Mark Chapter 10

Updated: September 14, 2025

Jesus' Teaching about Divorce

(Matthew 19:1-12)

1And 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.

2And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. 3And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? 4And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. 5And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 6But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 7For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 9What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

10And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. 11And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. 12And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

Jesus Blesses the Children

(Matthew 19:13-15; Luke 18:15-17)

13And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14But 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. 15Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

The Rich Young Man

(Matthew 19:16-30; Luke 18:18-30)

17And 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? 18And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 19Thou 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. 20And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21Then 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. 22And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

23And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24And 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! 25It 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. 26And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

28Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29And 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, 30But 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. 31But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

Third Prediction of Death, Resurrection

(Matthew 20:17-19)

32And 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, 33Saying, 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: 34And 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.

The Request of James and John

(Matthew 20:20-28)

35And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 36And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37They 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. 38But 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? 39And 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: 40But 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.

41And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. 42But 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. 43But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Jesus Heals Bartimaeus

(Matthew 20:29-34; Luke 18:35-43)

46And 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. 47And 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. 48And 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. 49And 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. 50And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 51And 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. 52And 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.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Teachings about Divorce
(Matthew 19:1–12)

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 Jesus 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
(Matthew 19:13–15; Luke 18:15–17)

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 Jesus 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 Man
(Matthew 19:16–30; Luke 18:18–30)

17 As he was going out into the way, one ran to him, knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” 18 Jesus 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, “Teacher, I have observed all these things from my youth.” 21 Jesus 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 Jesus 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 Jesus 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 Jesus, 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 Jesus 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 Prediction of the Passion
(Matthew 20:17–19; Luke 18:31–34)

32 They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus 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.”

The Request of James and John
(Matthew 20:20–28)

35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came near to him, saying, “Teacher, 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 Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39 They said to him, “We are able.” Jesus said to them, “You shall indeed drink the cup that I drink, and you shall be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized 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 James and John. 42 Jesus 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.”

Jesus Heals Bartimaeus
(Matthew 20:29–34; Luke 18:35–43)

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 Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, and say, “Jesus, 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 Jesus 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 Jesus. 51 Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “Rabboni, that I may see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

Teachings about Divorce
(Matthew 19:1–12)

1 Then 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.

2 Some 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.

4 They answered, “Moses permitted a man to write his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away.” a

5 But Jesus told them, “Moses wrote this commandment for you because of your hardness of heart. 6 However, from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ b 7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, c 8 and the two will become one flesh.’ d So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

10 When they were back inside the house, the disciples asked Jesus about this matter. 11 So He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And 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)

13 Now people were bringing the little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, and the disciples rebuked those who brought them.

14 But 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. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And 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)

17 As 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. 19 You 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.’ e”

20 “Teacher,” he replied, “all these I have kept from my youth.”

21 Jesus 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. f”

22 But the man was saddened by these words and went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.

23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

24 And the disciples were amazed at His words.

But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter g the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 They were even more astonished and said to one another, “Who then can be saved?”

27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

28 Peter began to say to Him, “Look, we have left everything and followed You.”

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 30 will 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. 31 But 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)

32 As 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, 34 who 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
(Matthew 20:20–28)

35 Then 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.

37 They 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. 40 But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whom h they have been prepared.”

41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 So 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. 43 But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. 45 For 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)

46 Next, 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. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

48 Many people admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called the blind man. “Take courage!” they said. “Get up! He is calling for you.”

50 Throwing 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.

Jesus' Teaching about Divorce

(Matthew 19:1-12)

1And having risen thence, he doth come to the coasts of Judea, through the other side of the Jordan, and again do multitudes come together unto him, and, as he had been accustomed, again he was teaching them.

2And the Pharisees, having come near, questioned him, if it is lawful for a husband to put away a wife, tempting him, 3and he answering said to them, 'What did Moses command you?' 4and they said, 'Moses suffered to write a bill of divorce, and to put away.' 5And Jesus answering said to them, 'For the stiffness of your heart he wrote you this command, 6but from the beginning of the creation, a male and a female God did make them; 7on this account shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, 8and they shall be -- the two -- for one flesh; so that they are no more two, but one flesh; 9what therefore God did join together, let not man put asunder.'

10And in the house again his disciples of the same thing questioned him, 11and he saith to them, 'Whoever may put away his wife, and may marry another, doth commit adultery against her; 12and if a woman may put away her husband, and is married to another, she committeth adultery.'

