Mark 10
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.
Here we go again! Those that hate The Truth will always want to debate it.
3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?
Christ sets the example, always answer with a question. It should make them think about the answer themselves, especially when you know they're just looking for trouble. There is a requirement for this bill of divorcement before it may be given. Deuteronomy 24:1 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. Don't think for a minute this doesn't go both ways.
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.
Their "hearts" = mind. It's because of their lack of spiritual perception they will become divorced. It just won't last without God in your marriage. "Hardness" Strong's G # 4641, "sklerokardia, sklay-rok-ar-dee'-ah; destitution of spiritual perception."
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;
Marriage is a male and female becoming one under God. Everything else is playing into satans hands.
8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
Once your Marriage takes place, you're one under the purpose of God.
9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
1 Corinthians 7:8-9 8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I. 9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.
His disciples want to know more.
11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.
Unless adultery, violence or death, if you take another to marry, you've committed adultery.
Mark 10:12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
Goes both ways!
13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
The disciples are just reacting this way because of all the contention with the Pharisees and the fact it's getting late.
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.
They're uncorrupted. They haven't had the world take their minds and are open to listening to The Truth.
15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
Repent and believe †
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?
Anyone with common sense would have this enter their mind. Everyone has at points in their life wondered about the end of this flesh. The smart ones do something about it.
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
Although there is no sin at all in Christ as He is perfect, this flesh is corruptible. Christ puts his mind to the correct way of thinking.
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.
Testing this one's knowledge of The Truth.
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.
Christ can see, although this person wants to follow The Truth, he has a fleshly vise that causes trouble for him. He treasures earthly things! I know people that read their bible once a week and say they love The Lord, but spend more time checking their bank accounts or watching sports, exercising, soaps, a night out on the town, etc.
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!
God blesses good works, but if we try to gain by ill gotten gains, reward is lost to them in 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!
Are your riches of the world or The Lord? I'm more wealthy with living in a cardboard box and my Bible than any millionaire without The Truth. The end result is what counts!
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.
When things are tough and you accomplish the goal, the outcome will always be worth it in the end. The "needle" = the entrance gate on the side that lets you enter into the city late in the day and into the night. The main gates would be closed giving you one way in. ONE WAY IN! The door was so small, you had to get off your camel and unload your goods = riches, in order to fit into the door = needle.
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.
Our Father sent us The ONLY Way we can be saved from sin and ourselves. Christ gave that we may have †
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,
As Christians, we know there is another life that we have left behind because we shouldn't be part of it anymore.
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.
Understanding the things of the flesh has no place in the world age to come.
31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
Accepting Christ is the only opportunity to reward, be it first or last, the outcome is reward. I'm not sure if you remember our study in Matthew 20 on the vineyard, but go to your Bible and refresh yourself on it. They all received the same pay regardless on starting in the morning or towards the end of the work day.
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,
They're remembering what Christ said about when they would return to Jerusalem. Ref. † Mark 8:31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
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:
Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my [Father] righteous servant [Christ Jesus] justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. This "travail" is His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary and in that we may have life by His defeating death = satan.
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.
They're ignorant of what they're asking of Christ. Christ is the right hand of God.
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?
Of course they can't. His crucifixion is that cup He drinks from and the suffering and death is the baptism of His blood which will be spilled. We are washed clean of our sins by His blood, not a bath.
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:
And sadly most of them died horrible deaths by evil, but not before accepting the power of Life.
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.
There is always someone ruling authority over people, but our Father doesn't rule that way. We who love Him worship Him freely. Mark 10:47 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. Mark 10:48 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.
43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
This "minister" = "servant". If you are a true leader, you bend over backwards to help others with their needs and feed them The Truth regardless of what may happen.
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.
A little on these names; they were changed from their original meanings in the translations. Bartimaeus and Timaeus in Aramaic = "polluted and unclean" but in the Greek is the opposite.
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.
Being blind, he was a beggar. He stood and dropped that begging garment because anyone made whole, doesn't have any need to beg. Christians are can do people of God.
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.
He knows Christ can make him whole.
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.
He was ready to follow The Way that only Christ can give. The Way to life everlasting.