The Gospel of Mark
Chapter 10:1-45: Suffering and Glory
Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another. And rising up thence he comes into the coasts of Judaea, and the other side of the Jordan. And again crowds come together to him, and, as he was accustomed, again he taught them. And Pharisees coming to [him] asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away [his] wife? (tempting him). But he answering said to them, What did Moses command you?
And they said, Moses allowed to write a bill of divorce, and to put away. And Jesus answering said to them, In view of your hard-heartedness he wrote this commandment for you; but from [the] beginning of [the] creation God made them male and female. For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be united to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh: so that they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. And again in the house the disciples asked him concerning this. And he says to them, Whosoever shall put away his wife and shall marry another, commits adultery against her. And if a woman put away her husband and shall marry another, she commits adultery. And they brought little children to him that he might touch them. But the disciples rebuked those that brought [them]. But Jesus seeing [it], was indignant, and said to them, Suffer the little children to come to me; forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say to you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall in no wise enter into it. And having taken them in his arms, having laid his hands on them, he blessed them. And as he went forth into the way, a person ran up to [him], and kneeling to him asked him, Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? But Jesus said to him, Why callest thou me good? no one is good but one, [that is] God. Thou knowest the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honour thy father and mother. And he answering said to him, Teacher, all these things have I kept from my youth. And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, One thing lackest thou: go, sell whatever thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me, [taking up the cross]. But he, sad at the word, went away grieved, for he had large possessions. And Jesus looking around says to his disciples, How difficultly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were amazed at his words. And Jesus again answering says to them, Children, how difficult it is that those who trust in riches should enter into the kingdom of God! 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. And they were exceedingly astonished, saying to one another, And who can be saved? But Jesus looking on them says, With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God. Peter began to say to him, Behold, *we* have left all things and have followed thee. Jesus answering said, Verily I say to you, There is no one who has left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, [or wife], or children, or lands, for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, that shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time: houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions, and in the coming age life eternal. But many first shall be last, and the last first. And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going on before them; and they were amazed, and were afraid as they followed. And taking the twelve again to [him], he began to tell them what was going to happen to him: Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be delivered up to the chief priests and to the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him up to the nations: and they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him; and after three days he shall rise again. And there come to him James and John, the sons of Zebedee, saying [to him], Teacher, we would that whatsoever we may ask thee, thou wouldst do it for us. And he said to them, What would ye that I should do for you? And they said to him, Give to us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left hand, in thy glory. And Jesus said to them, Ye do not know what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup which *I* drink, or be baptised with the baptism that *I* am baptised with? And they said to him, We are able. And Jesus said to them, The cup that *I* drink ye will drink and with the baptism that *I* am baptised with ye will be baptised, but to sit on my right hand or on my left is not mine to give, but for those for whom it is prepared. And the ten having heard [of it], began to be indignant about James and John. But Jesus having called them to [him], says to them, Ye know that those who are esteemed to rule over the nations exercise lordship over them; and their great men exercise authority over them; but it is not thus among you; but whosoever would be great among you, shall be your minister; and whosoever would be first of you shall be bondman of all. For also the Son of man did not come to be ministered to, but to minister, and give his life a ransom for many.
In this portion of the Gospel, three important principles are presented:
First, we learn that the Lord recognizes natural relationships as originally established by God, as well as the goodness of His creation. Marriage is upheld (vv. 2-12), children are acknowledged (vv. 13-16), and natural integrity and kindness are affirmed (vv. 17-22).
Secondly, we observe that the natural relationships ordained by God have been corrupted by mankind. The marriage relationship has been tainted by the hardness of man's heart (v. 5); children are often disregarded and undervalued (v. 13); and natural integrity and material possessions are used to separate individuals from God, hindering their entrance into the Kingdom of GodEssentially, it refers to the same thing as the kingdom of heaven, whereby it is less about a period and more about the moral characteristics of the kingdom. God is... More (vv. 22-23).
Thirdly, recognizing the failures of humanity, those who follow ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More into the Kingdom must be prepared for suffering in this present worldThe word is used with different meanings. It can mean the whole of humanity (Gen 41:57) or the created world (Rom 1:20), but also a moral system that is opposed... More. Regardless of earthly riches, those who follow ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More must take up their cross (v. 21), face persecution (v. 30), and be willing to adopt a humble positionThe Christian position cannot be separated from Christian practice, but a distinction must be made. "Position" means how God sees us now. In the eyes of God, we are "in... More in this worldThe word is used with different meanings. It can mean the whole of humanity (Gen 41:57) or the created world (Rom 1:20), but also a moral system that is opposed... More, considering the glory of the worldThe word is used with different meanings. It can mean the whole of humanity (Gen 41:57) or the created world (Rom 1:20), but also a moral system that is opposed... More to come (v. 44). ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More Himself, as the humble Servant, is the perfect example of this path (vv. 33-34, 45).