Jesus Blesses the Children

(Matthew 19:13-15; Luke 18:15-17)

13And they were bringing to him children, that he might touch them, and the disciples were rebuking those bringing them, 14and Jesus having seen, was much displeased, and he said to them, 'Suffer the children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the reign of God; 15verily I say to you, whoever may not receive the reign of God, as a child -- he may not enter into it;' 16and having taken them in his arms, having put his hands upon them, he was blessing them.

The Rich Young Man

(Matthew 19:16-30; Luke 18:18-30)

17And as he is going forth into the way, one having run and having kneeled to him, was questioning him, 'Good teacher, what may I do, that life age-during I may inherit?' 18And Jesus said to him, 'Why me dost thou call good? no one is good except One -- God; 19the commands thou hast known: Thou mayest not commit adultery, Thou mayest do no murder, Thou mayest not steal, Thou mayest not bear false witness, Thou mayest not defraud, Honour thy father and mother.' 20And he answering said to him, 'Teacher, all these did I keep from my youth.' 21And Jesus having looked upon him, did love him, and said to him, 'One thing thou dost lack; go away, whatever thou hast -- sell, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, be following me, having taken up the cross.' 22And he -- gloomy at the word -- went away sorrowing, for he was having many possessions.

23And Jesus having looked round, saith to his disciples, 'How hardly shall they who have riches enter into the reign of God!' 24And the disciples were astonished at his words, and Jesus again answering saith to them, 'Children, how hard is it to those trusting on the riches to enter into the reign of God! 25It is easier for a camel through the eye of the needle to enter, than for a rich man to enter into the reign of God.' 26And they were astonished beyond measure, saying unto themselves, 'And who is able to be saved?' 27And Jesus, having looked upon them, saith, 'With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.'

28And Peter began to say to him, 'Lo, we left all, and we followed thee.' 29And Jesus answering said, 'Verily I say to you, there is no one who left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or fields, for my sake, and for the good news', 30who may not receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and fields, with persecutions, and in the age that is coming, life age-during; 31and many first shall be last, and the last first.'

Third Prediction of Death, Resurrection

(Matthew 20:17-19)

32And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them, and they were amazed, and following they were afraid. And having again taken the twelve, he began to tell them the things about to happen to him, 33 -- 'Lo, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man shall be delivered to the chief priests, and to the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the nations, 34and they shall mock him, and scourge him, and spit on him, and kill him, and the third day he shall rise again.'

The Request of James and John

(Matthew 20:20-28)

35And there come near to him James and John, the sons of Zebedee, saying, 'Teacher, we wish that whatever we may ask for ourselves, thou mayest do for us;' 36and he said to them, 'What do ye wish me to do for you?' 37and they said to him, 'Grant to us that, one on thy right hand and one on thy left, we may sit in thy glory;' 38and Jesus said to them, 'Ye have not known what ye ask; are ye able to drink of the cup that I drink of, and with the baptism that I am baptized with -- to be baptized?' 39And they said to him, 'We are able;' and Jesus said to them, 'Of the cup indeed that I drink of, ye shall drink, and with the baptism that I am baptized with, ye shall be baptized; 40but to sit on my right and on my left, is not mine to give, but -- to those for whom it hath been prepared.'

41And the ten having heard, began to be much displeased at James and John, 42but Jesus having called them near, saith to them, 'Ye have known that they who are considered to rule the nations do exercise lordship over them, and their great ones do exercise authority upon them; 43but not so shall it be among you; but whoever may will to become great among you, he shall be your minister, 44and whoever of you may will to become first, he shall be servant of all; 45for even the Son of Man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.'

Jesus Heals Bartimaeus

(Matthew 20:29-34; Luke 18:35-43)

46And they come to Jericho, and as he is going forth from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, a son of Timaeus -- Bartimaeus the blind -- was sitting beside the way begging, 47and having heard that it is Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, and to say, 'The Son of David -- Jesus! deal kindly with me;' 48and many were rebuking him, that he might keep silent, but the more abundantly he cried out, 'Son of David, deal kindly with me.' 49And Jesus having stood, he commanded him to be called, and they call the blind man, saying to him, 'Take courage, rise, he doth call thee;' 50and he, having cast away his garment, having risen, did come unto Jesus. 51And answering, Jesus saith to him, 'What wilt thou I may do to thee?' and the blind man said to him, 'Rabboni, that I may see again;' 52and Jesus said to him, 'Go, thy faith hath saved thee:' and immediately he saw again, and was following Jesus in the way.

