NEW TESTAMENT

Mark 10

The Holy Bible · English
All chapters

Read all chapter notes ↗

Bilingual reading
Text

Open an explanation beneath verses with notes. Your notes and highlights stay on this device.

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.”

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 4. Moses permitted the injured husband to send away his wife, declaring that he had repudiated her. See Deuteronomy 24:1.

Read all chapter notes
5

But Jesus said to them, “For your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 5. Because of the hardness of their hearts, and to prevent the excesses they would otherwise have committed with regard to their wives. V.

Read all chapter notes
6

But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 6. But from the beginning of the world it was not thus; for then God only formed one man and one woman, that they might be exclusively and invariably attached to each other.

Read all chapter notes
7

For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will join to his wife,

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 7. Hence it is written, (Genesis 2:24, and Matthew 19:5) A man shall leave father and mother, and adhere to his wife.

Read all chapter notes
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.”

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 God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 14. Unless we are possessed of the innocence and purity of little children, we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. By the kingdom of heaven, we may here understand the truths of the gospel; for as a child never contradicts its teachers, nor opposes to them vain reasonings and empty words, but faithfully and readily receives their instructions, and with fear obeys them; so must we implicitly obey, and without any, the least, opposition, receive the word of the Lord. Ven. Bede.

Read all chapter notes
15

Most certainly I tell you, whoever will not receive God’s Kingdom 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.

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.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 18. None is good. Of himself, entirely and essentially, but God alone: men may be good also, but only by a participation of God’s goodness. Challoner.

Read all chapter notes
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.”

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 20. We must recollect, that to the faithful observers of the Mosaic law, not only present goods were given, but the happiness of a future life promised. Hence our Lord with reason inquired, whether he had kept the commandments. The innocent life of this young man is deserving of our imitation. Ven. Bede.

Read all chapter notes
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.”

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 21. Loved him. We need understand no more by this, than that Christ gave him some marks of his tenderness for him, and for all men by his kind instructions, and invitations to a good and perfect life. Witham.—It is worthy of inquiry, how that could happen which the evangelist here mentions, how Jesus could love this young man; when, as it is here related, he did not follow the admonitions given him by Jesus Christ. The reason is, Christ loved him for his past behaviour, and his strict observance of the old law. Saint John Chrysostom in S. Thom. Cat. aur.

Read all chapter notes
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 God’s Kingdom!”

24

The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!

25

It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”

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.”

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 28. Although Saint Peter had left but few things, he still calls them his all. For small things have power of attaching us to them, and of exciting our passions; therefore he that forsakes his small possessions, shall be a partaker of the blessings of Jesus Christ. Theophylactus.

Read all chapter notes
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.”

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.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 32. Christ goes before, to shew his eagerness to suffer the ignominies and torments of his approaching passion, for our salvation. Theophy.—But the disciples being already forewarned of what their Master was to suffer from the high priest and Scribes, went along the road to Jerusalem, with silent fear and trepidation, either lest they should be put to death with him, or lest he, whose life and doctrines they enjoyed, should fall into the hands of his enemies. But our kind Redeemer, foreseeing that the minds of his disciples were disturbed, comforts them with the assurance of his resurrection. Ven. Bede.

Read all chapter notes
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.”

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.”

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 35. S. Matt. (20:20) says it was their mother, Salome, but probably at their solicitation, or at least with their connivance and consent.

Read all chapter notes
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 toward 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.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 42. Who seem to rule over the Gentiles, and so forth See Matthew 20:25, and Luke 22:25. Witham.

Read all chapter notes
43

But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 43. In vain then do men either seek for immoderate power, or sigh after human greatness; for, not power, but humility, is the sure and only path to the summit of perfection. He then proves to them by his own example, that if they would not believe his words, they might at least learn by his example. Ven. Bede.

Read all chapter notes
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.”

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.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 46. Bartimæus is a Syriac word, and signifies, son of Timæus.

Read all chapter notes
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.”

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 51. Let us endeavour sedulously to imitate the good example of this blind man, who did not ask for honours, riches, or other worldly advantages, but only that he might receive his sight; that he might behold the light with the blessed angels, to which faith alone can conduct us. Ven. Bede.—In this worse than Cimmerian darkness, how few are found, who pray as they ought for this all-necessary light of faith!!!

EXPLANATION

Rabboni is a transliteration of the Aramaic word for “great teacher.”

Read all chapter notes
52

Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the way.