Mark 10:10

KJV

And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same [matter].

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} in {G1722} the house {G3614} his {G846} disciples {G3101} asked {G1905} him {G846} again {G3825} of {G4012} the same {G846} matter.

Complete Jewish Bible

When they were indoors once more, the talmidim asked him about this.

Berean Standard Bible

When they were back inside the house, the disciples asked Jesus about this matter.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
After Jesus' public discourse on marriage and divorce, His disciples sought a private audience in a house to clarify the challenging implications of His teaching. This intimate setting underscores Jesus' commitment to nurturing His followers' understanding, providing further, more detailed instruction on a topic that profoundly reshaped the prevailing cultural norms regarding the sanctity and indissolubility of the marital covenant.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Mark 10:10 immediately follows Jesus' direct confrontation with the Pharisees regarding the lawfulness of divorce ([Mark 10:2-9](/mark/10-2-9 "Mark 10:2-9 - Jesus' Teaching on Divorce")). In that exchange, Jesus refuted the prevailing interpretations of the Mosaic Law, which allowed for divorce, by pointing back to God's original design for marriage in creation ([Genesis 1:27](/genesis/1-27 "Genesis 1:27 - Creation of Male and Female") and [Genesis 2:24](/genesis/2-24 "Genesis 2:24 - The One-Flesh Union")). His teaching was revolutionary, challenging established societal practices and deeply ingrained legalistic interpretations. The disciples' subsequent private inquiry in [Mark 10:10](/mark/10-10 "Mark 10:10 - Disciples' Private Question") indicates that they, too, found Jesus' uncompromising stance perplexing or difficult to reconcile with their understanding, prompting them to seek further clarification away from the public eye. This pattern of public teaching followed by private explanation to the disciples is characteristic of Mark's Gospel, as seen elsewhere (e.g., [Mark 4:10-12](/mark/4-10-12 "Mark 4:10-12 - Purpose of Parables")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Jewish society, particularly under the influence of rabbinic schools, had developed various interpretations of [Deuteronomy 24:1-4](/deuteronomy/24-1-4 "Deuteronomy 24:1-4 - Law of Divorce"), which permitted a man to divorce his wife for "some indecency." The School of Hillel allowed divorce for almost any reason, even trivial ones like burning a meal, while the stricter School of Shammai limited it primarily to sexual immorality. Divorce was a common practice, and women had very few rights in this process, often being dismissed at the husband's discretion. Jesus' teaching in [Mark 10:2-9](/mark/10-2-9 "Mark 10:2-9 - Jesus' Teaching on Divorce") directly challenged this cultural norm, asserting the permanence of marriage based on the Creator's design, where "what therefore God has joined together, let not man separate" ([Mark 10:9](/mark/10-9 "Mark 10:9 - God Joins Together")). The disciples, steeped in this cultural context, would have found Jesus' radical reinterpretation of marriage and divorce to be a profound and potentially unsettling departure from their societal norms, necessitating further discussion.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes to several overarching themes within Mark's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the **disciples' ongoing struggle to comprehend Jesus' teachings**, especially when those teachings directly contradict their preconceived notions or cultural conditioning. Their repeated questioning demonstrates their earnest, albeit often slow, journey toward understanding the Kingdom of God. Secondly, it underscores Jesus' **patient and personalized instruction of His inner circle**. He consistently takes time to explain complex truths privately, nurturing their spiritual growth and preparing them for their future ministry, as He does with the parables in [Mark 4:34](/mark/4-34 "Mark 4:34 - Private Explanation of Parables"). Finally, while not explicitly stated in this verse, the "matter" itself points to the foundational theme of the **sanctity and indissolubility of marriage**, a core aspect of Jesus' ethical teaching that elevates marriage from a mere social contract to a sacred covenant established by God. This theme is further developed in [Mark 10:11-12](/mark/10-11-12 "Mark 10:11-12 - Jesus' Further Teaching on Divorce").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **house (Greek, _oikía'_):** This word refers to a residence or abode, often implying a private, domestic setting. In this context, it signifies a shift from the public discourse with the Pharisees to a more intimate and personal environment, conducive to private instruction and deeper inquiry. The disciples' decision to ask "in the house" suggests a desire for a less formal, more confidential discussion about a sensitive topic.
* **disciples (Greek, _mathētḗs'_):** Derived from a word meaning "to learn," a disciple is a learner or pupil. This term emphasizes their role as followers who are actively engaged in learning from Jesus. Their act of asking "again" highlights their ongoing process of discipleship, which involves wrestling with challenging truths and seeking clarity from their Teacher.
* **asked (Greek, _eperōtáō'_):** This verb means "to ask for," "inquire," or "seek." It implies a direct, purposeful questioning, indicating a desire for information or clarification. The use of this verb, combined with "again," suggests that the disciples were not merely curious but were grappling with the implications of Jesus' teaching on divorce and needed further, perhaps more detailed, explanation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And in the house":** This phrase marks a significant transition from the public setting where Jesus debated with the Pharisees to a private, domestic space. This shift is crucial, as Jesus often reserved deeper, more challenging teachings for His disciples in intimate settings, allowing for more focused and personal instruction away from the scrutinizing crowds.
* **"his disciples asked him again":** This clause highlights the persistent nature of the disciples' inquiry. The word "again" (Greek, _pálin_) indicates a repetition or a renewed engagement with a topic previously discussed. It suggests that Jesus' public teaching on divorce, while clear, had left them with unresolved questions or a sense of bewilderment, prompting them to revisit the subject. Their willingness to ask again demonstrates their earnestness to understand, despite the difficulty of the teaching.
* **"of the same [matter]":** This refers directly back to the preceding discussion on marriage and divorce. The "matter" (implied from the context, as the Greek word _pragma_ meaning "thing" or "affair" is often used) was the controversial and counter-cultural teaching Jesus had just delivered. The disciples were seeking further elucidation on the profound implications of Jesus' uncompromising stance on the indissolubility of marriage, which challenged deeply ingrained societal norms and interpretations of the Mosaic Law.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Setting** to emphasize a shift from public discourse to private instruction, highlighting the intimate nature of Jesus' teaching to His disciples. The use of **Repetition** through the word "again" underscores the disciples' persistent struggle to grasp Jesus' radical teachings, indicating their need for further clarification and Jesus' patience in providing it. This also serves as a form of **Foreshadowing**, as the subsequent verses (Mark 10:11-12) reveal Jesus' more explicit and even more challenging pronouncements on divorce and remarriage, which He reserves for this private setting. The entire scene functions as a **Microcosm** of the disciples' journey: initial confusion followed by private, patient instruction from Jesus, leading to deeper understanding.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 10:10 serves as a pivotal moment, revealing the profound impact of Jesus' teachings on His closest followers and His method of discipleship. The disciples' need for private clarification underscores the revolutionary nature of Jesus' ethical demands, which often transcended or reinterpreted existing legal and cultural norms. This intimate setting highlights Jesus' commitment to nurturing individual understanding, demonstrating that spiritual growth often requires patient, one-on-one engagement with difficult truths. The "matter" of marriage and divorce, which prompts their inquiry, is foundational to understanding God's design for human relationships and the sanctity of covenant, a theme that reverberates throughout Scripture from creation to consummation.

