MARK 10

Our titles for today’s study are; Verses 1-12 Jesus on divorce. Verses 13-16 Jesus blesses the children. Verses 17-31 The rich young ruler. Verses 32-34 Jesus again speaks of his death. Verses 35-45 The request of James and John. Verses 46-52 Blind Bartimeus receives sight. Mark 10 and verse 1 reads.

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.

Comes to Judaea from the other side of the river Jordan, the land that was given to Rueben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh. And they gathered again to Jesus and he taught.

Mark 10:2] And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.

Always tempting Jesus, let’s go to Deuteronomy 6 and verse 16 reads.

Deu.6:16] Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.

This is a commandment from God, don’t tempt the LORD your God. Back to Mark 10 and verse 3 reads.

Mark 10:3] 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.

First, they knew the law of Moses allowed it. We find this in Deuteronomy 24 and verse 1 reads.

Deu.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.
[2] And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.

So many churches convict people based on the lie that divorce is the unpardonable sin. In that, they themselves are guilty of sin, for they have judged a child of God wrongly. Back to Mark 10 and verse 5 reads.

Mark 10:5] And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

Jesus shows us here that it is legal for divorce, but will teach all married couples a very special lesson.

Mark 10:6] But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

No other letters of the alphabet needed. Quoting Genesis 1 and verse 27 reads.

Gen.1:27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

And also, Adam and Eve on the eighth day. let’s go to Gen.5 and verse 2 reads.

Gen.5:2] Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

The first creation was all races on the sixth day, the second creation on the eighth day was The Man Adam (Eth-ha-Adam) that Christ would come through. From umbilical cord to umbilical cord, from Eve to mother Mary. Back to Mark 10 and verse 7 reads.

Mark 10:7] 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.

It is a spiritual consummation between the two, becoming one flesh with child. Notice it is God who joins them together. Therefore, it is Spiritual.

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.

Is not Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior? Does he not forgive sins on repentance? If not, I teach in vain. This reminds me of a friend. She was married fifteen years to this dirtbag. Having seven children, he cheated on her numerous times before she found out and divorced him. The church told her that she committed adultery because she divorced him. I simply reminded her, and I will remind you now, that God is a divorcee himself. Let’s go to Jeremiah 3 and verse 8 reads.

Jer.3:8] And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

Jesus taught that it is a sin to divorce because it was God who spiritually joined them. But on repentance all sin can be forgiven. Now with all this teaching on divorce, I want to remind you that we await the marriage to the Lamb. Back to Mark 10 and verse 13 reads.

Mark 10:13] And they brought young children to him, that he should 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.

A child will always look up to his father and mother with total trust in everything they say. God is our Father, and all of us are his children.

Mark 10:15] 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 compassion of Jesus with the children is the same compassion of the Father for us, we are Blessed.

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.

Did this man know scripture? Isaiah 7:14, Emmanuel, God with us.

Mark 10:19] 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.

Jesus listed from the fifth commandment through the ninth commandment. He left off the tenth, not to covet. This man has ill-gotten gains.

Mark 10:20] 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.

This man could have received the greatest blessing of all. Forgiveness directly from the Savior, asked to repent, sell all he had because he wouldn’t need it anymore. And come, follow Jesus.

Mark 10:22] 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!

I’m sure this saddened Jesus as well. I want you to know that God blesses those who love him, sometimes with great wealth while here on earth. It is the filthy lucre or ill-gotten gains of others that hurt the soul.

Mark 10:24] 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!

There is wisdom spoken in Job about this. Job 31 and verse 23 reads.

Job 31:23] For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
[24] If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;
[25] If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;
[26] If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
[27] And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:
[28] This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.

If you think all that is good in your life came by you, then you have denied the LORD that giveth abundantly to his children. Back to Mark 10 and verse 25 reads.

Mark 10:25] 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.

This is a very interesting statement made by Jesus here, let’s look closely at it. In a walled city they would have a main gate for traffic during the day that a sentry could guard. But, by night, they had a needle gate that only a few would be needed to guard. The man that came by night would have to unload the camel, let the camel through first, then load the camel again on the other side. The parable is this, it is easier for that camel to go through the needle gate than for a man with ill-gotten gains to unload his burdens and repent.

