Mark10

Jesus teaches on the sanctity of marriage, condemning divorce and remarriage, and welcomes children, stating the Kingdom of God belongs to such. He challenges a rich man to sell his possessions to gain eternal life, emphasizing the difficulty for the wealthy to enter the Kingdom, but affirming God's power to save. Jesus again predicts his suffering and death, then teaches his disciples that true greatness is found in humble service, not worldly power. The chapter concludes with Jesus restoring sight to blind Bartimaeus, who then follows him.

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Jesus Teaches on Marriage and Divorce

And he arose from thence, and cometh into the borders of Judæa and beyond the Jordan: and multitudes come together unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.

And there came unto him Pharisees, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? trying him.

And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?

And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

But Jesus said unto them, For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.

But from the beginning of the creation, Male and female made he them.

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife;

and the two shall become one flesh: so that they are no more two, but one flesh.

What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

And in the house the disciples asked him again of this matter.

And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her:

and if she herself shall put away her husband, and marry another, she committeth adultery.

Jesus Blesses the Children

And they were bringing unto him little children, that he should touch them: and the disciples rebuked them.

But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me; forbid them not: for to such belongeth the kingdom of God.

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein.

And he took them in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.

The Rich Young Ruler

And as he was going forth into the way, there ran one to him, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good save one, even God.

Thou knowest the commandments, Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor thy father and mother.

And he said unto him, Teacher, all these things have I observed from my youth.

And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

But his countenance fell at the saying, and he went away sorrowful: for he was one that had great possessions.

And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

And they were astonished exceedingly, saying unto him, Then who can be saved?

Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for all things are possible with God.

Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for my sake, and for the gospel’s sake,

but he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

The Third Passion Prediction

And they were on the way, going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus was going before them: and they were amazed; and they that followed were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them the things that were to happen unto him,

saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles:

and they shall mock him, and shall spit upon him, and shall scourge him, and shall kill him; and after three days he shall rise again.

True Greatness: Servant Leadership

And there come near unto him James and John, the sons of Zebedee, saying unto him, Teacher, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall ask of thee.

And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?

And they said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left hand, in thy glory.

But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I drink? or to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

And they said unto him, We are able. And Jesus said unto them, The cup that I drink ye shall drink; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

but to sit on my right hand or on my left hand is not mine to give; but it is for them for whom it hath been prepared.

And when the ten heard it, they began to be moved with indignation concerning James and John.

And Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they who are accounted to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great ones exercise authority over them.

But it is not so among you: but whosoever would become great among you, shall be your minister;

and whosoever would be first among you, shall be servant of all.

For the Son of man also came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Healing Blind Bartimaeus

And they come to Jericho: and as he went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timæus, Bartimæus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the way side.

And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

And many rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried out the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.

And Jesus stood still, and said, Call ye him. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good cheer: rise, he calleth thee.

And he, casting away his garment, sprang up, and came to Jesus.

And Jesus answered him, and said, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? And the blind man said unto him, Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.

And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And straightway he received his sight, and followed him in the way.

Study Notes for Mark 10

Verse 1

Jesus enters the region of Perea (Judea beyond the Jordan), a location often used by traveling rabbis. This setting is where Herod Antipas ruled and where John the Baptist was imprisoned, adding political tension to his ministry.

Verse 2

The Pharisees ask this question to trap Jesus in the debate between the schools of Hillel (liberal, allowing divorce for almost any cause) and Shammai (strict, allowing divorce only for grave sexual misconduct).

Verse 4

They refer to the provision in Deuteronomy 24:1, which Moses permitted as a regulation of divorce, not an endorsement of it. This law was meant to protect the dismissed woman.

Verse 5

Jesus argues that the Mosaic allowance was a concession due to human sinfulness and stubbornness ('hardness of your heart'), not the ideal standard set by God.

Verse 6

Jesus roots his teaching not in the Law of Moses, but in the original creation ordinance established in Genesis 1:27 and 2:24, establishing marriage as a divine institution and permanent covenant.

Verse 9

This verse presents the theological conclusion: because marriage is a divine act of joining, human authority should not intervene to dissolve it.

