Mark 10:1-52
1 And 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.
2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.
3 And he answered and said unto them,What did Moses command you?
4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.
5 And Jesus answered and said unto them,For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.
6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.
11 And he saith unto them,Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.
12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14 But 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.
15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
17 And 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?
18 And Jesus said unto him,Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19 Thou 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.
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21 Then 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.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples,How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
24 And 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!
25 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.
26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
27 And Jesus looking upon them saith,With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29 And 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,
30 But 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.
31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
32 And 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,
33 Saying, 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:
34 And 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.
35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
36 And he said unto them,What would ye that I should do for you?
37 They 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.
38 But 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?
39 And 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:
40 But 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.
41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.
42 But 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.
43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
46 And 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.
47 And 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.
48 And 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.
49 And 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.
50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
51 And 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.
52 And Jesus said unto him,Go thy way; thy faith hath madea thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Mark 10:2. The pharisees came and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? This was a net artfully spread, to entangle the Saviour's feet. Had he said no, they would have accused him of teaching doctrines contrary to the law of Moses. Had he said yea, they would then have charged him as guilty of cruelty. Thus, like Ezekiel, the Saviour exercised his ministry among scorpions.
A woman repudiated for mere dislike, groans beneath a load of wrongs. She went to the altar in innocence, with all the hopes and joys of life. Now her joys wither, her bread fails, her friends recede. The tyranny of men over women in Asia, is extensive and grievous; and the infidels of Europe have made strong efforts to enforce it among christians.
Mark 10:5. Jesus answered for the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. Moses, in the political law, suffered you to divorce and repudiate your wives; but the marriage in paradise, in which God made the man and his wife one flesh, is the model of all other marriages. No man can repudiate his wife, except for adultery, and that adultery lawfully proved: while, on the contrary, your divorces, for mere dislike, drive people to adultery, and by consequence to perdition. Oh glorious teacher, covered with honour and majesty, while all thine enemies are clothed with shame. What God hath joined, let not man put asunder.
Mark 10:12. If a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. This was then the case with Herodias, whom Herod took from Philip. John had said, “it is not lawful for thee to have her;” and this decision was according to the law of Moses. Leviticus 18:16; Leviticus 20:21. The case of incest augmented the sin, but did not interfere with the law of adultery. If Herodias pleaded polygamy against Philip, which might be the case, still it follows, that persons thus separated should continue in a state of continence, which leaves the door open for repentance. In addition to what is related in Matthew 19., Mark observes that the Lord spoke those last words in private conversation, being less fit for the public ear. When the disciples heard those expositions of superior morality, they said, if a man's happiness thus depend on the fidelity of his wife, “it is not good to marry.” Matthew 19:10.
Mark 10:13. They brought young children to him. It was the method of the holy patriarchs and prophets to bless the children. We have a remarkable instance of this in Jacob's blessing the two sons of Joseph, who had brought them to his father for that purpose. But Christ is here regarded as the greatest of prophets, and the highest estimation is set on his benedictions. The grace of Christ accompanied the words of Christ, for ordinances are seals of covenant blessings. And if these children received good from the blessing of the Saviour, other children may receive the same good. If they are members of the kingdom of heaven, the initiatory rite of baptism fully belongs to them, as has been the constant practice of the church of God.
Mark 10:17. There came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? The other evangelists read, what “good thing” shall I do? Matthew 19:16; Luke 18:18. The applicant is understood to be rather young in years, and was a ruler in the city where he lived.
Mark 10:18. Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God. Original sin is the birth-fault of man; the disease for which all the remedies of the gospel are prescribed. Seneca confesses, that every vice is in all men, though every vice in each be not apparent. Omnia in omnibus vitia sunt; sed non in singulis extant. De benefac. 50, 4. c. 7. On this head the christian doctrine taught by the Greek and Latin fathers is, “that men do not sin by imitation, but by real propagation, our will and consent being collocated in the one will of Adam.” TIRINUS.
Mark 10:19. Thou knowest the commandments. If thou wouldst be perfect, keep them. By asking which, he might think that our Saviour referred to some particular precepts. Jesus said, Do not commit adultery, a prohibition of all impurity. This is named first, because of the great licentiousness of some young men of fortune. Our great Master here stooped to this ruler's ideas and habits of education, that he might the more successfully illuminate his mind, and gradually lead him to the knowledge of the truth.
Mark 10:20. All these have I observed from my youth. How many are the barriers against ruin: how many are the advantages of a religious education. Wisdom is more precious than rubies.
Mark 10:21. Then Jesus beholding his open countenance and ingenuous speech, loved him, and said, one thing thou lackest sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor and take up the cross of reproach andfollow me, and be in training for this ministry of the kingdom of God. Peter Valdo of Lyons did this, and became a great minister, and father of the Waldenses. See on Matthew 19:23.
Mark 10:25. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. See on Matthew 19:24.
Mark 10:28. Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. Small as was the sacrifice, home and parentage are dear to all men. The answer is repeated from chap. Mark 3:34; but was given there when the relatives of Christ wanted to speak with him. The reply here is to Peter, with a promise of a hundredfold reward in this world, and in the world to come life everlasting.
Mark 10:37. That we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left. The mother, it would seem, had urged this request before. Matthew 20:21.
Mark 10:46. Blind Bartimeus. There were two blind men, and our Saviour healed one as he went into Jericho, and the other as he went out. In addition to the reflections on the man born blind, John 9., which occurred previous to this, I would here add, that seeking to be saved from the blindness and misery of sin, we must address the Lord by his proper title as Messiah and God. And whenever we may be rebuked for our importunity, let us pray so much the more. Jesus still passes by; and Jesus stops, as Luke says; for prayer arrests him in his course. Jesus stops that we may ask whatever we want. Let us have a ready petition, and we shall have as ready an answer. Receive thy sight, said Jesus, and vision opened on the blind; for it was the same voice which once said, Let there be light, and there was light. Then Bartimeus followed, glorifying God, and all the multitude joined him in his praise.
REFLECTIONS.
The young ruler asking the way to eternal life, presents an interesting case, recorded in the three first gospels, and no doubt in others, not accounted canonical. From this we may learn
That a religious education is founded on an acquaintance with sacred truth, as milk fit for babes, and stronger meat for riper years. All these, said the ruler, have I “known.” He could also add, as to the letter, all these have I “observed” from my youth. What moral excellence of character, what filial obedience, divine prudence, and unspotted purity. Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. The elements of sacred knowledge, and the chaste and spotless habits of piety, being invaluable, teach us to cherish due respect for ministers. The young ruler came kneeling; he regarded the Lord Jesus as a Moses, or an Elijah, the prince of prophets. And in return, Jesus loved him, and said, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. Ministers delight in the instruction of youth as the hope of the church, and the joy of a future age.
Religion teaches young people to be free and open with ministers, to ask the way to eternal life: for though the law was full of temporal promises, it had figures of eternal bliss. It says that man should not live by bread alone, but by the word of God, which is incorruptible, and lives and abides for ever. It writes the law on our hearts, and the divine nature lives, like its source, a spiritual life.
Ministers will point out the defects of youth, and show them the way to the kingdom. One thing thou lackest; a clear work of grace, regenerating the heart, and illuminating the life. The synagogue had failed in this duty, but the gospel perfects the saints. Regeneration is the first and great doctrine of the kingdom.
In fine, true religion will cost young people some severe sacrifices, especially in the higher walks of life, to part with sin, and buy the truth. The young man went away sorrowful. Nature shrunk at the cross. Sighs and tears in search of truth, are good frames on retiring from sermons. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy; they find the kingdom at length opened in their hearts.