Mark 10

Jesus Teaches About Divorce

1Jesus left that place and went into the area of Judea on the other side of the Jordan River. Crowds of people came to him once again, and he taught them as he always did.

2Some Pharisees came to test Jesus. They asked, “Does the Law allow a man to divorce his wife?”

3“What did Moses command you?” he replied.

4They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a letter of divorce and send his wife away.”

5“Moses wrote you that law because you were so hard-hearted,” Jesus responded. 6“But at the beginning of creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ 7‘That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8and the two of them will become one.’ They are no longer two, but one. 9So no one should separate what God has joined together.”

10When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11He answered, “If a man divorces his wife and gets married to another woman, he is committing adultery against her. 12And if a woman divorces her husband and gets married to another man, she is committing adultery.”

Jesus Blesses Little Children

13People were bringing little children to Jesus because they wanted him to place his hands on them and bless them. But the disciples told them not to. 14When Jesus saw this, he was furious. He told his disciples, “Let the little children come to me, and don’t keep them away, because the kingdom of God belongs to people like them. 15Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn’t receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16Then he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them, and blessed them.

Rich People and the Kingdom of God

17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and got down on his knees in front of him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to receive eternal life?”

18“Why do you call me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God. 19You know what the commandments say. ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, don’t be a false witness, don’t cheat, honor your father and mother.’ ”

20“Teacher,” he said eagerly, “I’ve obeyed all those commandments since I was a boy.”

21Jesus looked at him and loved him. “You’re missing one thing,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give the money to the poor, and you’ll have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.”

22When the man heard that, he looked gloomy, and he went away sad, because he was very rich.

23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for rich people to enter the kingdom of God!”

24The disciples were amazed at what he said. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who’s rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

26The disciples were even more amazed, and they said to each other, “Then who can be saved?”

27Jesus looked at them and said, “With people, it’s impossible, but not with God. All things are possible with God.”

28Then Peter spoke up. “We’ve left everything to follow you!” he said.

29“Truly I tell you,” Jesus responded, “anyone who has left home or family or fields for me and the good news 30will receive 100 times as much in this world. They will have other homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields—and they’ll also be systematically oppressed by others. But in the world to come they’ll live forever. 31But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”

Jesus Speaks a Third Time About His Coming Death

32They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way. The disciples were amazed, and the crowd that was following along was afraid. Jesus took his 12 disciples to one side and told them again what was going to happen to him. 33“We’re going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “where the Son of Man is going to be handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will sentence him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles, 34who will humiliate him and spit on him, whip him and kill him. But three days later, he will rise from the dead!”

James and John Ask Jesus for a Favor

35James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we’d like to ask you for a favor.”

36“What do you want me to do for you?” he replied.

37They answered, “In your glorious kingdom, let one of us sit at your right hand and the other at your left hand.”

38“You don’t know what you’re asking for,” Jesus responded. “Can you drink the cup I’m going to drink? Can you go through the baptism I have to go through?”

39“We can,” they answered.

Jesus told them, “You will drink the cup that I drink, and you will go through the baptism that I go through. 40But it’s not for me to say who will sit at my right or left hand. These places belong to the ones they’ve been prepared for.”

41When the other ten disciples heard about this, they got angry with James and John. But 42Jesus called them all together and said, “You know that the leaders of the Gentiles like to use their power over others and that their high officials order people around. 43Don’t be like that. Instead, any of you who wants to be great among you must become your servant, 44and anyone who wants to be first must be a slave to all the others. 45Even the Son of Man didn’t come to be served, but to serve others and to give his life to set many people free.”

Blind Bartimaeus Able to See

46Then Jesus and his disciples went through Jericho. As they were leaving the city, a large crowd was with them. A blind man named Bartimaeus (which means Son of Timaeus) was sitting by the side of the road begging. 47When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, he began to shout, “Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!”

48Many people told him to stop shouting and be quiet. But he shouted even more loudly, “Son of David! Have mercy on me!”

49Jesus stopped and said, “Call for him.”

So they called out to the blind man, “You got what you wanted! Get on your feet! Jesus is calling for you.” 50He threw his coat to one side, jumped to his feet, and came to Jesus.

51“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

The blind man responded, “Rabbi, I want to be able to see.”

52“Go,” Jesus told him, “your faith has healed you.” Right away he could see, and he followed Jesus along the road.

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Mark 10

A Discussion about Divorce

(Matthew 19:1–12)

1Jesus left there and went into the territory of Judea along the other side of the Jordan River. Crowds gathered around him again, and he taught them as he usually did.