Jesus Teaches About Divorce

¹ As Jesus continued His journey, He crossed into the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan River. Once again, crowds of people gathered around Him. True to His calling, He began teaching them. ² Some Pharisees approached Him with a loaded question, hoping to trap Him in a controversial debate about divorce. "Teacher," they asked with false politeness, "does our law permit a man to divorce his wife?"

³ Jesus replied, "What specific command did Moses give you regarding this matter?" ⁴ They replied confidently, citing their legal tradition: "Moses permitted a man to write out divorce papers and send his wife away."

⁵ Jesus replied unexpectedly, "Moses wrote this command because of your stubborn hearts that resist God's perfect plan. Your hardness made this accommodation necessary. ⁶ But let's go back to the beginning. The Creator made humans as male and female, establishing a divine pattern. ⁷ This is why a man leaves his father's household to unite with his wife. ⁸ They are in such deep union that the two of them becomes one flesh. They're no longer two separate individuals, but one unified whole in God's eyes.

⁹ Therefore," Jesus declared with authority, "what God has joined together in this sacred bond, no human should dare to tear apart." ¹⁰ Later, in the privacy of their lodging, the disciples pressed Jesus to explain more about this challenging teaching on marriage. ¹¹ He responded with crystal clarity: "Any man who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against his first wife, breaking the sacred covenant. ¹² Similarly, if a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she too commits adultery."

Jesus Blesses the Children

¹³ People began bringing their children to Jesus, hoping He would touch them with His blessing. But the disciples, thinking they were protecting Jesus' time and energy, scolded the parents and tried to send them away. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw this, He became indignant. "Let the children come to Me!" He insisted. "Don't you dare stop them! The kingdom of God belongs to those who have hearts like these little ones - trusting, open, and free from pretense.

¹⁵ Listen carefully to this truth: Anyone who doesn't receive God's kingdom with the simple trust and humility of a child will never truly enter it." ¹⁶ Then He gathered the children in His arms, placed His hands on each one, and spoke words of blessing over them, showing God's tender heart for the young and vulnerable.

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

¹⁷ As Jesus started down the road again, a wealthy young man ran up and knelt before Him. "Good Teacher," he asked earnestly, "what must I do to inherit everlasting life?"

¹⁸ Jesus responded thoughtfully, "Why do you call Me good? No one is truly good except God alone. Are you recognizing something about My identity? ¹⁹ You know the commandments: Don't murder. Don't commit adultery. Don't steal. Don't lie about others. Don't cheat people. Honor your father and mother."

²⁰ The man replied confidently, "Teacher, I've carefully kept all these commandments since my youth." ²¹ Jesus looked at him with deep love, seeing his sincere desire for truth. "You're missing one crucial thing," He said. "Go, sell everything you own and give the money to the poor. This will store up treasure for you in heaven. Then come, follow Me as My disciple."

²² The man's face fell! His expression clouding over with grief. He walked away devastated because his many possessions held his heart captive. ²³ Jesus looked around at His disciples and said soberly, "How extremely difficult it is for the wealthy to enter God's kingdom!"

²⁴ The disciples were shocked by His words. But Jesus continued, "My children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God for those who trust in riches! ²⁵ It's easier for a massive camel to squeeze through a tiny needle's eye than for a wealthy person to enter God's kingdom while clinging to their riches." ²⁶ The disciples were absolutely astounded now, saying, "If that is so, who in the world can possibly be saved?"

²⁷ Jesus looked at them intently and declared, "With mere human effort, it's impossible. But not with God - for with God, all things are possible!" ²⁸ Peter, processing all this, spoke up: "Look, we've left everything behind to follow You."

²⁹ Jesus responded, "I tell you this truth: Anyone who has left home, family, fields, or businesses for My sake and the Good News advancement ³⁰ will receive a hundred times as much in this present age - homes, family, fields along with persecution. And in the age to come, they'll receive everlasting life. ³¹ But many who seem to be first now will be last then, and many who seem last now will be first then."

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time

³² After saying this, they continued on the road up to Jerusalem, with Jesus walking ahead of His followers, filled with both awe and a healthy dose of the fear of God in them. Taking the Twelve aside privately, He began explaining the events that would soon unfold. ³³ "Listen carefully," He said. "We're going up to Jerusalem. There, the Son of Man will be betrayed to the religious authorities and legal experts. They'll condemn Him to death and hand Him over to the Romans. ³⁴ They'll mock Him, spit on Him, brutally flog Him, and kill Him. But after three days, He will rise again!"

