Chapter Ten

1–12. Christ’s departure from Galilee in the direction of Jerusalem. The question of the indissolubility of marriage. – 13–16. The blessing of children. – 17–27. A conversation with the rich young man and with the disciples about wealth and the Kingdom of Heaven. – 28–31. On the reward for following Christ. – 32–34. Christ’s ascent to Jerusalem for death, after which the Resurrection should follow. – 35–40. The request of the sons of Zebedee. – 41–45. Teaching to the disciples about humility. – 46–52. The healing of a blind man at the exit from Jericho.

Mark 10:1. Setting out from there, He comes to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. Again the crowd gathers around Him, and, as was His custom, He again taught them. (See Matt 19:1). The evangelist Mark notes that Christ, after a rather long interval (cf. Mark 9:30), again began to teach great multitudes of people who followed Him (ὄχλοι).

Mark 10:2. The Pharisees came and asked Him, testing Him: Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? Mark 10:3. He answered them, saying: What did Moses command you? Mark 10:4. They said: Moses permitted to write a certificate of divorce and to divorce. Mark 10:5. Jesus said to them in answer: Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this commandment. Mark 10:6. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. Mark 10:7. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother Mark 10:8. and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh; so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Mark 10:9. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate. Mark 10:10. In the house the disciples asked Him about this matter again. Mark 10:11. He said to them: Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; Mark 10:12. and if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery. The conversation about the indissolubility of marriage in the evangelist Mark generally represents a repetition of what is contained in the Gospel of Matthew (Matt 19:3-12). Only some of Christ’s utterances in the evangelist Mark are placed in different locations than in Matthew. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” (verse 2) The evangelist Mark conveys the question of the Pharisees without the addition found in the Gospel of Matthew: “for any reason” (Matt 19:3). One can think that he does this in order to place the question not on Jewish, but on Christian ground. He had in mind his Christian readers from the Gentiles, who were undoubtedly interested in the question of whether divorce is permitted in Christianity. “He said to them...” (verse 3). The evangelist Matthew conveys the matter so that Christ first drew the attention of the Pharisees to the heavenly law concerning marriage, and then to the law of Moses, whereas Mark conveys Christ’s indications in the reverse order. Evidently both evangelists wanted to convey only the substance of Christ’s conversation with the Pharisees, not adhering strictly to chronological order. “In the house the disciples asked Him about this again” (verse 10). In the house the disciples now addressed the Lord with the same question as the Pharisees had (such is the meaning of the word “again”...the disciples had not asked Christ about divorce before), the disciples of Christ. “If a woman divorces...” Since the apostle Mark was writing his Gospel for Christians from the Gentiles, and among Roman Gentiles there were cases where women divorced their husbands, he retained in Christ’s discourse this mention of this case, which the evangelist Matthew does not mention. In general, the evangelist Mark had in mind common Christian interests, and therefore his Christ’s teachings almost always have a more general application.

Mark 10:13. They were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Mark 10:14. When Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them: Let the children come to Me, and do not prevent them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Mark 10:15. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will not enter it. Mark 10:16. And He embraced them, laid His hands on them, and blessed them. (See Matt 19:13-15). The evangelist Mark says that children were “brought” to Christ. This indicates that by “children” he understands infants of very early age. From the “touching” of Christ the children, according to the belief of those who brought them, were supposed to receive health (cf. Mark 1:41). “He was indignant” with His disciples because of their misunderstanding that children also should not be excluded from the members of the kingdom of God. “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child,” that is, whoever does not now accept the preaching about the coming Kingdom with childlike trustfulness, who does not believe with all his heart in Christ. “Will not enter it,” that is, into the future glorious kingdom of God, which will be revealed at the end of time. “And He embraced them...” More accurately: He took them in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them. From ancient times this passage has been justly recognized as a principal point in the proofs brought in favor of the custom of baptizing infants as well.

Mark 10:17. As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before Him and asked Him: Good Teacher! what must I do to inherit eternal life? Mark 10:18. Jesus said to him: Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. Mark 10:19. You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother. Mark 10:20. He said to Him: Teacher! I have kept all these since my youth. Mark 10:21. Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him: You lack one thing; go, sell everything you have, give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow Me, taking up your cross. Mark 10:22. But at these words his face fell, and he went away grieving, for he had great possessions. Mark 10:23. And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples: How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! Mark 10:24. The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus again says to them in answer: Children! how difficult it is for those who trust in wealth to enter the kingdom of God! Mark 10:25. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. Mark 10:26. And they were exceedingly astounded and said to one another: Then who can be saved? Mark 10:27. Jesus, looking at them, says: For human beings this is impossible, but not for God, for all things are possible for God. (See Matt 19:16-26). The evangelist Mark in this section supplements the account of Matthew. He reports that a “certain man” (in Matthew – “a young man”) ran up to Christ and fell on his knees before Him, testifying by this to his sincere desire to learn from Christ all the truth concerning the question that occupied him, and to his trust in Christ. “Do not defraud” (verse 19). This expression, in all probability, represents in brief form the content of the tenth commandment, where there is mention of the various injuries caused by people to their neighbors. “Looking at him, loved him” (verse 21). Christ was pleased with the eagerness with which the young man strove to attain the truth, his desire to look into the depth of the law, not limiting himself to its external, literal fulfillment. “You lack one thing.” What is this one thing? Under this “single thing” one cannot understand what Christ later enumerates: the sale of property, the distribution to the poor, and following Christ, because this is not one, but three deeds. By the context of the discourse, it is best to see here the designation of repentance or turning, like a little child, to Christ. “Taking up your cross.” Cf. Mark 8:34, however, in the best manuscripts this expression is not present. “How difficult it is for those who trust in wealth...” (verse 24). In the best manuscripts the words “who trust in wealth” are not present (Tischendorf, 8th ed.). The Lord says that access to the Kingdom of Heaven is difficult in general.