(vv. 1-12) The topic of marriage is introduced when the Pharisees approach the Lord with the question, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?" It is clear that they do not genuinely seek the truth, as they are described as "tempting Him." They likely hoped that His answer would either contradict Moses or support the lax customs that were common among the people. As is often the case, when people foolishly attempt to challenge the Lord, their own folly is revealed.
The Lord responds to their query about legality by referring to the law: "What did Moses command you?" In their reply, they attempt to sidestep the question by discussing what Moses permitted instead of what he commanded. This response unintentionally exposes the hardness of their hearts. They neglect the positive commands of Moses and focus only on specific regulations established to accommodate their own shortcomings. The commands represented God's intention for humanity, while the permissive regulations addressed their own failures.
Having revealed the hardness of man's heart, the Lord teaches about the marriage relationship as intended by God at creation. Thus, He affirms the sanctity of marriage, guiding Christians to view this relationship from the perspective of God's original design rather than through the lens of human precepts.
In private, the Lord further instructs His disciples about the gravity of dissolving the marriage bond for selfish desires, warning that in God's sight this is a grievous sinThe Bible carefully differentiates between sin and sins. • Sin: the evil power at work in man that causes him to engage in sinful activities (Rom 7:17, 18). God pronounced... More.
(vv. 13-16) The next incident shows that even the disciples misunderstood the Lord's attitude towards children. They seemed to think the Lord was too great to notice little ones and that the children were too insignificant to warrant His attention. By rebuking those who brought their young ones to be blessed by the Lord, they misrepresented Him, failed to recognize the beauty of a child, and contradicted the principles of the Kingdom they preached.
The actions of the disciples provoke the Lord's righteous indignation. He counters their misguided thoughts by saying, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the Kingdom of God." His heart welcomes the weak and simple. Although children have inherent sinThe Bible carefully differentiates between sin and sins. • Sin: the evil power at work in man that causes him to engage in sinful activities (Rom 7:17, 18). God pronounced... More, their simplicity and trust exemplify the qualities needed to enter the Kingdom of GodEssentially, it refers to the same thing as the kingdom of heaven, whereby it is less about a period and more about the moral characteristics of the kingdom. God is... More. Just as He embraced and blessed these little ones, so will God's everlasting arms support all who trust Him with childlike faith (Deut. 33:2, 7; Luke 24:50).
In this passage (Verses 17-22), we learn that personal excellence and material possessions, while valid in their rightful context, cannot grant entry into the Kingdom of GodEssentially, it refers to the same thing as the kingdom of heaven, whereby it is less about a period and more about the moral characteristics of the kingdom. God is... More and may actually serve as barriers to receiving blessings. At their best, human qualities often fail to recognize the necessity of ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More and do not adequately grasp His glory.
The rich man in this account exhibited many admirable traits. He approached Jesus with youthful enthusiasm, coming "running," and showed respect by kneeling before Him. He was eager to do the right thing, asking, "What shall I do?" Outwardly, his character appeared commendable. He had not been corrupted by sin and had adhered to the law. There were many positive qualities in his character—the fruits of creation—that drew forth the Lord's esteem and affection. As one observer noted, "He was amiable, well-disposed, and ready to learn what is good; he had witnessed the excellence of Jesus' life and works, and his heart was touched by what he saw" (J.N.D.).
Despite his admirable traits, the young man lacked a true appreciation for the Person and glory of Christ and did not recognize the state of his own heart. While he could see Christ's excellence as a man, he could not grasp His divine glory as the Son of God. As previously stated, "Blessed are you, Simon, for flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven." Jesus, in addressing the young man, emphasized that true goodness resides only in God, stating, "There is none good but one, that is, God." While ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More was indeed good, He was also God, existing eternally as God even while He became man (J.N.D.).
Furthermore, the young man did not recognize his need for salvation. Rather than asking, "What must I do to be saved?" he inquired, "What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" His natural qualities blinded him to the reality that he was a lost sinner in need of redemption. To uncover the true condition of his heart, the Lord instructed him, "Go, sell what you have, and come follow Me." This revelation exposed the sobering truth that, despite his commendable character, his heart preferred wealth over Christ, resulting in his sadness as he went away grieved. This scenario illustrates that there is no inherent goodness in man for God. A commendable character does not reflect a moral heart state. As has been noted, "The thing that governs the heart, its motive, is the true measure of a man's moral state, not the qualities he possesses by birth, however pleasing they may be. Good qualities can be found even in animals; while they are worthy of esteem, they do not reveal the moral state of the heart" (J.N.D.).
Christ Himself exemplified the path He proposed to the young man: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might be rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9). The young man failed to recognize the Lord's graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More because he did not discern His glory.
In verses 23-27, aware of how His words affected the disciples, the Lord emphasized the lesson by stating, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the Kingdom of God!" These words astonished the disciples, who, with their traditional Jewish understanding of earthly blessings, viewed wealth as a signThe Gospel of John tells us about eight signs that the Lord Jesus performed. These signs, which are also miracles, point to something special. They aim to help us grow... More of God's favor. They may have thought, as we often do, that if only they were rich, they could do much good. To address these misconceptions, the Lord revealed that the danger of wealth lies in the belief that one can secure salvationSalvation is part of God's plan of saving people. Those who are in danger and cannot help themselves need salvation. We owe our salvation to our Savior, who went to... More and blessings from the Kingdom through riches, leading to misplaced trust in material wealth. It is important to note that the Lord doesn't specifically refer to wealthy individuals but to anyone who places their trust in riches. This vulnerability is not exclusive to the affluent; even those with few possessions can fall into this trap.
