Mark10
New American Standard
1Setting out from there, Jesus went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan; crowds gathered to Him again, and, as He was accustomed, He once more began to teach them.
2And some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began questioning Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife.
3And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?”
4They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send his wife away.”
5But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.
6But from the beginning of creation, God created them male and female.
7For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother,
8and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh.
9Therefore, what God has joined together, no person is to separate.”
10And in the house the disciples again began questioning Him about this.
11And He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her;
12and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery.”
13And they were bringing children to Him so that He would touch them; but the disciples rebuked them.
14But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Allow the children to come to Me; do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
15Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”
16And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.
17As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do so that I may inherit eternal life?”
18But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
19You 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.’”
20And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth.”
21Looking at him, Jesus showed love to him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22But he was deeply dismayed by these words, and he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.
23And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!”
24And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus responded again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
26And they were even more astonished, and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?”
27Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”
28Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and have followed You.”
29Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake,
30but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.
31But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”
32Now they were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were fearful. And again He took the twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him,
33saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles.
34And they will mock Him and spit on Him, and flog Him and kill Him; and three days later He will rise from the dead.”
35James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus, saying to Him, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.”
36And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
37They said to Him, “Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.”
38But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”
39They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.
40But to sit on My right or on My left is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
41Hearing this, the other ten began to feel indignant with James and John.
42Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them; and their people in high position exercise authority over them.
43But it is not this way among you; rather, whoever wants to become prominent among you shall be your servant;
44and whoever wants to be first among you shall be slave of all.
45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
46Then they came to Jericho. And later, as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a beggar who was blind named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road.
47And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they called the man who was blind, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.”
50And throwing off his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus.
51And replying to him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the man who was blind said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!”
52And Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Mark 10.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The Pharisees' question concerning divorce. (1–12). Christ's love to little children. (13–16). Christ's discourse with the rich young man. (17–22). The hinderance of riches. (23–31). Christ foretells his sufferings. (32–45). Bartimeus healed. (46–52).
vv1-12
Wherever Jesus was, the people flocked after him in crowds, and he taught them. Preaching was Christ's constant practice. He here shows that the reason why Moses' law allowed divorce, was such that they ought not to use the permission; it was only for the hardness of their hearts. God himself joined man and wife together; he has fitted them to be comforts and helps for each other. The bond which God has tied, is not to be lightly untied. Let those who are for putting away their wives consider what would become of themselves, if God should deal with them in like manner.
vv13-16
Some parents or nurses brought little children to Christ, that he should touch them, in token of his blessing them. It does not appear that they needed bodily cures, nor were they capable of being taught: but those who had the care of them believed that Christ's blessing would do their souls good; therefore they brought them to him. Jesus ordered that they should be brought to him, and that nothing should be said or done to hinder it. Children should be directed to the Saviour as soon as they are able to understand his words. Also, we must receive the kingdom of God as little children; we must stand affected to Christ and his grace, as little children to their parents, nurses, and teachers.
vv17-22
This young ruler showed great earnestness. He asked what he should do now, that he might be happy for ever. Most ask for good to be had in this world; any good, Ps 4:6; he asks for good to be done in this world, in order to enjoy the greatest good in the other world. Christ encouraged this address by assisting his faith, and by directing his practice. But here is a sorrowful parting between Jesus and this young man. He asks Christ what he shall do more than he has done, to obtain eternal life; and Christ puts it to him, whether he has indeed that firm belief of, and that high value for eternal life which he seems to have. Is he willing to bear a present cross, in expectation of future crown? The young man was sorry he could not be a follower of Christ upon easier terms; that he could not lay hold on eternal life, and keep hold of his worldly possessions too. He went away grieved. See Mt 6:24, Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Key Words
θραύω (thraúō): to crush
ἀνίστημι (anístēmi): to stand up (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive)
ἐξέρχομαι (exérchomai): to issue (literally or figuratively)
ἔρχομαι (érchomai): to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
εἰς (eis): to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
ὅριον (hórion): a boundary-line, i.e. (by implication) a frontier (region)
Ἰουδαία (Ioudaía): the Judæan land (i.e. Judæa), a region of Palestine
Ἰορδάνης (Iordánēs): the Jordanes (i.e. Jarden), a river of Palestine
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ὄχλος (óchlos): a throng (as borne along); by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot
Cross References
Mark 10The Mosaic precept permitting a bill of divorcement, which Jesus attributes to hardness of heart.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Jesus quotes this creation design of marriage to establish lifelong union against divorce.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Cited by Jesus to show God's original creation intent was binary and complementary.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel account of disciples rebuking parents bringing young children to Jesus.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel account identifying the young man seeking eternal life as a ruler.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel account specifying Salome, their mother, petitioned with James and John.
Supported by JFB
Parallel account of the blind man healed as Jesus departed from Jericho.
Supported by JFB
Paul applies Gen 2:24 to Christ and the church, echo of Jesus' words.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Luke's parallel specifies they brought 'infants' for Jesus to touch.
Supported by JFB
Parallel account of Jesus taking the twelve aside to predict His death.
Supported by JFB
Jesus refers to His upcoming suffering as a 'cup' to be drunk.
Supported by JFB
Messianic prophecy of the Servant giving His life as a guilt offering for many.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jesus steadfastly sets His face to go to Jerusalem, leading with amazement.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
The place of ultimate honor at the right hand, coveted by the disciples.
Supported by JFB
James drinks the cup of suffering first by being martyred under Herod.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel warning against seeking Gentile-style autocratic lordship over others.
Supported by JFB
Bartimaeus casting away his garment matches laying aside every weight to follow Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Old Testament precedent describing Israel's rebellion and stiffness of neck/heart.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Warning to the rich not to trust in uncertain riches, mirroring Jesus' words.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Prophetic description of the Servant being struck and spit upon.
Supported by JFB