Day 38 – Friday, February 21, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Mark 10

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Marriage and Divorce

Matt. 19:1–9

1 Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan. And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.² The Pharisees came and asked Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” testing Him.³ And He answered and said to them, “What did Moses command you?”⁴ They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her.”⁵ And Jesus answered and said to them, “Because of 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 reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, ⁸ and the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”¹⁰ In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. ¹¹ So He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. ¹² And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 10:1–12.

Points to Ponder:

• This passage parallels Mathew 19. The Pharisees test Jesus with the question about divorce. The question in Mark is shorter, leaving off the “for just any reason.”
• Mark’s shorter account of the story also leaves off the provision that divorce is acceptable in the case of sexual immorality. He is recorded as saying that anyone who divorces and marries another is guilty of divorce.
• In general, Jesus still teaches that marriage is sacred, and that the bond between husband and wife is meant to be indissoluble.
• Let’s treat marriage as a lifetime commitment and stand strong even when things are hard.

Children and the Kingdom

Matt. 19:13–15; Luke 18:15–17

¹³ Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. ¹⁴ But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. ¹⁵ Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” ¹⁶ And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 10:13–16.

Points to Ponder:

• This passage is nearly identical to the passage in Matthew 19.
• Jesus’ disciples try to keep the children from bothering Jesus, and He scolds them.
• Jesus blessed the children and made room for them.
• Let’s make room for those who society ostracizes.

Rich Young Ruler

Matt. 19:16–22; Luke 18:18–23

¹⁷ Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”¹⁸ So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”²⁰ And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”²¹ Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”²² But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 10:17–22.

Points to Ponder:

• This is also nearly verbatim to the passage in Matthew 19.
• The rich young man wanted to know Jesus, and inquired as to what was needed in order to inherit eternal life.
• Jesus told him to keep the commandments, which he had already been doing.
• Jesus is said to have looked at him and loved him. This is not in the Matthean passage. This is the only real distinction in the stories.
• Jesus loves even those He knows will reject Him. The rich young ruler rejected the call to sell all his goods and give to the poor.
• Don’t let possessions or wealth get in the way of serving and following Christ.

Difficulty of Riches

Matt. 19:23–26; Luke 18:24–27

²³ Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” ²⁴ And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter 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 the kingdom of God.”²⁶ And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”²⁷ But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 10:23–27.

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus spring-boarded off this story to talk about the difficulty of entering the Kingdom when you are rich.
• The disciples were astonished that Jesus said it is hard for a rich man to be saved.
• He did not say impossible, but He did say it is hard.
• The culture of the day revered people with wealth and power, but Jesus said that wealth just gets in the way of truly following Jesus.

Eternal Reward

Matt. 19:27–30; Luke 18:28–30

²⁸ Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”²⁹ So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, ³⁰ who shall 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. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 10:28–31.

Points to Ponder:

• In response, Peter announces the obvious. “We have left all to follow You!”
• Jesus told them that their reward for leaving possessions and even family would be a hundredfold, and then eternal life on top of that.
• He also reiterated the truth that the first will be last, and the last will be first. This corroborates the idea that the rich have it hard entering the kingdom, because they had first priority in many ways on earth because of their riches and fame.

Coming Crucifixion

Matt. 20:17–19; Luke 18:31–34

³² Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: ³³ “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; ³⁴ and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 10:32–34.

Points to Ponder:

• Jesus then led the disciples toward Jerusalem. The disciples were reluctant, knowing that many were trying to stop or even harm Jesus.
• He pulled them aside for a moment and began to tell them what He would suffer, how He would be betrayed, killed, and then rise again on the third day.
• Jesus knew their fear and just told them what to expect. Jesus will tell you what is coming and then take you through it. Just trust Him.

“Whoever Desires to Become Great”

Matt. 20:20–28

³⁵ Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”³⁶ And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”³⁷ They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”³⁸ But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”³⁹ They said to Him, “We are able.”So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; ⁴⁰ but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.”⁴¹ And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. ⁴² But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. ⁴³ Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. ⁴⁴ And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 10:35–45.

Points to Ponder:

• This story parallels the passage in Matthew 20 where the sons of Zebedee ask to be in positions of prominence in the kingdom.
• Jesus tells them of the cost of such a request, and then tells them those spots are not His to give.
• An argument almost broke out as the other disciples felt that the Zebedees were selfish and arrogant by this claim.
• Jesus reminded everyone that the Gentiles show off their authority, but that the kingdom of God is different. We serve.

Blind Bartimaeus is Healed

Matt. 20:29–34; Luke 18:35–43

⁴⁶ Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. ⁴⁷ And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”⁴⁸ Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”⁴⁹ So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”⁵⁰ And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.⁵¹ So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”⁵² Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 10:46–52.

Points to Ponder:

• On their journey, they came through Jericho. As they left, a great multitude followed Jesus. The crowd was loud and obvious.
• A man named Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, heard that Jesus was passing by and began to cry out to Him. Jesus stopped the caravan and asked for him to come to Him. The people near Bartimaeus told him that the Master had called for him.
• Bartimaeus rose and threw aside His garment. This fact was not included in Matthew. However, it is an interesting piece of the story. Beggars wore a specific garment to identify themselves as licensed, acceptable panhandlers.
• When Bartimaeus tossed aside the garment, he was showing that he did not expect to be a beggar any longer. It was a statement of faith.
• Jesus asked what He wanted Him to do. He said that he wanted to receive his sight. Jesus granted His request and he was healed. He then followed Jesus.

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page.