Teachings about Divorce
The Pharisees’ question about divorce was much debated...
The Pharisees’ question about divorce was much debated in Judaism, but it had a hostile purpose as they tried to trap Jesus (see 2:16, 18, 24; 7:5; 8:11; 12:13). John the Baptist was beheaded over his teaching that Herod Antipas’s divorce and remarriage was unlawful (6:18–19), and according to the Jewish historian Josephus, John was martyred close to Jesus’ current location east of the Jordan River, at Herod Antipas’s fortress at Machaerus (see 6:28; Josephus, Antiquities 18.5.2). If Jesus answered in agreement with John the Baptist, the Pharisees could indict him before Herod. But if Jesus said that divorce was lawful, he would be contradicting a prophet.
1Then Jesus left that place and went into the region of Judea, beyond the Jordan. Again the crowds came to Him and He taught them, as was His custom.
2Some Pharisees came to test Him. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” they inquired.
3“What did Moses command you?” He replied.
4They answered, “Moses permitted a man to write his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away.”†
God permitted divorce as a concession to the...
God permitted divorce as a concession to the hard hearts of the people. But God’s will is more aptly expressed in the passages that Jesus quotes from the law of Moses (Gen 1:27; 2:23–24; see also Mal 2:16). Jesus shows that God delights in marriage, which is the creation of a new union in which two become one. No one should rebel against God’s will by seeking to split apart what God has united.
5But Jesus told them, “Moses wrote this commandment for you because of your hardness of heart. 6However, from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’† 7‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,† 8and the two will become one flesh.’† So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
10When they were back inside the house, the disciples asked Jesus about this matter.
Whoever divorces... and marries someone else commits adultery:...
Whoever divorces . . . and marries someone else commits adultery: The parallel in Luke 16:18 agrees with Mark and mentions no exceptions to this prohibition of divorce, while Matthew’s parallel account allows an exception in cases of infidelity (Matt 19:9; see also Matt 5:32). Paul also allows an exception if an unbelieving partner deserts the marriage (1 Cor 7:15). Mark’s account focuses on the core principles—God hates divorce (Mal 2:16), marriage is meant to be for life, and divorce betrays the divine purpose of marriage.
11So He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”
Jesus Blesses the Children
(Matthew 19:13–15; Luke 18:15–17)
Jesus’ love and concern for children has already...
Jesus’ love and concern for children has already been seen in 5:41–43; 9:36–37, 42. Jesus uses the incident to teach that the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.
13Now people were bringing the little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, and the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
Mark does not explain what characteristics of children...
Mark does not explain what characteristics of children make them fit for the Kingdom of God; Matthew 18:4–5 suggests that the attributes include humility and the ability to receive things simply.
14But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them, and blessed them.
The Rich Young Man
(Matthew 19:16–30; Luke 18:18–30)
The story of the rich man continues the...
The story of the rich man continues the themes of discipleship begun in 9:33 and the requirements for entering the Kingdom of God (10:13–16). The attitude of the rich man contrasts sharply with the childlike faith necessary for entering the Kingdom of God.
17As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up and knelt before Him. “Good Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone. 19You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat others, honor your father and mother.’”†
20“Teacher,” he replied, “all these I have kept from my youth.”
21Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, “There is one thing you lack: Go, sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”†
22But the man was saddened by these words and went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.
Jesus astounded the disciples by reversing the idea,...
Jesus astounded the disciples by reversing the idea, popular at that time, that riches were a sign of God’s favor.
23Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
24And the disciples were amazed at His words.
But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter† the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26They were even more astonished and said to one another, “Who then can be saved?”
27Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
28Peter began to say to Him, “Look, we have left everything and followed You.”
Jesus assured his disciples that they would receive...
- Jesus assured his disciples that they would receive whatever they had given up for him many times over, including a new family in Christ (brothers, sisters, mothers, children) and Christian hospitality (houses).
