12:38 In his teaching Jesus 1 also said, “Watch out for the experts in the law. 2 They like walking 3 around in long robes and elaborate greetings 4 in the marketplaces,
1 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 tn Or “for the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 1:22.
3 tn In Greek this is the only infinitive in vv. 38-39. It would be awkward in English to join an infinitive to the following noun clauses, so this has been translated as a gerund.
4 sn There is later Jewish material in the Talmud that spells out such greetings in detail. See H. Windisch, TDNT 1:498.