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.

Jesus Teaches on Marriage and Divorce

1
He arose from there and came into the borders of Judea and beyond the Jordan. Multitudes came together to him again. As he usually did, he was again teaching them. ​
2
Pharisees came to him testing him, and asked him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” ​
3
He answered, “What did Moses command you?”
4
They said, “Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce her.” ​
5
But Yeshua said to them, “For your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment. ​
6
But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female. ​
7
For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will join to his wife,
8
and the two will become one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh.
9
What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” ​
10
In the house, his disciples asked him again about the same matter.
11
He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery against her. ​
12
If a woman herself divorces her husband, and marries another, she commits adultery.” ​

Jesus Blesses the Children

13
They were bringing to him little children, that he should touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who were bringing them. ​
14
But when Yeshua saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said to them, “Allow the little children to come to me! Don’t forbid them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ​
15
Most certainly I tell you, whoever will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.” ​
16
He took them in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

The Rich Young Ruler

17
As he was going out into the way, one ran to him, knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Rabbi, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” ​
18
Yeshua said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one—God. ​
19
You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not give false testimony,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and mother.’” ​
20
He said to him, “Rabbi, I have observed all these things from my youth.”
21
Yeshua looking at him loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me, taking up the cross.” ​
22
But his face fell at that saying, and he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions. ​
23
Yeshua looked around, and said to his disciples, “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into the Kingdom of God!” ​
24
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Yeshua answered again, “Children, how hard is it for those who trust in riches to enter into the Kingdom of God!
25
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.” ​
26
They were exceedingly astonished, saying to him, “Then who can be saved?”
27
Yeshua, looking at them, said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God.” ​
28
Peter began to tell him, “Behold, we have left all, and have followed you.” ​
29
Yeshua said, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News,
30
but he will receive one hundred times more now in this time, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, with persecutions; and in the age to come eternal life. ​
31
But many who are first will be last; and the last first.”

The Third Passion Prediction

32
They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem; and Yeshua was going in front of them, and they were amazed; and those who followed were afraid. He again took the twelve, and began to tell them the things that were going to happen to him. ​
33
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death, and will deliver him to the Gentiles. ​
34
They will mock him, spit on him, scourge him, and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”

True Greatness: Servant Leadership

35
Jacob and Yochanan, the sons of Zebedee, came near to him, saying, “Rabbi, we want you to do for us whatever we will ask.” ​
36
He said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”
37
They said to him, “Grant to us that we may sit, one at your right hand, and one at your left hand, in your glory.”
38
But Yeshua said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and to be immersed with the immersion that I am immersed with?” ​
39
They said to him, “We are able.” Yeshua said to them, “You shall indeed drink the cup that I drink, and you shall be immersed with the immersion that I am immersed with;
40
but to sit at my right hand and at my left hand is not mine to give, but for whom it has been prepared.” ​
41
When the ten heard it, they began to be indignant towards Jacob and Yochanan.
42
Yeshua summoned them, and said to them, “You know that they who are recognized as rulers over the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. ​
43
But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant. ​
44
Whoever of you wants to become first among you, shall be bondservant of all.
45
For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” ​

Healing Blind Bartimaeus

46
They came to Jericho. As he went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. ​
47
When he heard that it was Yeshua the Nazarene, he began to cry out, and say, “Yeshua, you son of David, have mercy on me!” ​
48
Many rebuked him, that he should be quiet, but he cried out much more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!”
49
Yeshua stood still, and said, “Call him.” They called the blind man, saying to him, “Cheer up! Get up. He is calling you!”
50
He, casting away his cloak, sprang up, and came to Yeshua. ​
51
Yeshua asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “Rabboni, that I may see again.”
52
Yeshua said to him, “Go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Immediately he received his sight, and followed Yeshua on 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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