- a hundred times: What is gained in following Jesus far outweighs any loss. And in the world to come they will inherit the eternal life that the rich man desired but did not receive.
29“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My sake and for the gospel 30will fail to receive a hundredfold in the present age—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, along with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
The Third Prediction of the Passion
(Matthew 20:17–19; Luke 18:31–34)
The disciples’ awe and the people’s fear cast...
The disciples’ awe and the people’s fear cast a dark shadow over what lay ahead, given the hostility of the Jerusalem leaders toward Jesus (see 3:22–30; 7:1–13). Taking the disciples aside again, Jesus described the coming events in the greatest detail yet (see also 8:31; 9:31). He knew what was about to happen; what awaited him in Jerusalem was neither a tragedy nor fate, but God’s will (see 8:31–33; Acts 4:27–28). As the Son of God, Jesus had unique knowledge of his upcoming unique death as the Savior of the world.
32As they were going up the road to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were amazed, but those who followed were afraid. Again Jesus took the Twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him: 33“Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death and will deliver Him over to the Gentiles, 34who will mock Him and spit on Him and flog Him and kill Him. And after three days He will rise again.”
The Request of James and John
Following Jesus’ third prediction of his suffering (10:32–33)...
Following Jesus’ third prediction of his suffering (10:32–33) comes another example of the disciples’ failure (see 8:31–33; 9:31–34). The first part of the account involves the foolish request of James and John (10:35–37) and Jesus’ reply to them (10:38–40). Then Jesus explains to the other disciples what greatness and leadership in the Kingdom of God mean (10:41–44). Jesus’ own supreme example of servanthood (10:45) illustrates and concludes this account.
35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and declared, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
36“What do you want Me to do for you?” He inquired.
37They answered, “Grant that one of us may sit at Your right hand and the other at Your left in Your glory.”
38“You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I will drink, or be baptized with the baptism I will undergo?”
39“We can,” the brothers answered.
“You will drink the cup that I drink,” Jesus said, “and you will be baptized with the baptism that I undergo. 40But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whom† they have been prepared.”
41When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.
The unbelieving world (the rulers in this world)...
The unbelieving world (the rulers in this world) thinks that leadership means lording it over others. Just as Jesus’ role as Messiah and Son of God meant suffering and death (8:31; 9:31; 10:32–34, 45), being his follower involves serving others, not ruling over them (9:35; John 10:11).
42So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. 43But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be the 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.”
Jesus Heals Bartimaeus
(Matthew 20:29–34; Luke 18:35–43)
The healing of blind Bartimaeus is the last...
The healing of blind Bartimaeus is the last healing miracle recorded in Mark. This event and the healing of the blind man in 8:22–26 form bookends around this section (see Mark Book Introduction, “Literary Features”). It is also a bridge to Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem as Israel’s Messiah in 11:1–11. Bartimaeus’s confession (Jesus, Son of David) prepares the reader for the confession of the people upon Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem (11:10).
46Next, they came to Jericho. And as Jesus and His disciples were leaving Jericho with a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting beside the road.
Bartimaeus heard: Jesus’ great fame had spread to...
- Bartimaeus heard: Jesus’ great fame had spread to Jericho, even as it had spread to Gentile areas (3:8).
- Jesus, Son of David: Mark does not explain how Bartimaeus knew of Jesus’ Davidic ancestry. Perhaps he knew that Jesus was the Messiah. The blind man, however, did not here associate this title with political or military goals as did the vast majority of people in his day. Instead, Bartimaeus focused on the fact that Jesus was concerned with bringing God’s Kingdom to the poor, maimed, lame, and blind, and he requested mercy and healing (10:51)—which was in harmony with Jesus’ own understanding (cp. Luke 4:18–19).
47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48Many people admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man. “Take courage!” they said. “Get up! He is calling for you.”
50Throwing off his cloak, Bartimaeus jumped up and came to Jesus.
51“What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “Rabboni,” said the blind man, “let me see again.”
52“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.