To illustrate the challenge of a wealthy person entering the Kingdom of God, the Lord uses a metaphor. The disciples, astonished, ask, "Who then can be saved?" In response, Jesus tells them, "With men, it is impossible, but not with God." Their question implies a lingering belief that their salvation depended, at least in part, on their own efforts. They had to learn, as we all must, that salvation is solely the work of God and not of man. No amount of law, personal merit, wealth, or poverty can contribute to the salvation of one's soul. Salvation rests entirely in the grace of God, and what is impossible for man is possible for God. As stated, "For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
In verses 28-31, Peter suggests that the twelve disciples have chosen the path that Jesus laid out for the young man who sought eternal life. He asks what they will receive for their sacrifice. Jesus replies that they will receive a hundredfold in this life, along with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come. By leaving behind their unconverted and natural relationships, they step into the much larger family of God. Although this may lead to some persecution from the world they have left, it is ultimately the pathway to eternal life. However, Jesus emphasizes that the reward is not simply in leaving everything behind, but in doing so with the right motive. It should not be for self-exaltation or personal gain, but rather "for my sake and the gospel's."
Jesus then offers a sobering reminder: "But many who are first shall be last, and the last first." This serves as a warning against the self-satisfaction we often fall into, as exemplified by Peter's declaration, "Look, we have left everything." In truth, what had Peter left behind but a few old nets that needed mending? We must be cautious not to boast about our sacrifices for Christ. As it has been wisely noted, "It is not the beginning of the race that determines the outcome; what matters is how we finish. Throughout the race, there will be changes as well as slips, falls, and setbacks." The crucial question is not about what we have left in the past, but what we are doing today.
In verses 32-34, we see that the twelve had indeed left everything to follow Christ, yet they had underestimated the cost of discipleship. They were "amazed" to see Jesus deliberately choosing a path that would lead to trialA trial is a test of the authenticity, value, or durability of something. God uses trials in the lives of believers to test and confirm their faith and perseverance and... More and persecution, and they feared for themselves. Jesus does not hide the sufferings that await Him; He tells them that the Son of Man"Son of Man" is a designation for our Lord Jesus Christ. In many Scriptures, it means that He really became man through His birth (Gal 4:4). Like every human being,... More is about to be handed over to the leaders of the nationNation (not nations) refers to any kind of people on the whole earth. This term is used to describe both Jews (John 11:51; Acts 10:22) and all other tribes. The... More and the Gentiles, who will insult Him and eventually kill Him. However, He assures them that He will rise again after three days.
In verses 35-45, none of the twelve seemed able to resonate with Jesus's perspective or understand the necessity of His sufferings. Focused on the idea of an earthly kingdom, James and John approached Him with a desire for high positions close to Him in that kingdom. While they had genuine faith in the establishment of the kingdom, their aspirations were tainted by unexamined self-interest. They perceived the kingdom as a chance for personal advancement, rather than a realm for showcasing the glory of Christ. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh," whether in lesser-known saints or prominent apostles; the flaws of the fleshThe term "flesh" is used in different meanings in the Bible: a) as an expression of physicality or humanity, which is inextricably linked to our life on earth. Examples: “the... More often surface even among those who appear significant.
Jesus seizes this opportunity to teach. He explains that the road to glory in the kingdom is paved with suffering. He alone can achieve redemptionRedemption is part of God's plan of salvation. Redemption means that someone is freed from bondage. The redemption of Israel from the power of Pharaoh is an example of this.... More through the sufferings of the cross while forsaken by God. However, the disciples will have the honor of enduring suffering for the sake of His name. While He cannot promise them places at His right hand in the kingdom, He emphasizes that He has taken on the role of a servant, leaving it to the Father to decide who will enjoy special privilege in the glory to come.
Moreover, the flesh reveals itself in the indignation of the other ten disciples when they react to James and John's ambition, demonstrating their own jealousy. It has been said, "The flesh is not only evident through one person's faults, but also in how we respond to the faults of others." The outrage among the ten revealed the pride hidden in their hearts, much like the two who sought the highest positions.
Jesus calls them together and corrects their misguided ambitions by illustrating the true path to greatness. Although He cannot grant them chief places in glory, He can guide them toward the journey that leads there. The one who humbles himself to serve others will ultimately attain the highest positionThe Christian position cannot be separated from Christian practice, but a distinction must be made. "Position" means how God sees us now. In the eyes of God, we are "in... More in glory. The Son of Man"Son of Man" is a designation for our Lord Jesus Christ. In many Scriptures, it means that He really became man through His birth (Gal 4:4). Like every human being,... More serves as the perfect example of this humble path.