* [Matthew 13:10-11](/matthew/13-10-11 "Matthew 13:10-11 - Purpose of Parables Explained to Disciples")
* [Luke 24:44-45](/luke/24-44-45 "Luke 24:44-45 - Jesus Opens Disciples' Minds")
* [John 16:12](/john/16-12 "John 16:12 - Jesus' Future Teachings")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 10:10 offers profound insights into the nature of discipleship and the process of spiritual growth. It reminds us that understanding God's truth is not always immediate or easy, especially when it challenges our deeply ingrained beliefs or cultural norms. Like the disciples, we are called to be learners who are willing to wrestle with difficult passages and seek deeper clarity. Jesus' patience in providing private instruction models for us the importance of creating spaces for honest inquiry and thoughtful processing of God's Word. It encourages us to cultivate a posture of humility, recognizing that even foundational truths may require repeated engagement and personal reflection to truly grasp their implications for our lives. This verse also underscores the value of community and mentorship in our spiritual journey, as we learn from those who have walked before us and from the patient guidance of the Holy Spirit.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What teachings of Jesus or biblical truths do I find challenging or difficult to fully grasp, similar to the disciples' struggle with divorce?**
* **How do I typically respond when confronted with a biblical teaching that contradicts my personal beliefs or cultural norms? Do I seek clarification, or do I dismiss it?**
* **In what ways can I create more "private house" moments in my own life for deeper reflection and understanding of God's Word, away from distractions?**
* **How can Jesus' patient approach to teaching His disciples inform my own interactions when explaining difficult truths to others?**

### FAQ
**Why did the disciples ask Jesus about divorce again, and what does "the same matter" refer to?**

Answer: The disciples asked Jesus "again" because His public teaching on divorce, particularly in [Mark 10:2-9](/mark/10-2-9 "Mark 10:2-9 - Jesus' Teaching on Divorce"), was revolutionary and deeply counter-cultural. It challenged the prevailing interpretations of the Mosaic Law and societal practices that permitted easy divorce. "The same matter" refers specifically to the subject of marriage and divorce that Jesus had just discussed with the Pharisees. Their repeated inquiry indicates their perplexity, perhaps even discomfort, with Jesus' uncompromising stance on the indissolubility of marriage. They likely sought further clarification or a more detailed explanation of the implications of His teaching, especially since it deviated so significantly from the norms they were accustomed to.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 10:10, though seemingly a simple transitional verse, profoundly points to Christ as the ultimate Teacher and the embodiment of truth. The disciples' need for private clarification on the "matter" of divorce highlights Jesus' role not merely as a law-giver but as one who reveals the original, perfect will of God, restoring the divine standard for marriage established at creation ([Genesis 2:24](/genesis/2-24 "Genesis 2:24 - The One-Flesh Union")). This foreshadows His greater work of bringing all things into conformity with God's perfect design. As the Word made flesh ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")), Jesus Himself is the ultimate "matter" of divine revelation, the one in whom "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - Treasures of Wisdom in Christ")). His patient, private instruction to His disciples here prefigures His ongoing work through the Holy Spirit to illuminate truth for believers, guiding them "into all the truth" ([John 16:13](/john/16-13 "John 16:13 - The Spirit of Truth")). Ultimately, Christ's teaching on marriage, like all His teachings, reveals the nature of God's covenant faithfulness, which finds its ultimate expression in His own unbreakable covenant with His church, His bride ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25-27 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ and the Church")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Mark 9:33

And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

Mark 9:28

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

Mark 4:10

And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.