Mark 10: Divorce, children, the rich man and the blind man
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Greek. How to read a study
What happens?
Jesus goes into Judea and beyond the Jordan. Pharisees test him about divorce, he blesses little children, and a man with great possessions walks away sorrowful. Jesus tells the twelve again what will happen to him in Jerusalem, answers James and John, and gives sight to a blind beggar near Jericho.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story, and Jesus does most of the speaking. The Pharisees speak in verses 2 and 4, a man in verses 17 and 20, the disciples and Peter in verses 26 and 28, James and John in verses 35 to 39, and the blind man and the people around him in verses 47 to 51. No verse is in gold. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1He 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.
In plain English: Jesus got up and left that place. He came into the region of Judea and the land beyond the Jordan. Crowds gathered around him again, and as he usually did, he taught them again.
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2Pharisees came to him testing him, and asked him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
In plain English: Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"
The Greek word: "To divorce" is apolyō. The dictionary gives "to free fully, i.e. relieve, release, dismiss", and, as a special use, "divorce". It is in 12 verses of Mark. In and it is used of sending the crowds away.
How it is translated: This Bible has "divorce" here and in verses 4, 11 and 12.
What changes: Read as "send away", the Pharisees' question would be whether it is lawful for a man to send his wife away. In this passage the word is used of a man and his wife, so the sense of divorce is the one the story gives it.
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3He answered, “What did Moses command you?”
In plain English: Jesus answered them, "What did Moses command you?"
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4They said, “Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce her.”
In plain English: They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and send his wife away."
Good to know: The Pharisees speak of a certificate of divorce. says that a man who finds "some unseemly thing" in his wife "shall write her a certificate of divorce, put it in her hand, and send her out of his house". In verse 3 Jesus asks what Moses "commanded"; the Pharisees answer that Moses "allowed".
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5But Jesus said to them, “For your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment.
In plain English: Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart, Moses wrote you this commandment.
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6But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female.
In plain English: But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.
Good to know: Jesus's words in verse 6 are close to : "male and female he created them". Verses 7 and 8 are close to : "a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh". Jesus does not name the passages. Mark's text of verse 8 has "the two will become one flesh", where Genesis has "they will be one flesh".
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7For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will join to his wife,
In plain English: For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
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8and the two will become one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh.
In plain English: and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
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9What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”
In plain English: So what God has joined together, let no man separate."
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10In the house, his disciples asked him again about the same matter.
In plain English: When they were in the house, the disciples asked him about this again.
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11He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.
In plain English: He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.
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12If a woman herself divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
In plain English: And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
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13They were bringing to him little children, that he should touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who were bringing them.
In plain English: People were bringing little children to him so that he would touch them. But the disciples rebuked the people who brought them.
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14But 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.
In plain English: When Jesus saw it, he was very displeased. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me. Do not hinder them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to people like these.
The Greek word: "He was moved with indignation" is ēganaktēsen, from aganakteō. The dictionary gives "to be greatly afflicted, i.e. indignant". It is in 3 verses of Mark: here, , where the ten are "indignant" toward James and John, and .
How it is translated: This Bible has "he was moved with indignation" here.
What changes: Read as "he was greatly displeased", the verse says the same thing in a plainer word. The text does not say why he was displeased. The verse before it says the disciples rebuked those who brought the children (verse 13).
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15Most certainly I tell you, whoever will not receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.”
In plain English: I tell you the truth: whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will not enter it at all."
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16He took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
In plain English: Then he took the children in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
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17As 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?”
In plain English: As Jesus was setting out on the road, a man ran up to him and knelt down. He asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
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18Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one—God.
In plain English: Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except one, God.
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19You 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.’”
In plain English: 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.'"
Good to know: Jesus names commandments that are close to to , in a different order: do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, and honor your father and mother. He adds "Do not defraud", which is not one of the lines in those Exodus verses.
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20He said to him, “Teacher, I have observed all these things from my youth.”
In plain English: The man answered him, "Teacher, I have kept all these things since I was young."
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21Jesus 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.”
In plain English: Jesus looked at him and loved him. He said to him, "You lack one thing. Go, sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me, taking up the cross."
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22But his face fell at that saying, and he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions.
In plain English: But the man's face fell at those words, and he went away grieving, because he owned many possessions.
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23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!”
In plain English: Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the Kingdom of God!"
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24The 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!
In plain English: The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered them again, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the Kingdom of God!
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25It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.”
In plain English: It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."
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26They were exceedingly astonished, saying to him, “Then who can be saved?”
In plain English: The disciples were extremely astonished. They said to one another (or: to him), "Then who can be saved?"
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27Jesus, looking at them, said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God.”
In plain English: Jesus looked at them and said, "For people it is impossible, but not for God. For all things are possible for God."
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28Peter began to tell him, “Behold, we have left all and have followed you.”
In plain English: Peter began to say to him, "Look, we have left everything and followed you."
