdom of God. Our Lord was David's son by human descent, but as Son of God, proceeding from the Father, He is exalted far above David and all mankind.
In terrible words, Mark 12:38-40, Christ denounced the moral and religious leaders of the time. They made a pretense and a gain of their religion. How great the contrast between them and this poor widow, who cast into God's treasury all that she had to provide for her day's living! Our Lord is quick to notice acts like these, which give evidence of the true heart. [source]
Chapter Summary: Mark 12
1Jesus tells the parable of the tenants 13He avoids the snare of the Pharisees and Herodians about paying tribute to Caesar; 18convicts the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection; 28resolves the scribe, who questioned of the first commandment; 35refutes the opinion that the scribes held of the Christ; 38bidding the people to beware of their ambition and hypocrisy; 41and commends the poor widow for her two mites, above all
Greek Commentary for Mark 12:39
First seats in the synagogues [πρωτοκατεδριας] As a mark of special piety, seats up in front while now the hypocrites present in church prefer the rear seats. [source]
Chief places at feasts [πρωτοκλισιας εν τοις δειπνοις] Recognizing proper rank and station. Even the disciples fall victims to this desire for precedence at table (Luke 22:24). [source]
Uppermost rooms [πρωτοκλισίας] More correctly, the chief couches,. So Rev., chief places. [source]
Luke 14:7When he marked [επεχων] Present active participle of επεχω epechō with τον νουν ton noun understood, holding the mind upon them, old verb and common.They chose out (εχελεγοντο exelegonto). Imperfect middle, were picking out for themselves.The chief seats The first reclining places at the table. Jesus condemned the Pharisees later for this very thing (Matthew 23:6; Mark 12:39; Luke 20:46). On a couch holding three the middle place was the chief one. At banquets today the name of the guests are usually placed at the plates. The place next to the host on the right was then, as now, the post of honour. [source]
Luke 14:7The chief seats [τας πρωτοκλισιας] The first reclining places at the table. Jesus condemned the Pharisees later for this very thing (Matthew 23:6; Mark 12:39; Luke 20:46). On a couch holding three the middle place was the chief one. At banquets today the name of the guests are usually placed at the plates. The place next to the host on the right was then, as now, the post of honour. [source]
Greek Commentary for Mark 12:39
As a mark of special piety, seats up in front while now the hypocrites present in church prefer the rear seats. [source]
Recognizing proper rank and station. Even the disciples fall victims to this desire for precedence at table (Luke 22:24). [source]
More correctly, the chief couches,. So Rev., chief places. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 12:39
Rev., correctly, chief places. See on Mark 12:39. [source]
Present active participle of επεχω epechō with τον νουν ton noun understood, holding the mind upon them, old verb and common.They chose out (εχελεγοντο exelegonto). Imperfect middle, were picking out for themselves.The chief seats The first reclining places at the table. Jesus condemned the Pharisees later for this very thing (Matthew 23:6; Mark 12:39; Luke 20:46). On a couch holding three the middle place was the chief one. At banquets today the name of the guests are usually placed at the plates. The place next to the host on the right was then, as now, the post of honour. [source]
The first reclining places at the table. Jesus condemned the Pharisees later for this very thing (Matthew 23:6; Mark 12:39; Luke 20:46). On a couch holding three the middle place was the chief one. At banquets today the name of the guests are usually placed at the plates. The place next to the host on the right was then, as now, the post of honour. [source]