MARK

Mark Chapter 10

• Mark 10:1And 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.

Here the Pharisees came to Him a question on divorce. They were trying to catch Him at His words. I doubt if they really cared deeply about the subject matter. They were just seeking a quarrel. Have you ever met anyone who likes to quarrel? They might come and ask a question about the bible, not because they really want to know but because they want to argue. I remember some that just loved to throw out questions of no value just to disrupt the Sunday school class. Some do it just for the desire to find fault and seek occasion against the person speaking, find fault with the church, or in this case Jesus himself.

Jesus explains that in the beginning God did not want divorce and He still hates divorce. Divorce is a killer. It kills and destroys. It destroys families, the security of the children, destroys peace and brings confusion. It should be avoided if at all possible. Sometimes though people are caught up in it against their will.

Jesus brings out clearly that the law concerning divorce was given because of the hardness of their hearts. The law was given to govern the divorce situations in the case that people would get them anyway. God prefers that we don't divorce. When two are married they become one flesh, what God joins together we are not to destroy. If a marriage is in trouble, divorce should be the last thing on our minds.

• Mark 10:10 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.

The disciples asked the Lord privately about the matter of divorce. Jesus spoke even more plainly. If a man divorces his wife and marries another, he commits adultery against the first wife. If a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery. I realize this is not popular and people today divorce whenever they want, but we can't change what the Lord said. He said it is adultery. We can argue all we want but He said what He said. I'm not going to change it and try to explain these scriptures away with human reasoning.

You might ask; what if we have done these things and want to be saved. The answer is easy. Repent. Make it right with God. Make sure all sin is under the blood of Jesus. Just go to God and say, Lord this is your word, I have broken your word, forgive me of this sin and let me be cleansed and made whole. I should have tried harder to make the first marriage work but I didn't, please cleanse away the past and make me a new creature in Christ.

In the case of one being an innocent party and the other walks away, the apostle Paul said, "If the unbelieving depart, let him depart." We are not under bondage in that case. Whether this means we are free to remarry, we have to leave that between the person involved and the Lord.

We have to keep in mind that divorce and remarriage is not the will of God. Also, we must not change the scripture to fit everyone's situation. The scripture must remain unchanged. We cannot change them to fit our lifestyle. We wouldn't dream of changing Shakespeare or Charles Dickens from the original meaning, then much more should we fear changing the Holy Scriptures.

• Mark 10:13 And they brought young children to him, they wanted him to 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.

The attitude of the disciples here is a lesson to learn. "This is no place for children, the Lord is too  busy to bother with children, were not running a kindergarten service, leave the children at home."

No, Jesus said, "Allow the little children to come to me, of such is the kingdom of God."

How beautiful! The kingdom of God is for children too. In fact the Lord says all must seek the kingdom of God as a little humble child who is dependent upon others to take care of them. We must humble ourselves before God, recognizing the fact that, we cannot save ourselves, and we need a savior. Children are quick to recognize this and so must we be. Pride and exaltation is the biggest hindrance to salvation.

This should also cause us to realize that the ministry with children is just as important as the ministry with adults. How much better to reach people with the gospel while they are young then wait until they have sown wild oats and reach the end of their days upon the earth. Thank God He saves anytime of our lives but how much better it is to live one's whole life for the Lord.

• Mark 10:17 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.

This is one of the saddest stories in the New Testament. So sad that one chose to hold on to the world rather than follow the Lord. He was a good man by the world's standards, he kept all the commandments but that wasn't enough to save him. His life did not belong to the Lord, he loved his life more than the Lord. He wanted salvation but not if he had to part with his riches. He did not want to share anything with anyone else.

The rich are always warned to not trust in their riches but to give and help the poor willingly. Notice, I said willingly. Not the government taking from the rich and giving to the poor. The rich are urged to give willingly.

Jesus told the man to sell all he had and give to the poor. Jesus said this in love. He did not want to take from the man, He was not begging him for money. He thought only of the man's spiritual condition. He saw something in the man the others could not see. He saw a wretched soul that was good in outward show in keeping the commandments but he did not keep the ones that counted most. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, and mind and thy neighbor as thyself."

This poor soul was indeed poorer than the poorest person in the land because he loved his possessions more than God. This may seem very difficult but remember that this can only be done by the new birth and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. It is impossible for the flesh to live this way, we have to be walking in the spirit.

That's why Jesus came, to save us from sin and to fill us with this Holy Spirit. Jesus did not say that we could not have money. He said that those that forsake all to follow him would receive back in this life more than what they gave.

Riches should not separate us from our love for God. We must be generous and not hoard our wealth. When we give ourselves over to God completely we will know freedom like never before. All bondage will flee.

I don't believe Jesus is teaching that our salvation comes by merely giving to the poor. He points out that the man was to take up his cross and follow Him, Jesus.

Salvation is not good deeds but following Christ with all our hearts. We repent and turn from our old life and receive Jesus into our lives. A new way, a new birth. Jesus saw that his man wanted salvation but not enough to give up his riches. He held on to his old life and did not want to forsake all and become a new creature in Christ. I pray that we can avoid being half-hearted Christians today, that we hold nothing back and take up our cross and follow the Lord.

Another thing brought out here is that there is none good. Only God. Jesus was good because He was God. This shows we cannot save ourselves by trying to be a good person. Only God is good and we need His goodness within us in the presence of His Holy Spirit.

Jesus loved this man, He cared about him enough to tell him the truth. True love brings correction, it is not a man-pleasing flattery type of spirit we think is love. We can encourage, compliment in sincerity when a person needs that, but not false flattery. 

• Mark 10:32 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.

Again the Lord is preparing the disciple for what is to come. This shows us two things: First, He is showing clearly that He is laying down His life willingly and His life is not taken without His will. The Lord makes it clear that He could have avoided that cross. Either by obeying the Pharisees and succumbing to their will and authority or else by call the angels of God to deliver Him.

Second: He is showing His concern for His followers, knowing that the coming events will shake their faith and they will be temporarily scattered. He warns over and over again so that they will remember His words at a later time.

I believe true believers who love God and stay in His word continually will be open to the prodding and warnings by the Holy Spirit. He totally prepared His disciples yet when the time came they still were greatly shaken. They were not really listening when Jesus warned.

Sometimes we hear only what we want to hear. Do we just want to hear preachers who speak a watered down compromising message, or do we want truth. We should desire preachers who listen to the voice of the Spirit so that if we need warning, they will preach warning, if we need comfort, they speak comfort, and that they speak the mind of the Spirit.

• Mark 10:35 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.

These next verses shows that we are to prefer one another in love and not to exalt ourselves or desire to be exalted higher than a brother and sister in the Lord. Those that desire high positions over others really are the ones who should not get high positions.

The Lord encouraged His followers not to desire to be Lords over others but to humble themselves preferring one another in love. He makes it clear that God alone will hand out the positions of power in the future kingdom of God. He also asks them if they are willing to pay the price of being in a high position. They have to walk the same walk as He did and be baptized with the same baptism He experienced. This could also mean that they too would be despised and rejected of men for their testimony.

• Mark 10:46  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 made thee whole.

And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. Here we see again the compassion of the Lord. He cared more about the need of the blind man than the noise the man was making probably disturbing the peace of an orderly service.

I don't know if Jesus was teaching at this point but whatever was going on the blind man was so desperate for help he didn't care that he was interrupting anything. He heard that Jesus was near and didn't let the opportunity pass by him to get help. Determination got the man deliverance from his blindness. The man had faith. If he did not have faith he would not have been determined to get through to Jesus. Faith produces action. DC