{"id":51827,"date":"2014-12-16T13:11:04","date_gmt":"2014-12-16T20:11:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/?page_id=51827"},"modified":"2014-12-16T13:22:12","modified_gmt":"2014-12-16T20:22:12","slug":"chapter-10","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/commentary\/mark\/chapter-10\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 10"},"content":{"rendered":"

Teaching about Divorce<\/span><\/h3>\n

10\u00a0<\/span>And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again; and again, as his custom was, he taught them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus is drawing near Jerusalem.<\/p>\n

2\u00a0<\/sup>And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, \u201cIs it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus is asked a question about the Law.<\/p>\n

<\/span>3\u00a0<\/sup>He answered them, \u201cWhat did Moses command you?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus responds to the question with a question.<\/p>\n

<\/span>4\u00a0<\/sup>They said, \u201cMoses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

They give the answer.<\/p>\n

5\u00a0<\/sup>But Jesus said to them, \u201cFor your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus explains why Moses allowed this.<\/p>\n

6\u00a0<\/sup>But from the beginning of creation, \u2018God made them male and female.\u2019<\/span>7\u00a0<\/sup>\u2018For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,\u00a0<\/span>8\u00a0<\/sup>and the two shall become one.\u2019\u00a0So they are no longer two but one.\u00a0<\/span>9\u00a0<\/sup>What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus explains that this was not the original plan and quotes Genesis to prove His point.<\/p>\n

10\u00a0<\/sup>And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. <\/span>11\u00a0<\/sup>And he said to them, \u201cWhoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; <\/span>12\u00a0<\/sup>and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus expresses the same teaching in more forceful language.<\/p>\n

Jesus Blesses Little Children<\/span><\/h3>\n

13\u00a0<\/sup>And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As usual, the disciples don’t want to share Jesus.<\/p>\n

14\u00a0<\/sup>But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, \u201cLet the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This stands in stark contrast to the treatment of children at the time (property).<\/p>\n

<\/span>15\u00a0<\/sup>Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.\u201d <\/span>16\u00a0<\/sup>And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A child is trusting and utterly dependent upon his parents.<\/p>\n

The Rich Man<\/span><\/h3>\n

17\u00a0<\/sup>And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, \u201cGood Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Good question.<\/p>\n

18\u00a0<\/sup>And Jesus said to him, \u201cWhy do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Not a denial of His divinity, but a challenge.<\/p>\n

<\/span>19\u00a0<\/sup>You know the commandments: \u2018Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus tells him to keep the commandments.<\/p>\n

<\/span>20\u00a0<\/sup>And he said to him, \u201cTeacher, all these I have observed from my youth.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

…which he says he’s done.<\/p>\n

<\/span>21\u00a0<\/sup>And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, \u201cYou lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.\u201d <\/span>22\u00a0<\/sup>At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus challenges him in the deepest way possible.<\/p>\n

23\u00a0<\/sup>And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, \u201cHow hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!\u201d <\/span>24\u00a0<\/sup>And the disciples were amazed at his words.\u00a0But Jesus said to them again, \u201cChildren, how hard it is for those who trust in riches\u00a0to enter the kingdom of God! <\/span>25\u00a0<\/sup>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.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This was not a gate in Jerusalem, despite what a lot of people say.<\/p>\n

<\/span>26\u00a0<\/sup>And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him,\u00a0\u201cThen who can be saved?\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The rich had the time and the means (livestock) to get right with God. If it was hard from\u00a0them<\/strong> to be saved, what chances did the rest of them have?<\/p>\n

27\u00a0<\/sup>Jesus looked at them and said, \u201cWith men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus points back to grace.<\/p>\n

28\u00a0<\/sup>Peter began to say to him, \u201cLo, we have left everything and followed you.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Peter points out that they have (unlike the rich man) given up everything for Jesus.<\/p>\n