The Request of James and John

³⁵ James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Jesus privately. "Teacher," they said hopefully, "we want You to do something very special for us." ³⁶ "What do you want Me to do?" Jesus asked. ³⁷ They replied, "When You sit on Your glorious throne, let us sit in positions of honor beside You - one on Your right, one on Your left."

³⁸ Jesus responded gently but firmly, "You don't understand what you're asking. Can you drink the cup I must drink? Can you be baptized with the baptism I must be submerged in?" ³⁹ "We can," they declared confidently. Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from My cup of suffering and be baptized in the glorious baptism of My death and resurrection. ⁴⁰ But the positions of honor at My right and left aren't Mine to assign. These places belong to those for whom they've been prepared by My Father."

⁴¹ When the other ten disciples heard about this private request, they became indignant with James and John. ⁴² Jesus called them all together and said: "You know how the world's political leaders throw their weight around, and how the powerful oppress those under them. ⁴³ But it must be different among you! Whoever wants to be great among you must become a voluntary servant. ⁴⁴ And whoever wants to be first must become everyone's slave. ⁴⁵ Consider the Son of Man, He came not to be served but to serve others, and to give His life as a ransom payment to set many free."

Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight

⁴⁶ They came to Jericho. As Jesus and His disciples were leaving the city with a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) sat beside the road. ⁴⁷ When he heard that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by, he began shouting, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" ⁴⁸ Many people scolded him, telling him to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" ⁴⁹ Jesus stopped and said, "Call him over." So they called to the blind man, "Take heart! Get up! He's calling for you!"

⁵⁰ Throwing aside his beggar's cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. ⁵¹ "What do you want Me to do for you?" Jesus asked with compassion. The blind man replied, "My Rabbi! I want to see!" ⁵² Jesus said to him, "Go, your faith has healed you." Immediately, the man's eyes were opened and he could see clearly. Overflowing with joy and gratitude, he followed Jesus down the road.

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The F.O.G Commentary

When Jesus Flipped the Script on Power and Status

What’s Mark 10 about?

This chapter captures Jesus at his most countercultural – taking every assumption about power, wealth, and status that his disciples held dear and turning it completely upside down. It’s where the rubber meets the road for what it actually means to follow him.

The Full Context

Mark 10 unfolds during the final stage of Jesus’ ministry as he makes his way toward Jerusalem and the cross. Written around 65-70 AD by John Mark (likely based on Peter’s eyewitness accounts), this Gospel was crafted for a Roman audience facing persecution under Nero. Mark is writing to people who desperately needed to understand what genuine discipleship looked like when the world was falling apart around them. The chapter addresses three encounters that would have been shocking to first-century ears: Jesus’ teaching on divorce, his blessing of children, and his conversation with a wealthy young ruler.

Within Mark’s broader narrative, chapter 10 serves as the climactic teaching section before Jesus enters Jerusalem. Mark has been building toward this moment – showing us a Messiah who consistently defied expectations about power and glory. The chapter reveals the heart of Jesus’ upside-down kingdom through three interconnected themes: the sanctity of covenant relationships, the value of the powerless, and the danger of wealth. Each encounter strips away another layer of cultural assumption, preparing both the disciples and Mark’s readers for the ultimate reversal that’s coming – a king who will die on a cross.

What the Ancient Words Tell Us

The Greek word Jesus uses for “divorce” in Mark 10:2 is apolusai – literally “to release” or “to send away.” But here’s what makes this fascinating: in first-century Palestine, this wasn’t a mutual legal proceeding like modern divorce. A man could “send away” his wife for virtually any reason, leaving her economically devastated with no legal recourse.

When Jesus responds by quoting Genesis, he uses the phrase apo de archēs – “from the beginning.” He’s not just citing Scripture; he’s taking them back to God’s original design before human hardness corrupted it. The word for “hardness of heart” (sklērokardia) literally means “dried up heart” – like leather that’s lost all its flexibility.

Grammar Geeks

When Jesus says “what God has joined together” (ho oun theos sunezeuxen), he uses a perfect tense verb that implies completed action with ongoing results. It’s not just “God joined” but “God has joined and it remains joined.”

But the real linguistic bombshell comes when Jesus blesses the children in Mark 10:14. The word translated “indignant” (ēganaktēsen) is incredibly strong – it’s the same word used for righteous anger against injustice. Jesus isn’t mildly annoyed; he’s genuinely angry that his disciples would block access to him.

What Would the Original Audience Have Heard?

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When Jesus’ first-century audience heard him say “let the little children come to me” in Mark 10:14, they would have been stunned. Children in the ancient world had no legal status, no inheritance rights, and were considered barely above slaves. Rabbis didn’t waste time on children – they were nobodies.

