Mark 10
New Living Translation
Discussion about Divorce and Marriage
10 Then Jesus left Capernaum and went down to the region of Judea and into the area east of the Jordan River. Once again crowds gathered around him, and as usual he was teaching them.
2 Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife?”
3 Jesus answered them with a question: “What did Moses say in the law about divorce?”
4 “Well, he permitted it,” they replied. “He said a man can give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away.”[a]
5 But Jesus responded, “He wrote this commandment only as a concession to your hard hearts. 6 But ‘God made them male and female’[b] from the beginning of creation. 7 ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife,[c] 8 and the two are united into one.’[d] Since they are no longer two but one, 9 let no one split apart what God has joined together.”
10 Later, when he was alone with his disciples in the house, they brought up the subject again. 11 He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her. 12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries someone else, she commits adultery.”
Jesus Blesses the Children
13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.
14 When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” 16 Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.
The Rich Man
17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’[e]”
20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” 24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard[f] to enter the Kingdom of God. 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”
28 Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.
29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. 31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.[g]”
Jesus Again Predicts His Death
32 They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe, and the people following behind were overwhelmed with fear. Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus once more began to describe everything that was about to happen to him. 33 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man[h] will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans.[i] 34 They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again.”
Jesus Teaches about Serving Others
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do us a favor.”
36 “What is your request?” he asked.
37 They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”
38 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?”
39 “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”
Then Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup and be baptized with my baptism of suffering. 40 But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. God has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”
41 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 42 So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus
46 Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. 47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.
But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”
So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” 50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.
“My Rabbi,[j]” the blind man said, “I want to see!”
52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.[k]
Footnotes
- 10:4 See Deut 24:1.
- 10:6 Gen 1:27; 5:2.
- 10:7 Some manuscripts do not include and is joined to his wife.
- 10:7-8 Gen 2:24.
- 10:19 Exod 20:12-16; Deut 5:16-20.
- 10:24 Some manuscripts read very hard for those who trust in riches.
- 10:31 Greek But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.
- 10:33a “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.
- 10:33b Greek the Gentiles.
- 10:51 Greek uses the Hebrew term Rabboni.
- 10:52 Or on the way.
Mark 10
Christian Standard Bible
The Question of Divorce
10 He(A) set out from there and went to the region of Judea(B) and across the Jordan.(C) Then crowds converged on him again, and as was his custom he taught(D) them again.
2 Some Pharisees(E) came to test(F) him, asking, “Is it lawful(G) for a man to divorce(H) his wife?” (I)
3 He replied to them, “What did Moses(J) command you?”
4 They said, “Moses permitted us to write divorce papers(K) and send her away.”(L)
5 But Jesus told them, “He wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts. (M) 6 But from the beginning(N) of creation(O) God[a] made them male and female.[b](P) 7 For this reason a man will leave (Q) his father and mother [c] 8 and the two will become one flesh.[d](R) So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”(S)
10 When they were in the house again, the disciples questioned him about this matter. 11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife(T) and marries(U) another commits adultery(V) against her. 12 Also, if she divorces her husband(W) and marries another, she commits adultery.”
Blessing the Children
13 People(X) were bringing little children(Y) to him in order that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked(Z) them. 14 When Jesus saw it, he was indignant(AA) and said to them, “Let the little children come to me.(AB) Don’t stop(AC) them, because the kingdom of God(AD) belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you,(AE) whoever does not receive[e](AF) the kingdom of God like a little child(AG) will never enter it.” 16 After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on(AH) them and blessed(AI) them.
The Rich Young Ruler
17 As(AJ) he was setting out on a journey,(AK) a man ran up, knelt down(AL) before him, and asked him, “Good(AM) teacher,(AN) what must I do to inherit(AO) eternal life?” (AP)
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone.(AQ) 19 You know the commandments: Do not murder;(AR) do not commit adultery;(AS) do not steal;(AT) do not bear false witness;(AU) do not defraud;(AV) honor(AW) your father and mother.”[f](AX)
20 He said to him, “Teacher,(AY) I have kept all these from my youth.”
21 Looking at him, Jesus loved him(AZ) and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor,(BA) and you will have treasure(BB) in heaven.(BC) Then come,[g] follow me.”(BD) 22 But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving,(BE) because he had many possessions.(BF)
Possessions and the Kingdom
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth(BG) to enter the kingdom of God!”(BH)
24 The disciples were astonished at his words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children,(BI) how hard it is[h] 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(BJ) person to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 They were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?” (BK)
27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man it is impossible,(BL) but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”
28 Peter(BM) began to tell him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.”
29 “Truly I tell you,”(BN) Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father[i] or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel,(BO) 30 who will not receive a hundred times(BP) more, now at this time(BQ) —houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions(BR) —and eternal life(BS) in the age to come.(BT) 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”(BU)
The Third Prediction of His Death
32 They(BV) were on the road, going up to Jerusalem,(BW) and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were astonished, but those who followed him were afraid.(BX) Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them the things that would happen to him.(BY) 33 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man(BZ) will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes,(CA) and they will condemn him to death. Then they will hand him over to the Gentiles,(CB) 34 and they will mock him, spit on him, flog[j] him, and kill him, and he will rise(CC) after three days.”(CD)
Suffering and Service
35 James(CE) and John,(CF) the sons of Zebedee,(CG) approached him and said, “Teacher,(CH) we want you to do whatever we ask you.”
36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them.
37 They answered him, “Allow us to sit at your right and at your left in your glory.”(CI)
38 Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you’re asking.(CJ) Are you able to drink the cup(CK) I drink or to be baptized with the baptism(CL) I am baptized with?”(CM)
39 “We are able,” they told him.
Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.(CN) 40 But to sit at my right or left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
41 When the ten disciples heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John.(CO) 42 Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over(CP) them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you.(CQ) On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant,(CR) 44 and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all.(CS) 45 For even the Son of Man(CT) did not come to be served, but to serve,(CU) and to give his life(CV) as a ransom(CW) for many.”[k](CX)
A Blind Man Healed
46 They(CY) came to Jericho.(CZ) And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind(DA) beggar,(DB) was sitting by the road.(DC) 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth,(DD) he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David,(DE) have mercy(DF) on me!” (DG) 48 Many warned him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, “Have mercy on me,(DH) Son of David!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage!(DI) Get up; he’s calling for you.” 50 He threw off his coat,(DJ) jumped up, and came to Jesus.
51 Then Jesus answered him, “What do you want(DK) me to do for you?”
“Rabboni,”[l](DL) the blind man said to him, “I want to see.”
52 Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has saved you.”(DM) Immediately he could see and began to follow Jesus on the road.
Footnotes
- 10:6 Other mss omit God
- 10:6 Gn 1:27; 5:2
- 10:7 Some mss add and be joined to his wife
- 10:7–8 Gn 2:24
- 10:15 Or not welcome
- 10:19 Ex 20:12–16; Dt 5:16–20
- 10:21 Other mss add taking up the cross, and
- 10:24 Other mss add for those trusting in wealth
- 10:29 Other mss add or wife
- 10:34 Or scourge
- 10:45 Or in the place of many; Is 53:10–12
- 10:51 Hb word for my lord
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.