2Some Pharisees came to test him. They asked, “Can a husband divorce his wife?”

3Jesus answered them, “What command did Moses give you?”

4They said, “Moses allowed a man to give his wife a written notice to divorce her.”

5Jesus said to them, “He wrote this command for you because you’re heartless. 6But God made them male and female in the beginning, at creation. 7That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and will remain united with his wife, 8and the two will be one. So they are no longer two but one. 9Therefore, don’t let anyone separate what God has joined together.”

10When they were in a house, the disciples asked him about this. 11He answered them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman is committing adultery. 12If a wife divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery.”

Jesus Blesses Children

(Matthew 19:13–15; Luke 18:15–17)

13Some people brought little children to Jesus to have him hold them. But the disciples told the people not to do that.

14When Jesus saw this, he became irritated. He told them, “Don’t stop the children from coming to me. Children like these are part of God’s kingdom. 15I can guarantee this truth: Whoever doesn’t receive God’s kingdom as a little child receives it will never enter it.”

16Jesus put his arms around the children and blessed them by placing his hands on them.

Eternal Life in the Kingdom

(Matthew 19:16–30; Luke 18:18–30)

17As Jesus was coming out to the road, a man came running to him and knelt in front of him. He asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

18Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19You know the commandments: Never murder. Never commit adultery. Never steal. Never give false testimony. Never cheat. Honor your father and mother.”

20The man replied, “Teacher, I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was a boy.”

21Jesus looked at him and loved him. He told him, “You’re still missing one thing. Sell everything you have. Give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me!”

22When the man heard that, he looked unhappy and went away sad, because he owned a lot of property.

23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for rich people to enter God’s kingdom!”

24The disciples were stunned by his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter God’s kingdom! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.”

26This amazed his disciples more than ever. They asked each other, “Who, then, can be saved?”

27Jesus looked at them and said, “It’s impossible for people ⌞to save themselves⌟, but it’s not impossible for God to save them. Everything is possible for God.”

28Then Peter spoke up, “We’ve given up everything to follow you.”

29Jesus said, “I can guarantee this truth: Anyone who gave up his home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields because of me and the Good News 30will certainly receive a hundred times as much here in this life. They will certainly receive homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields, along with persecutions. But in the world to come they will receive eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

For the Third Time Jesus Foretells That He Will Die and Come Back to Life

(Matthew 20:17–19; Luke 18:31–34)

32Jesus and his disciples were on their way to Jerusalem. Jesus was walking ahead of them. His disciples were shocked ⌞that he was going to Jerusalem⌟. The others who followed were afraid. Once again he took the twelve apostles aside. He began to tell them what was going to happen to him. 33“We’re going to Jerusalem. There the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the experts in Moses’ Teachings. They will condemn him to death and hand him over to foreigners. 34They will make fun of him, spit on him, whip him, and kill him. But after three days he will come back to life.”

James and John Make a Request

(Matthew 20:20–28)

35James and John, sons of Zebedee, went to Jesus. They said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do us a favor.”

36“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them.

37They said to him, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

38Jesus said, “You don’t realize what you’re asking. Can you drink the cup that I’m going to drink? Can you be baptized with the baptism that I’m going to receive?”

39“We can,” they told him.

Jesus told them, “You will drink the cup that I’m going to drink. You will be baptized with the baptism that I’m going to receive. 40But I don’t have the authority to grant you a seat at my right or left. Those positions have already been prepared for certain people.”

41When the other ten apostles heard about it, they were irritated with James and John. 42Jesus called the apostles and said, “You know that the acknowledged rulers of nations have absolute power over people and their officials have absolute authority over people. 43But that’s not the way it’s going to be among you. Whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant. 44Whoever wants to be most important among you will be a slave for everyone. 45It’s the same way with the Son of Man. He didn’t come so that others could serve him. He came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people.”

Jesus Gives Sight to Bartimaeus

(Matthew 20:29–34; Luke 18:35–43)

46Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus, his disciples, and many people were leaving Jericho, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. 47When he heard that Jesus from Nazareth ⌞was passing by⌟, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

48The people told him to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him!” They called the blind man and told him, “Cheer up! Get up! He’s calling you.” 50The blind man threw off his coat, jumped up, and went to Jesus.

51Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

The blind man said, “Teacher, I want to see again.”

52Jesus told him, “Go, your faith has made you well.”

At once he could see again, and he followed Jesus on the road.

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