Mark 10
McGeeCHAPTER 10THEME: Teaching about marriage; rich young ruler; teaching about riches; death of Christ; ambition of James and John; blind BartimaeusThe first verse tells us that “he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan.” You will notice that there is a movement here in Mark. In fact, the geography in Mark is quite interesting. In Mar_9:30 we read that, “they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.” He was making His final departure from there and He certainly didn’t want a big sendoff. Now He comes “into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan,” which means on the east side. That was in the area called Decapolis after the ten cities which were there. So we find Him by the farther side of Jordan.
The people are coming to Him again, and He taught them “as he was wont.” He’s now making His final ascent to Jerusalem. The enemies, those bloodhounds of hate, are on His trail.
Mark 10:1
TEACHING ABOUT MARRIAGEWe need to understand that they do not ask this question because they want an answer. They are asking Him the question in order to trap Him. They had their own viewpoint concerning marriage and divorce, so they pose this trick question: “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?” It’s a clever question and was really a live issue at this time because Herod had put away his wife and married his brother Philip’s wife. John the Baptist had been beheaded because he had spoken out against it. So if Jesus answered no to their question, it would not only make Him contradict Moses, but it would bring Him into conflict with Herod. The death of Jesus was not to be determined on this issue.
That’s very important to see. On the other hand, if He said yes to their question, they could accuse Him of being lax in His teaching. So now notice His method. It always was His method and it was a good one. He countered with a question.
Mark 10:3
He knew they would have to say that because back in Deu_24:1-2 there was the Mosaic Law: “When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.” Moses permitted divorce, as you can see. Actually, it was not Moses’ intention nor was it God’s intention for a man or a woman to get a divorce over some little picayunish excuse. However, in time, the religious rulers interpreted it so that the wife’s burning the biscuits would be grounds for divorce. Now our Lord goes back to that which is fundamental, and this is important to see. He turns it from a discussion of divorce to a discussion of marriage. And today that is the area into which we should move. I have so many questions from people asking about the grounds for divorce. When they are ready to get married, they never talk to the preacher. They are not interested in finding out whether he would approve or not; their only question is whether he will marry them. That is all they are concerned about. The important thing to see here is that our Lord is going to discuss marriage with them. Notice how He handles it. He gives the reason God permitted divorce. It was because of sin that God granted divorce under the Mosaic Law.
Mark 10:5
What Jesus is saying here takes them back to God’s ideal at the creation before sin entered the world. Divorce was not in His plan and program at that time. He had something better for man. It may likewise be said that murder was not in His plan, but murderers have been forgiven. Divorce is a sin, but divorced people can be forgiven. And I think that under certain circumstances divorced people can be remarried; that is, from a scriptural viewpoint.
I don’t know why we will forgive a murderer but often refuse to forgive a divorced person. We act almost as if he has committed the unpardonable sin. People who are saved after securing a divorce ought not to bear the stigma any more than any other sinner who has been saved. We are all sinners saved by grace. It just happens that divorce is their sin. What He is saying in this section here is that marriage is a stronger tie than that of parent and child. A child may be disowned, and marriage may be broken by unfaithfulness. Jesus is showing here that marriage is something that God makes. God joins a couple together. This was the original intention of the Creator. Any violation of this is sin, but it is not the unpardonable sin, I can assure you. The basic problem is marrying the wrong person. It looks to me like we are locking the stable after the horse is gone. There are people getting married who ought not to get married. This is the problem. The sin was that they got married in the first place. My Christian friend, marriage is something that God wants to arrange for you, if you will let Him.
Mark 10:10
This is the strongest statement against divorce that is found in the Scripture. How is it to be interpreted? All the Scriptures on divorce should be brought together and considered before a proper induction can be made. The parallel passage in Matthew lists fornication as the one basis for divorce. Why did Mark omit this? Mark was writing to the Romans who did not know the Mosaic Law, while Matthew was writing for Israel who had and knew the Mosaic Law of divorce. So it must be considered in that light. Rom_7:2 does not apply to the problem of divorce: “For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.” In this passage Paul is using a well-established law, that a wife is bound to a living husband until death frees her, as an illustration of the believer’s relationship to the principle of law. The Mosaic system took care of the unfaithful wife or husband. They were stoned to death according to Deu_22:22-24. Now today we don’t stone them to death. If we did, there would be so many rock piles we wouldn’t be able to get around them. According to the Mosaic Law, a husband or wife who is guilty of adultery may be treated as dead by the other mate. Scripture does recognize one ground for divorceunfaithfulness. The innocent party is free to marry, it would seem, from Christ’s words. The discussion of divorce and the blessing of the little children are brought together by both Matthew and Mark. It seems to me the Spirit of God is trying to tell us something here. The child is the innocent product of the marriage, and a divorce becomes doubly evil because the little children suffer so in the divorce. It is amazing to see the number of young people from broken homes who get into trouble today. That is no accident, by any means. That is the way it works out.