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29Jesus 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,
In plain English: Jesus said, "I tell you the truth: there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the Good News,
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30but 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.
In plain English: but he will receive a hundred times as much now, in this time: houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields, along with persecutions. And in the age to come he will receive eternal life.
The Greek word: "Age" in "the age to come" is aiōn. The dictionary gives "an age; perpetuity; the world; a Messianic period (present or future)". It is in 4 verses of Mark: , , this verse and .
How it is translated: This Bible has "the age to come" here.
What changes: Read as "the world to come", the verse would still speak of what comes after "this time", but with the word "world" in place of "age".
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31But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
In plain English: But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."
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32They 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.
In plain English: They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. They were amazed, and the people who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was about to happen to him.
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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.
In plain English: He said, "Look, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles.
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34They will mock him, spit on him, scourge him, and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”
In plain English: They will mock him, spit on him, whip him, and kill him. And on the third day he will rise again."
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35James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came near to him, saying, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we will ask.”
In plain English: James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask."
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36He said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”
In plain English: He said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?"
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37They said to him, “Grant to us that we may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left hand, in your glory.”
In plain English: They said to him, "Let us sit one at your right hand and one at your left hand, in your glory."
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38But 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?”
In plain English: Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized (or: immersed) with the baptism that I am baptized with?"
The Greek word: "To be baptized" is baptizō, and "baptism" is baptisma. The dictionary gives "to immerse, submerge; to make fully wet". Baptizō is in 9 verses of Mark.
How it is translated: This Bible has "be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with".
What changes: Read as "to be immersed in the immersion that I am immersed in", the picture is of being plunged into something. In the story itself, Jesus speaks of a cup and a baptism and the two answer "We are able". The text does not say here what the cup and the baptism are.
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39They 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;
In plain English: They said to him, "We can." Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will indeed drink, and the baptism that I am baptized with you will be baptized with.
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40but to sit at my right hand and at my left hand is not mine to give, but for whom it has been prepared.”
In plain English: But to sit at my right hand or my left hand is not mine to give. It is for those for whom it has been prepared."
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41When the ten heard it, they began to be indignant toward James and John.
In plain English: When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John.
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42Jesus 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.
In plain English: Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that those who are thought to rule the nations lord it over them, and their great ones use their authority over them.
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43But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant.
In plain English: It must not be like that among you. Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.
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44Whoever of you wants to become first among you shall be bondservant of all.
In plain English: And whoever of you wants to be first must be the slave of all.
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45For the Son of Man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
In plain English: For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom (or: price paid) for many."
The Greek word: "Ransom" is lytron. The dictionary gives "something to loosen with, i.e. a redemption price". The word is in 2 verses of the New Testament: here and .
How it is translated: This Bible has "a ransom for many".
What changes: Read as "a price paid for many", the verse says that he gives his life as the price. The text does not say to whom the price is paid.
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46They 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.
In plain English: They came to Jericho. As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. He was Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus.
Good to know: Mark gives the man's name, Bartimaeus, together with "the son of Timaeus". The dictionary reads the name as "son of Timaeus", which is how the text puts it just before. The text does not say what Timaeus means. He is a blind beggar sitting by the road as Jesus leaves Jericho.
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47When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!”
In plain English: When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!"
Good to know: Here and in verse 48 the blind man calls Jesus "son of David". The crowd later cries out about "the kingdom of our father David" (). In Jesus asks the scribes how they can say that the Christ is the son of David.
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48Many rebuked him, that he should be quiet, but he cried out much more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!”
In plain English: Many people rebuked him and told him to be quiet. But he cried out even more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
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49Jesus stood still and said, “Call him.” They called the blind man, saying to him, “Cheer up! Get up. He is calling you!”
In plain English: Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man and said to him, "Take courage! Get up. He is calling you."
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50He, casting away his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
In plain English: He threw off his cloak, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
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51Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “Rabboni, that I may see again.”
In plain English: Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said to him, "Rabboni, I want to see again."
The Greek word: "Rabboni" is rhabbouni. The dictionary says it corresponds to rhabbi ("my master", a title of honor). It is in 2 verses of the New Testament: here and , where the text says it means "Teacher". Rhabbi is in 3 verses of Mark: , and .
How it is translated: This Bible leaves the word as "Rabboni" here.
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52Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the way.
In plain English: Jesus said to him, "Go. Your faith has made you well (or: has saved you)." At once he could see again, and he followed Jesus on the road.
The Greek word: "Has made you well" is sesōken, from sōzō. The dictionary gives "to save, i.e. deliver or protect". It is in 13 verses of Mark. In the disciples ask "who can be saved?" with the same word.
How it is translated: This Bible has "has made you well" here, and "be saved" in verse 26.
What changes: Read as "has saved you", the same words would be Jesus's answer to the man's request to see. The text uses one word and does not say which sense it has here.
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