<\/span>29\u00a0<\/sup>Jesus said, \u201cTruly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, <\/span>30\u00a0<\/sup>who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.<\/span>31\u00a0<\/sup>But many that are first will be last, and the last first.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus promises a reward but points out that the Kingdom doesn’t work in the same way as the world.<\/p>\n

A Third Time Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection<\/span><\/h3>\n

32\u00a0<\/sup>And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, <\/span>33\u00a0<\/sup>saying, \u201cBehold, 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; <\/span>34\u00a0<\/sup>and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This is in even more lurid detail than before. This is to contrast what is to come next…<\/p>\n

The Request of James and John<\/span><\/h3>\n

35\u00a0<\/sup>And James and John, the sons of Zeb\u2032edee, came forward to him, …<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Two of Jesus’ inner circle (the other was Peter).<\/p>\n

…and said to him, \u201cTeacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Never say “yes” to this kind of a request until you hear what it is!\u00a0In Matthew’s Gospel, this is instigated by their mother.<\/p>\n

36\u00a0<\/sup>And he said to them, \u201cWhat do you want me to do for you?\u201d<\/span>37\u00a0<\/sup>And they said to him, \u201cGrant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

They are still thinking in terms of an earthly messianic kingdom.<\/p>\n

They’re trying to bump Peter!<\/p>\n

<\/span>38\u00a0<\/sup>But Jesus said to them, \u201cYou do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?\u201d <\/span>39\u00a0<\/sup>And they said to him, \u201cWe are able.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus asks them a question and they answer in the affirmative, even though they don’t understand it.<\/p>\n

Jesus is referring to His death as a baptism.<\/p>\n

And Jesus said to them, \u201cThe cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; <\/span>40\u00a0<\/sup>but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus promises them suffering, but not seating arrangements.<\/p>\n

<\/span>41\u00a0<\/sup>And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The others are indignant at their power-grab.<\/p>\n

<\/span>42\u00a0<\/sup>And Jesus called them to him and said to them, \u201cYou know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. <\/span>43\u00a0<\/sup>But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, <\/span>44\u00a0<\/sup>and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. <\/span>45\u00a0<\/sup>For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

My favourite passage in this Gospel. Jesus tries to correct their understanding of authority and the nature of the Kingdom.<\/p>\n

The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus<\/span><\/h3>\n

46\u00a0<\/sup>And they came to Jericho; and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, Bartimae\u2032us, a blind beggar, the son of Timae\u2032us, was sitting by the roadside. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Notice historical detail.<\/p>\n

47\u00a0<\/sup>And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, \u201cJesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

He identifies him as David’s son. Although physically blind, he sees.<\/p>\n

Solomon was known in the ancient world for his healing.<\/p>\n

48\u00a0<\/sup>And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, \u201cSon of David, have mercy on me!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

He doesn’t give up.<\/p>\n

<\/span>49\u00a0<\/sup>And Jesus stopped and said, \u201cCall him.\u201d And they called the blind man, saying to him, \u201cTake heart; rise, he is calling you.\u201d <\/span>50\u00a0<\/sup>And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

He throws off everything to come to Jesus (contrast with the rich young man).<\/p>\n

<\/span>51\u00a0<\/sup>And Jesus said to him, \u201cWhat do you want me to do for you?\u201d And the blind man said to him, \u201cMaster,\u00a0let me receive my sight.\u201d <\/span>52\u00a0<\/sup>And Jesus said to him, \u201cGo your way; your faith has made you well.\u201d And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Immediately…<\/p>\n

Way…<\/p>\n

Return to Chapter Index<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Teaching about Divorce 10\u00a0And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again; and again, as his custom was, he taught them. Jesus is drawing near Jerusalem. 2\u00a0And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, \u201cIs it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?\u201d Jesus<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":51781,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-51827","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/51827","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51827"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/51827\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51832,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/51827\/revisions\/51832"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/51781"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51827"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}