With very few exceptions (e.g., 12:28-34), Jesus generally had a prickly relationship with "scribes" in Mark (see 3:22-30; 7:1-5; 11:18, 27f.; 12:12). Thus it is not too surprising to find Jesus using scribes as glass-case exhibits of ignorant behaviors and arrogant attitudes.

Jesus begins by attacking the popular style of scribal dress, a fairly easy target. A successful first-century scribe wore a long linen robe with a long white mantle decorated with beautiful long fringes. White robes identified the wearer as someone of importance and prestige. Jesus' observation that the scribes liked "to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces" is a reference to the tradition which dictated that common people "in the marketplace" should respectfully rise to their feet when a scribe walked past. …