Mark 10

Jesus goes beyond the Jordan  1
The Pharisees ask about divorce  2
The disciples also ask  10
Children brought to Jesus to be blessed  13
One asking about eternal life was unwilling to part with his wealth  17
Rich people have a hard time entering into heaven; the last shall be first  23
Jesus explains His death  32
James and John request important positions in the kingdom  35
Other disciples are displeased; worldly politics not to be in Jesus' kingdom  41
Blind Bartimaeus yells to Jesus and is healed  46
Text
Comments
Ministry in Samaria and Paraea. Matt. 19:1, 2; Mark 10:1; Luke 9:51-56.
.1 ¶ And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.   Farther side He was returning from Peraea (now the country of Jordan). "coasts" means "borders." See map.
Marriage and divorce. Matt. 19:3-12; Mark 10:2-12.
.2  And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.
 3  And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?
 4  And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.
 5  And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.
 6  But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
 7  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
 8  And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
 9  What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
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.10  And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.
 11  And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.
 12  And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
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Jesus blesses children. Luke 18:15-17; Matt. 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16.
.13 ¶ And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
 14  But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
.15  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
 16  And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

This occasion is also recorded at mt1914 and lu1815.

The rich young ruler. Luke 18:18-30; Matt. 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31.
.17 ¶ And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
 18  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God [theos].
 19  Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
  17 - What shall I do? He expected to be assigned some ceremonial duty that would bring a blessing. See the picture with the story at lu1818.
  18 - None good but one He had addressed Jesus as a teacher. The divine goodness was thus inappropriate.
  19 - Commandments Jesus quoted from the ten commandments.
 20  And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
.21  Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
 22  And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
  21 - Follow me Compare lu1428.
.23  And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly [with difficulty] shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
 24  And the disciples were astonished 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!
 25  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
  23 - How hardly  "These words astonished the disciples. They had been taught to look upon the rich as the favorites of heaven; worldly power and riches they themselves hoped to receive in the Messiah's kingdom; if the rich were to fail of entering the kingdom, what hope could there be for the rest of men?" (Christ's Object Lessons, p. 393).
  25 - Easier for a camel "A rich man, as such, cannot enter heaven. His wealth gives him no title to the inheritance of the saints in light. It is only through the unmerited grace of Christ that any man can find entrance into the city of God.
    To the rich no less than to the poor are the words of the Holy Spirit spoken, "Ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price." 1 Cor. 6:19, 20. When men believe this, their possessions will be held as a trust, to be used as God shall direct, for the saving of the lost, and the comfort of the suffering and the poor. With man this is impossible, for the heart clings to its earthly treasure. The soul that is bound in service to mammon is deaf to the cry of human need. But with God all things are possible. By beholding the matchless love of Christ, the selfish heart will be melted and subdued. The rich man will be led, as was Saul the Pharisee, to say, "What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." Phil. 3:7, 8. (Christ's Object Lessons pp. 394, 395).
 26  And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
 27  And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
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 28  Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
.29  And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
 30  But he shall receive an 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.
.31  But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
 30 - This time Literally "this age." Also the world to come is "the age to come." We understand the text to refer to the present life and the life in heaven after Jesus returns and takes us to His Father's house jn1403. We see the same two worlds or ages in lu2034. And the gospel is to be preached until the end of the age according to mt2819f. He was relating to the Jewish world view at the time. See below.
Going to Jerusalem for all to be accomplished. Luke 18:31-34; Matt. 20:17-19; Mark 10:32-42.
.32 ¶ And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him,
 33  Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:
 34  And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.
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.35  And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
 36  And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
 37  They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
 38  But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
 39  And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
 40  But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.
  38 - Drink ... cup The disciples are not ready but they and others would pass through trials. See mt2022.
.41  And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.
 42  But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
.43  But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
 44  And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
 45  For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
  43 - Great ... shall be ... minister A principle that is also easy for us to forget mr0935.
  45 - Son of man ... not to be ministered unto Apparently no one washed His feet at the last supper but Mary Magdalene had  ministered to Him in washing His feet with her hair jn1203. How do you understand this in relation to His statement?
Blind man near Jericho. Luke 18:35-43; Matt. 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52.
.46 ¶ And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
 47  And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
 48  And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
 49  And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
 50  And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
 51  And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
.52  And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
  46 - They came to Jericho On their way from Peraea (east of the Jordan River) to attend the Passover. Also see mt2017, mt2101. See map.
  46 - Went out ... Bartimaeus But Luke says the healing occurred when Jesus " was come nigh unto Jericho." See on lu1835.
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Jewish world view
    One of the twisted ideas about the Messiah was that He would come before the end of the old age and live for 400 years then die along with the rest of humanity. After seven years of silence, God would intervene. There would be resurrection and judgment to begin the "age to come." This theory was expressed  by a Jewish writer living shortly after the time Jesus was on earth. He wrote using the name, Ezra, perhaps to make people think that Ezra of the Old Testament was the author. The idea is on the page of Ezra 7:26-34.
    The age of happiness did not come when Jesus died. Beginning at verse 29 above, Jesus spoke of the age of happiness in terms the people then could understand. This may explain why Paul and other NT writers wrote of the time of happiness while in the present world. Jesus' death was an event that changed history but another change will come when He comes to take us home. See he0604ff, 1pe0120, etc.