E. S. Malbon, "The Jewish Leaders in the Gospel of Mark: A Literary Study of Marcan Characterization," JBL 108 (1989): 259-281.

Malbon examines Mark's portrait of the Jewish leaders: the "scribes and Pharisees;" and chief priests, scribes, elders, and others, from the angle of narrative criticism, drawing three inferences from the characterization: 1) The Jewish leaders are unified (in their opposition to Jesus); 2) They are distinguished (by means of narrative escalation); and 3) Exceptional Jewish leaders are highlighted by their response(s) to Jesus.