Verse 11

Jesus clarifies the teaching for the disciples privately, equating divorce and remarriage with adultery, restoring the seriousness of the marriage vow.

Verse 12

Mark uniquely includes the case of a woman divorcing her husband, which was legally possible under Roman law, showing the standard applies equally to both genders.

Verse 13

Bringing children to a rabbi was a common practice for seeking prayer and blessing. The disciples likely viewed the children as insignificant distractions from Jesus' serious teaching.

Verse 14

Jesus’ strong reaction ('much displeased') highlights the disciples’ failure to understand the radical inclusivity of the Kingdom, which welcomes the dependent and powerless.

Verse 15

Receiving the Kingdom 'as a little child' means entering with humility, trust, and total dependence, recognizing one's lack of merit or power.

Verse 17

The man runs and kneels, demonstrating great eagerness and respect. His question reveals a sincere desire to earn eternal life through moral action.

Verse 18

Jesus challenges the man's flattery, subtly raising the question of his own identity and linking ultimate 'goodness' exclusively to God.

Verse 19

Jesus lists commandments focused on human relationships (the second table of the Law), testing the man's claim to righteousness.

Verse 21

The phrase 'Jesus beholding him loved him' shows genuine compassion before issuing the radical challenge. The command to sell everything reveals the man's true idol: his possessions.

Verse 22

The man’s grief confirms that his wealth was his source of security and status, revealing that he had kept all the commandments except the first (having no other gods).

Verse 23

Jesus generalizes the lesson: Riches are a spiritual danger because they foster self-sufficiency and make dependence on God difficult.

Verse 25

This famous hyperbole illustrates the sheer impossibility of achieving salvation through human effort or merit. Wealth, far from being a sign of divine favor, is a major hindrance.

Verse 27

Jesus provides the theological solution: what is impossible for humans (earning salvation) is entirely possible for God (granting salvation by grace).

Verse 28

Peter contrasts the disciples' sacrifice with the ruler's failure, seeking assurance for their commitment.

Verse 30

The promise of receiving 'an hundredfold' refers to the new spiritual family and provision found within the community of disciples, though it is always accompanied by persecution.

Verse 32

The disciples' amazement and fear show they sensed the gravity and danger of the journey to Jerusalem. Jesus walks ahead of them, demonstrating his resolute commitment to the cross.

Verse 33

This is the third and most detailed of the passion predictions in Mark, specifying the betrayal, condemnation by Jewish leaders, and delivery to the Gentiles (Romans).

Verse 35

Immediately following the prediction of suffering, James and John demonstrate their complete failure to grasp the sacrificial nature of Jesus’ mission, seeking positions of earthly power.

Verse 38

The 'cup' and 'baptism' are metaphors for intense suffering, referring to Jesus' impending passion and death. Jesus warns them that seeking glory requires sharing in His suffering.

Verse 40

Jesus emphasizes that positions of authority in the Kingdom are determined by the Father, not by human ambition or political requests.

Verse 42

Jesus contrasts the worldly model of leadership, which relies on domination and coercive power, with the divine model of the Kingdom.

Verse 43

In the Kingdom, greatness is redefined through service and humility. The one who desires high status must adopt the role of a 'minister' (diakonos, servant).

Verse 45

This verse is the theological climax of the teaching and a key Christological statement in Mark. Jesus defines his mission as substitutionary atonement—giving his life as a 'ransom for many.'

Verse 46

This event occurs as Jesus leaves Jericho, marking his final journey before his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Bartimaeus is one of the few named beneficiaries of Jesus' healings.

Verse 47

Calling Jesus 'Son of David' is a clear Messianic title, recognizing Jesus as the promised King and heir of David's throne.

Verse 50

Casting away his garment shows the urgency and immediacy of his response, abandoning his source of income and status to follow Jesus.

Verse 52

Jesus affirms that Bartimaeus’ active faith, not merely the physical act of healing, was the source of his restoration. Bartimaeus immediately becomes a disciple, following Jesus 'in the way.'

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Mark10

Jesus Teaches on Marriage and Divorce

Jesus Blesses the Children

The Rich Young Ruler

The Third Passion Prediction

True Greatness: Servant Leadership

Healing Blind Bartimaeus

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