Mark 10:28. Peter began to say to Him: Behold, we have left everything and followed You. Mark 10:29. Jesus said in response: Truly I tell you: there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My sake and for the gospel, Mark 10:30. who will not receive now, in this time, amid persecutions, a hundredfold return of houses, and brothers and sisters, and fathers, and mothers, and children, and lands, and in the age to come eternal life. Mark 10:31. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. (See Matt 19:27-30). The evangelist Mark more precisely defines the reward awaiting the faithful followers of Christ. He says that this reward is twofold—temporal and eternal (Matthew speaks only of the “eternal” reward, in the future life). Here the believer will receive a hundredfold more of all that he has renounced for Christ’s sake, and there, beyond the grave, eternal life or eternal blessedness. Of course, by new “houses,” “fathers,” “brothers,” and so forth, one must understand spiritual blessings and relationships, which one who has followed Christ and severed ties with his blood relatives finds in the new life. However, Christ adds that Christians at the same time must endure persecutions (“amid persecutions”), and from the attacks of enemies they will not be delivered in this age (ἐν τῷ καιρῷ τούτῳ). In the mention of receiving rewards on earth there is no mention of compensation for the loss of a “wife.” The blessed Theophylact relates that the wicked Julian intentionally inserted here such a mention, as if accusing Christians of being able, according to the teaching of their Savior, to have as many wives as they wanted, having left the wives they had while being pagans. The Lord thus intentionally did not mention, did not repeat, this expression “wife” in the promise of reward. One can read of the fulfillment of Christ’s prophecy concerning earthly rewards for Christ’s follower in Acts 2:44 and ff.; Acts 4:32; Rom 16:13; 1 Tim 5:2 and in other places in the apostolic epistles, where, for example, elders are recommended to be honored as fathers, older women as mothers, and so forth.

Mark 10:32. Now as they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, Jesus was going ahead of them, and they were amazed and afraid. Those who followed were in fear. Taking the twelve aside, He again began to tell them what was about to happen to Him: Mark 10:33. saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles, Mark 10:34. and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him; and on the third day He will rise again. (See Matt 20:17-19). The evangelist Mark notes that when Christ and the apostles were going up to Jerusalem, where Christ was about to taste martyrdom, Christ was going “ahead” of the apostles, as if encouraging them, and they “were amazed,” that is, were in extraordinary wonder at His boldness. “And those following were in fear.” According to the best reading: and those who were following (οἱ ἀκολουθοῦντες), that is, people who sympathized with Christ (not the apostles) and were going with Him to Jerusalem. They were very afraid, hearing Christ’s words about the death awaiting Him in Jerusalem. “And spit on Him”—as a sign of contempt for Christ (Matt 26:67).

Mark 10:35. Then the sons of Zebedee, James and John, came to Him and said: Teacher! we wish You to do for us whatever we ask. Mark 10:36. He said to them: What do you wish Me to do for you? Mark 10:37. They said to Him: Grant us that in Your glory we may sit, one at Your right hand and one at Your left. Mark 10:38. But Jesus said to them: You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? Mark 10:39. They said to Him: We are able. Jesus said to them: The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized you will be baptized; Mark 10:40. but to sit at My right hand and at My left is not Mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared. Mark 10:41. When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. Mark 10:42. So Jesus called them and said to them: You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Mark 10:43. But it is not so among you; rather whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant; Mark 10:44. and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. Mark 10:45. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. (See Matt 20:20-28). The evangelist Mark reports that the sons of Zebedee themselves approached Christ with a request. In this way he clarifies that their mother’s request, about which the evangelist Matthew speaks, was prompted by the suggestion of James and John, who themselves felt reluctant to approach Christ directly. “In Your glory” (verse 37; see Matt 19:28)

Mark 10:46. They came to Jericho. As He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat begging by the roadside. Mark 10:47. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout and say: Jesus, Son of David! have mercy on me! Mark 10:48. Many sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he cried out even more loudly: Son of David! have mercy on me! Mark 10:49. Jesus stood still and said: Call him. And they called the blind man, saying to him: Take heart; get up, He is calling you. Mark 10:50. He threw off his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Mark 10:51. Then Jesus said to him: What do you want Me to do for you? The blind man said to Him: My teacher, let me see again. Mark 10:52. Jesus said to him: Go, your faith has healed you. And at once he regained his sight and followed Him on the road. (See Matt 20:29-34.) The evangelist Mark mentions only one blind man, while Matthew mentions two. Perhaps Mark mentioned only the one of the two who was better known in the Christian Church. Therefore, he probably names him also by name—Bartimaeus. One may suppose that this name is composed of two words: the Aramaic “bar,” which means “son,” and the Greek “Timaeus”—a shortened form of the name Timothy. The evangelist Mark himself translates this name as designating “the son of Timaeus.” “He threw off his cloak” (verse 50). The outer garment, rather a wide mantle, hindered the blind man from running to Christ. “My teacher” (“Rabbuni”). The blind man uses such an expression, which in ancient Hebrew literature had a particularly high meaning and was applied almost always only to God. “Your faith has healed you” (verse 52; cf. Mark 5:34; Matt 15:28).