Mark 10

Teaching About Divorce

1 Jesus left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Crowds came to Him again, and like He always did, He started teaching them.

2 Some Pharisees came up trying to trap Him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

3 He answered, “What did Moses command you?”

4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”

5 Jesus said, “Moses wrote that because your hearts were hard.

6 But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.

7 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,

8 and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one.

9 What God has joined together, no one should separate.”

10 When they were back in the house, the disciples asked Him again about this.

11 He told 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.”

Jesus Blesses the Children

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus so He could touch them, but the disciples were pushing them back.

14 When Jesus saw this, He got upset and said, “Let the children come to Me. Do not stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to people like these.

15 I am telling you the truth, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

16 Then He took the children in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

The Rich Young Ruler

17 As Jesus was going on His way, a man ran up to Him, dropped to his knees, and asked, “Good Teacher, what do I need to do to inherit eternal life?”

18 Jesus said, “Why do you call Me good, No one is good except God alone.

19 You know the commandments: do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not lie, do not cheat, honor your father and mother.”

20 The man said, “Teacher, I have kept all these since I was young.”

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him, then said, “You are missing one thing. Go sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow Me.”

22 But when he heard that, his face fell, and he walked away grieving, because he had a lot of possessions.

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

24 The disciples were shocked at what He said. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is 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 They were even more amazed and said to each other, “Then who can be saved?”

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

28 Peter said, “Look, we left everything and followed You.”

29 Jesus said, “I am telling you the truth, no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or land for My sake and for the gospel

30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this life, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, along with persecution, and in the age to come, eternal life.

31 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time

32 They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were amazed, but those following were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and told them what was about to happen.

33 “We are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death and hand Him over to the Gentiles.

34 They will mock Him, spit on Him, beat Him, and kill Him. And after three days, He will rise.”

The Request of James and John

35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him and said, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”

36 He said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

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

38 Jesus said, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I go through?”

39 They said, “We can.” Jesus said, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I go through,

40 but to sit at My right or left is not Mine to give. Those places belong to the ones they have been prepared for.”

41 When the other ten heard this, they got upset with James and John.

42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know how the rulers of the Gentiles dominate people, and their leaders throw their weight around.

43 But it is not like that with you. Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant,

44 and whoever wants to be first must be a servant of all.

45 Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus

46 They came to Jericho, and as Jesus was leaving with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind man named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting by the road begging.

47 When he heard it was Jesus of Nazareth, he started shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

48 Many told him to be quiet, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying, “Take heart, get up, He is calling you.”

50 He threw off his cloak, jumped up, and came to Jesus.

51 Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

52 Jesus said, “Go, your faith has made you well.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.