Mark 10:26] 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.

Let’s go to Psalms 52 and verse 7 reads.

Psa.52:7] Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.
[8] But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

We trust in God because he loves us and has given to us all his mercy on repentance. Jesus gave us an example of how we can get into heaven. We can lay our burden at the altar of the LORD, and repent and be forgiven of our sins. Back to Mark 10 and verse 28 reads.

Mark 10:28] 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.

The rewards for those who follow Jesus in the flesh are great here on earth. We can all testify of our blessings. Let’s go to Romans 8 and verse 34 reads.

Rom.8:34] Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
[35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
[36] As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

And in 2Timothy 3 and verse 12 reads.

2Tim.3:12] Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Back to Mark 10 and verse 31 reads.

Mark 10:31] But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

This last first and first last is for God’s Elect. Let’s see what the reward for God’s Elect are in Ezekiel 44 and verse 28 reads.

Eze.44:28] And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I am their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession.

The inheritance for God’s Elect is the LORD himself. No land is needed for us, for God himself is our inheritance and he owns everything. Back to Mark 10 and verse 32 reads.

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.

Did not Jesus tell them that he would be crucified by the chief priest and scribes before. In both the last two chapters here in Mark, 8:31 and 9:31 he told them that he would be killed and rise again on the third day, this is the third time. All foretold in Psalms 22 by king David the prophet.

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.

They say this out of love. But this is very bold of them. Let’s make this clear, Moses and Elijah are the ones that sit on the right hand and on the left hand. Let’s go to Zechariah 4 and verse 3 reads.

Zec.4:3] And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.

Let’s skip down to verse 11 and it reads.

Zec.4:11] Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
[12] And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
[13] And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
[14] Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.

Now let’s go to Revelation 11 and verse 3 reads.

Rev.11:3] And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
[4] These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

We see here in Mark 9 as well as in Matthew 17 these two olive trees are Moses and Elijah, those who were on the mount of transfiguration. They only stand by the LORD, the one on the right hand and the other on the left hand. John and his brother James sound prideful, but they are both cousins of Jesus as Mary and Salome were sisters. Back to Mark 10 and verse 38 reads.

Mark 10:38] 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:

In Acts 12:2 we learn that James would be killed by Herod. And John we know, only by historical documents, that he was killed by being boiled in a vat of boiling oil. After being resurrected and brought to life in front of Caesar, he was sentenced to serve on Patmos and wrote the book of Revelation. After he was released, he is the only one of the twelve to live out his life in peace in modern day Turkey. So, yes, they would drink of the cup and be baptized with the baptism that Christ was baptized with.

Mark 10:40] 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.

And it is prepared for Moses and Elijah. For Jesus came not to destroy the law and the prophets, but to fulfill the law and the prophets. Matthew 5 and verse 17 reads.

Mat.5:17] Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
[18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Back to Mark 10 and verse 41 reads.

Mark 10:41] 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.

Jesus intervenes, and warns them to not be puffed up (Pride) with the authority he has given to them, keeping the house of the LORD from being divided.

Mark 10:43] But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:

We just heard Jesus tell them in the last chapter, and Mark 9 and verse 35 reads.

Mark 9:35] And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

Back to Mark 10 and verse 44 reads.

Mark 10:44] 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.

The plan from God since the beginning, that Emmanuel (God with us) would come and be crucified for all our sins. That whomsoever believes on the Son of God and repents shall be forgiven and have eternal life.

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.

He knew the prophecy of old, that through the stem of Jesse would come the Christ. Isaiah 11 and verse 1 reads.

Isa.11:1] And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
[2] And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
[3] And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
[4] But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Back to Mark 10 and verse 48 reads.

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.
[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.

Remember the man that had much, he couldn’t sell all to follow Jesus when Jesus asked him to. But this man was healed and told to go thy way, and forsook all and followed Jesus. This is great faith. Let’s go to his throne.

Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.

KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible