The Gospel According to Saint Mark
Mark 10
Chapter X · Vol. IV, pp. 128–130
2 Christ disputeth with the Pharisees touching divorcement : 13 blesseth the children that are brought unto him : 17 instructeth a rich man how he may inherit life everlasting : 23 telleth his disciples of the danger of riches : 28 promiseth rewards to them that forsake any thing for the gospel : 32 foretelleth his own death and resurrection : 35 biddeth the two ambitious suitors to think rather of suffering with him : 46 and restoreth to Bartimæus his sight.
1 And hea arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judea, by the farther side of Jordan:1 and the bpeople resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.
A.D. cir. 33.
a Mat.19.1-9. Lu.4.16. Jn.3.22; 10.40.
1 Literally, 'and having arisen from thence, he cometh to the borders of Judea and beyond Jordan.' See note on Mat. 19. 1. The full narrative of our Lord's teachings and miracles during this journey is given in Lu. xiii. 10.-xviii. 14.—P.
b Mat.4.23-25; 8.1,18; 9.35; 12.15; 13.1; 14.35; 15.30; 17.14. ch.6.33; 8.1.
2 Andc the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.2
c ch.2.16,18,24; 3.6; 7.1,2; 8.11; 12.13. Lu.11.53,54.
2 Trying him upon a much disputed point. See note on Mat. 19. 3.—C.
4 And they said, eMoses suffered3 to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.
A.M. cir. 4037. A.D. cir. 33.
e De.24.1. Je.3.1. Mat.5.31; 19.7.
3 Moses suffered. The word in Mat. 19. 7. is commanded. How then can the difference of statement be reconciled with historical accuracy or verbal inspiration? In the simplest manner possible:—that during a lengthened conference, both phrases were used—while each evangelist chose as he was guided by the Holy Ghost.—C.
6 But hfrom the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
h Ge.1.27; 5.2; 2.24. Mal.2.14-16, with Je.6.16.
7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.
11 And he saith unto them, kWhosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.
k Mat.5.32; 19.9. Lu.16.18. Ro.7.1-3. Mal.2.14-16. 1 Co.7.10-13.
12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
13 Andl they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples nrebuked those that brought them.Cited in WCF 28.4
14 But when Jesus saw it, he owas much displeased, and said unto them, pSuffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.4Cited in WCF 28.4
o ch.3.5; 8.33; 9.39. Lu.9.54-56. Ep.4.26.
p Mat.18.3,10; 19.14. Lu.18.16. Ge.17.7. De.29.11. 1 Co.14.20. Re.14.5. Pr.8.17; 23.26. Ec.12.1. Ps.34.11; 45.10.
4 Alford remarks on this passage:—'We can hardly read our Lord's solemn saying, without seeing that it reaches farther than the mere then present occasion. It might one day become a question whether the new Christian covenant of repentance and faith could take in the unconscious infant, as the old covenant did:—whether when Jesus was no longer on earth, little children might be brought to him, dedicated to his service, and made partakers of his blessing. . . . Our Lord furnishes the church, by anticipation, with an answer to it for all ages. Not only may the little infants be brought to him; but in order for us who are mature to come to him, we must cast away all that wherein our maturity has caused us to differ from them, and become like them. Not only is infant baptism justified, but it is (abstractly considered;—not as to preparation for it, which from the nature of the case is precluded) the normal pattern of all baptism; none can enter God's kingdom except as an infant.'—P.
15 Verily I say unto you, qWhosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.Cited in WCF 28.4
q Mat.18.3; 20.26. 1 Pe.2.1,2. Jn.3.3,5,6. Ro.12.2. Ep.4.24. Col.3.10. 2 Co.5.17. Ga.6.15.
17 Ands when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, tGood Master, uwhat shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, vWhy callest thou me good? There is none good, but one, that is, God.5
v 1 Sa.2.2. Ps.86.5; 119.68. Ja.1.17.
5 See note * below.
* There is involved in this answer of Christ an evidence of his divinity. The person who addressed him called him 'good,' & yet believed him to be but a man. In that application our Lord repudiates the title. None but God can be 'good.' The man had judged from the words he heard and the acts he saw that Christ was 'good.' He had judged rightly; and now our Lord shows him that the necessary inference was that Christ, whose words and acts proved him to be 'good,' must be God.—P.
19 Thouw 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.
x Ga.4.21. Ex.20.12-17. De.5.16-21. Ro.13.9. Ja.2.11. Le.xix. Ga.5.14.
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master,yall these have I observed from my youth.
y Phi.3.6. Tit.1.16. 2 Ti.3.5. Is.58.2. Eze.33.31,32. Mal.3.8. Ro.7.9. Lu.18.11,12.
21 Thenz 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, atake up the cross, and follow me.
z ch.8.34. Lu.12.33; 16.9. Ja.2.10. 1 Ti.6.18,19. Ac.2.44; 4.32,34. Mat.6.19,20.
23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, cHow hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
c Mat.19.23-26. Lu.18.24-27. Mat.13.22. Lu.21.34. Job 31.24. Ps.62.10. 1 Co.1.26. Ja.4.4; 5.1-3; 2.5. 1 Ti.6.9,10.
24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them dthat 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.
27 And Jesus, looking upon them, saith,g With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
28 Thenh Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
h Mat.19.27-30. Lu.18.28-30. ch.1.20. Phi.3.7-9. De.33.9-11.
29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, iThere 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,
i Lu.22.28,29. 2 Co.6.8.
30 But he shall receive jan hundredfold now in this time,6 houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, kwith persecutions; and in the world to come eternal 7life.
j Ps.19.11. Is.61.10. 2 Ch.25.9.
6 On recollecting that to our Lord, and, therefore, to his disciples, 'whosoever shall do the will of the Father, was brother, and sister, and mother' (Mat. 12. 49, 50), and on recollecting the unbounded charity and hospitality of the primitive church, there will be no difficulty in receiving this prophecy, even in the most literal sense.—With persecutions. Rather, 'After or amidst persecutions.'—C.
k Mat.16.24. Jn.16.33. Ac.14.22. 2 Ti.3.12. Col.1.24. He.12.6.
7 These precious words recorded by Mark—'now in this time,' show that the rewards of the Christian are not wholly future. He gets much in this world—he gets all that his heavenly Father sees to be for his good. The restricting phrase, 'with persecutions,' limits the promise, and gives it a new meaning. The words are not to be taken literally, but in a higher sense. The loss of kindred is to be supplied by those who are bound to us by closer and holier ties than those of earth—ties which become stronger in times of sorest trial and persecution.—P.
32 Andn they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed;8 and as they followed, they were afraid. pAnd he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him,
n Mat.20.17-19. Lu.18.31-34. Ps.40.8. Is.53.7.
8 They were amazed. They were smitten with indefinable awe at the majesty that began more and more to appear in his miracles, person, and discourses; as well as with a prophetic presentiment and fear of those impending trials and calamities which he had so frequently and so lately foretold.—C.
o Jn.11.8,56. ch.9.31.
33 Saying, qBehold, 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.
35 Andr James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.9
r Mat.20.20-28; 4.21. ch.1.19; 5.37; 9.2.
9 They asked by, or along with, their mother.
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,1 in thy glory.
38 But Jesus said unto them, sYe know not what ye ask: can ye drink of tthe cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
39 And they said unto him, uWe can. And Jesus said unto them, vYe shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of: and with the baptism that I am baptized withal, shall ye be baptized:
40 Butx 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.
A.M. cir. 4037. A.D. cir. 33.
x Is.52.13; 49.3. Jn.17.2,6,24. Mat.25.34. He.11.16. Ro.8.30,33. 1 Pe.1.3,4.
42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, zYe know that they which are accounted2 to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
43 Buta so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
a ch.9.35. Mat.20.26-28; 18.3,4; 23.8-13. Lu.9.48; 22.26,27; 14.11; 18.14. Jn.13.12-17. 1 Co.9.19-23. Ja.4.6,10. 1 Pe.5.5,6.
44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
45 Forb even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.3
b Mat.11.29; 28.20; 26.28. Jn.13.14. Phi.2.5-8. He.5.8. 1 Ti.2.4-6. Tit.2.14. Ga.3.13. 2 Co.5.21. Da.9.24,26. See Mat.20.28. Is.53.10-12. 1 Pe.1.19.
3 A clear and decisive proof that our Lord did not consider his life a mere example, or his death a mere martyrdom in confirmation of his doctrine; but his death, a true sacrifice for sin; and his rising, the inbringing of 'an everlasting righteousness.'—C.
46 Andc they came to Jericho: and as he went out4 of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimæus, the son of Timæus, sat by the highway-side begging.
c Mat.20.29-34. Lu.18.35-43, with Is.59.10.
4 The solution of the apparent contradictions in this narrative is reserved for note on Lu. 18. 35.—C.
47 And when he heard that it was dJesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou eSon of David, have mercy on me.
48 And gmany 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 Andh Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, iBe of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
50 Andj he, casting away his garment,5 rose, and came to Jesus.
j Ec.9.10. Phi.3.7-9. Ca.1.4. Ps.84.2; 42.1,2.
5 A mark of great anxiety to rid himself of every impediment; and evidently the observation of an eye-witness. The action may also be well considered as emblematic of a sinner coming to, and a believer going after Christ; both 'laying aside every weight, and the sin that doth most easily entangle them.'—C.
51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Whatk wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord,6 that I might receive my sight.
52 And Jesus said unto him, lGo thy way; thy faith hath 7made thee whole.8 Andn immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
l Mat.8.13; 15.28; 9.22. Lu.7.50. ch.5.34.
7 Or, saved thee.
8 The earnestness of this poor blind man surmounted all difficulties. 'Happy he who lets himself be restrained from faith and the cry of faith by nothing under the sun. Things are continually occurring which might have a tendency to turn us in part or wholly away from Christ. What then? So much the more does the blind cry out, and faith believe; and the more it is hindered, the more it is helped.'—P.
n Ge.1.3. Ps.33.9. Is.35.5; 42.18. Mat.11.5; 9.29; 12.22. ch.8.25.
Notes
Ver. 21. Loved him. The special love of Christ to this inquirer has been matter of difficulty to expositors. Hence they have sought solutions in new translations—such as, 'He accosted him kindly;' 'He felt kindly disposed towards him;' 'He kissed him.' All these have been sought for on the principle that the inquirer remaining an absolute lover of the world, any special love towards him was impossible. These difficulties, however, seem made rather than found. (1) Would not Christ have loved an enemy and taught his disciples the same? Not, indeed, with love of approbation or complacency—for that were unnatural, impossible, and sinful—but with love of compassion, benevolence, and forgiveness. Why then might he not feel some special movement of the love of pity and benevolence towards this visitant? (2) Is it certain because this man 'went away grieved' that he therefore never returned? It is by no means certain, and his return is the higher probability. See ver. 27. C.
Reflections.—What an example of unwearied patience and labour, of wisdom and prudence, of humility and condescension, of tenderness and compassion, has Jesus set before us in himself! and under what an excellent dispensation of purity, light, and grace, do we now live in the gospel period! Its various truths are set forth in the most evident light, and all its precepts recommended by the strongest arguments. The laws of marriage are plainly settled, for preventing confusion, and for promoting conjugal faithfulness and affection. And the privileges of believers' children are clearly established. and themselves made emblems of the true heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. But self-confidence, proud ambition, and a worldly spirit are great hindrances to real religion and happiness. And God's grace rarely recovers men from their influence, or teaches them that the only use of riches is to do good with them. Alas! how many have several amiable qualities, and yet, for want of indwelling grace, land at last in eternal sorrow! but rich are the rewards of self-denial and multiplied losses for Christ's sake. And yet it is only believing views of his sufferings that will make us to delight in them. It is shameful for the disciples of a crucified Redeemer repeatedly to contend about the imaginary trifles of worldly grandeur. And great is his compassion in bearing with the infirmities, ignorance, and frowardness of his people. Yea, he is ready to heal such as apply to him for relief in the firm faith of his infinite ability and willingness to save. No meanness, no distemper, can stop the egress of his great love. And if he welcome, no matter how many thousands wickedly discourage me. And if he succour, supply, save, and enlighten my soul or body, cheerfully should I follow him in my way to eternal rest.