Mark 10:13
The children would not have to become adults to come to Him. We wait for little Willie to grow up and maybe then he’ll make a decision for Christ. Our Lord says that He wishes the adults would become like little children. We hear so much today about going on and growing and developing. That’s wonderfulafter you have become a child of God. But, actually, most of us are going the wrong way. We need to leave our cleverness and our sophistication and our great knowledge that we boast of today and return to the simplicity of childhoodtrust Christ Jesus with simple, childlike faith. Our Lord took the children up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them. He never did take anybody else up in His arms like that, friend. He took the little children, because they are the ones He will receive. When they die in infancy, before the age of accountability, they go to be with Him.
Mark 10:17
RICH YOUNG RULERIn this day of crass materialism, this incident of the rich young ruler and the teaching of our Lord about riches are certainly very applicable. Matthew tells us that the ruler was young, and this was a normal question for a man under the Law to ask. He is living under the Mosaic system and is asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus tries to get the young man to think. Why should he call Jesus good? There is only One who is good, and that is God. If he is calling Jesus good, then Jesus is God. Now notice that Jesus gives the young man the commandments which are in the second section of the Ten Commandments.
Mark 10:19
The first section of the commandments is labeled pietas and has to do with man’s relationship to God. The second section is labeled probitas and has to do with man’s relationship with man. Our Lord did not speak of the man’s relationship to God but of his relationship to man. He could meet the standard of the second section and said he had kept them all.
Mark 10:21
Jesus told him he lacked one thing. What was that? It was his relationship to God. The thing that was hindering him was his riches. He had called Jesus good; and if he will follow Jesus, he’ll find out that the reason Jesus is good is because He is God. Jesus asked him to separate himself from his riches and follow Him. Where would this lead him? Well, at this time the Lord Jesus is on the way to die for the sins of this man. Had he followed Jesus, he would have come to the Cross for redemption. But the young man “was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.”
Mark 10:23
TEACHING ABOUT RICHESThere is a great message here. Paul says that “…the love of money is the root of all evil” (1Ti_6:10). He was merely repeating what our Lord said in this discourse. Money will buy anything except the most valuable thingeternal life. This discourse reveals the impossibility of a rich man entering into heaven by means of his riches. It is impossible for any man to enter heaven by his own means. Well, a camel can’t go through the eye of a needle. That’s humanly impossible, or should we say “camel” impossible. But for God all things are possible.
Mark 10:26
The man can’t do it; only the Lord Jesus can. We have the idea today that money can buy everything. Someone has written these lines about money that we do well to think over: Money will buy a bed, but it will not buy sleep. Money will buy food, but it will not buy an appetite. Money will buy medicine, but it will not buy health. Money will buy a house, but it will not buy a home. Money will buy a diamond, but it will not buy love. Money will buy a church pew, but it will not buy salvation. Jesus invited this young man to get rid of that which stood between him and God. If he had followed the Lord Jesus, he would have learned that the reason Jesus is good is because Jesus is God.
Mark 10:28
Instead of rebuking Peter, Jesus promised a reward for those who sacrifice for Him.
Mark 10:31
This is a principle which will operate in giving out rewards.
Mark 10:32
DEATH OF CHRISTYou see, He’s moving now toward Jerusalem. He knows and is telling them that He is going there to die. Notice again that, with His death, He always mentions His resurrection.
Mark 10:35
AMBITION OF JAMES AND JOHNWe had this story in Matthew, you will remember. The mother had come to Jesus and asked this privilege for her sons. So when Jesus asked them whether they could be baptized with the same baptism that He would suffer, they answered that they could.
Mark 10:39
We know that James became a martyr. John was exiled on the Isle of Patmos. Although it is not believed that he was martyred, he may have been executed; we do not know. Our Lord did not say that there is not a place on His right hand and left hand. He said the place is not given arbitrarily to anyone He wants to give it to. But those who will receive it are preparing themselves for that place. Friend, you get heaven as a gift. But your place in heavenyou work for that. Salvation is free, but we work for a reward. If you are going to be rewarded of Him, you won’t get it by twiddling your thumbs or wringing your hands or sitting in a rocking chair. You’ll have to work to receive that.
Mark 10:41
They were displeased because they wanted the best positions. So the Lord must teach them another principle. The method this world uses is not God’s method.
Mark 10:42
God’s method is to take those who are humble and make themselves small by serving and place them as the leaders. The chief must be the servant of all. Then He states the key to this Gospel: Mar_10:45.
Mark 10:46
BLIND BARTIMAEUSThis account appears in Matthew and again in Luke. There are people who deny the inerrancy of Scripture because they can’t reconcile the accounts of the Gospels here. Matthew mentions two blind men, but Mark centers his attention on Bartimaeus because he is the one who spoke out. I think the critic who tries to tear apart the accounts in the Gospels is the third blind man! It is thrilling to think that Bartimaeus followed Jesus now with his eyes open. In a few days he will see Jesus dying on the Cross. Are you blind? Or have you, too, seen Jesus dying for you? Look and live!