The wealthy young ruler’s question in Mark 10:17 would have sounded perfectly reasonable to ancient ears. Wealth was widely viewed as God’s blessing on the righteous. If anyone was guaranteed eternal life, it would be someone who was both morally upright and financially blessed. This wasn’t materialistic thinking – this was orthodox Jewish theology.

Did You Know?

In the Greco-Roman world, calling someone “good” was reserved almost exclusively for the gods. When the young man addresses Jesus as “Good Teacher,” he’s either using casual flattery or making a profound theological statement – and Jesus calls him out on it.

When Jesus tells his disciples that it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom (Mark 10:25), he’s using hyperbolic imagery that would have made them laugh – and then immediately sobered them up. Camels were the largest animals they knew, and needle eyes were the smallest openings. It’s impossible, which is exactly his point.

The disciples’ response – “Then who can be saved?” – reveals their shock. If the wealthy and righteous can’t make it, what hope does anyone have?

But Wait… Why Did They…?

Here’s something that might puzzle modern readers: Why are the disciples so bothered by Jesus blessing children? It seems natural to us, but in their world, this was scandalous behavior for a respected rabbi.

The answer lies in ancient honor-shame culture. The disciples weren’t being mean – they were protecting Jesus’ reputation. Important teachers didn’t waste time on people who couldn’t contribute to their status or influence. Children couldn’t offer patronage, couldn’t become students, couldn’t enhance a teacher’s reputation. From their perspective, the disciples were doing Jesus a favor.

Wait, That’s Strange…

Why does Jesus ask the rich young ruler “Why do you call me good?” Isn’t Jesus actually good? The question forces the young man to think about what he’s really saying – either Jesus is just a human teacher (in which case the flattery is hollow) or he’s recognizing something divine (in which case he needs to take Jesus’ words more seriously).

But Jesus’ response reveals the upside-down nature of his kingdom. The very people his culture dismissed – children, the poor, the powerless – these are the ones who most easily receive God’s kingdom because they know they need it.

Wrestling with the Text

The hardest part of Mark 10 isn’t understanding what Jesus said – it’s accepting what it means for us. When Jesus tells the wealthy young ruler to sell everything and give to the poor (Mark 10:21), was this a universal command or a specific diagnosis of this man’s particular idol?

The text suggests it’s both. Jesus “loved him” (ēgapēsen auton) – this isn’t harsh judgment but tender surgery. Jesus saw exactly what was holding this man back from the freedom he was seeking. But the principle extends beyond this one encounter. Anything we can’t let go of for the sake of the kingdom has become our functional god.

“True kingdom living means being small enough to receive what we cannot earn and free enough to release what we cannot keep.”

The disciples’ continued confusion about greatness, even after Jesus’ clear teaching in Mark 10:35-45, reveals how deeply embedded worldly thinking can be. James and John still want the best seats in Jesus’ kingdom, still thinking in terms of privilege and position.

Jesus’ response – that greatness in his kingdom means being servant of all – wasn’t just nice moral teaching. He was describing the very heartbeat of God’s character, the nature of divine love itself.

How This Changes Everything

Mark 10 doesn’t just challenge individual behaviors – it challenges entire worldview systems. Jesus consistently elevates what his culture devalued and questions what it celebrated.

Marriage isn’t just a social contract that can be dissolved when inconvenient – it’s a sacred covenant reflecting God’s faithful love. Children aren’t interruptions to important kingdom work – they’re the clearest picture of how we all must approach God. Wealth isn’t evidence of divine favor – it’s often the greatest obstacle to spiritual freedom.

The chapter culminates with Jesus’ third prediction of his death (Mark 10:32-34), followed immediately by James and John’s request for positions of honor. The juxtaposition is jarring and intentional. While Jesus walks toward sacrificial love, his closest followers are still jockeying for status.

But Jesus doesn’t shame them – he redefines the very concept of greatness. “Whoever wants to be first must be slave of all” (Mark 10:44). The Greek word for slave (doulos) has no dignity attached to it – it’s the lowest social position imaginable. Yet this is Jesus’ definition of kingdom greatness.

The chapter ends with the healing of blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52), whose persistent faith contrasts sharply with the spiritual blindness of those who should have seen most clearly. Bartimaeus calls Jesus “Son of David” – a messianic title that recognizes Jesus’ true identity even when the crowds try to silence him.

Key Takeaway

True kingdom living means being small enough to receive what we cannot earn and free enough to release what we cannot keep.

Mark Chapter 10

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