Gospel of Mark – Teachings and Insights

Welcome Prayer Song

CHAPTER 10
April 4th 2021
Gospel of Mark

And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort to him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again. 2And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? tempting him. 3And he answered and said to them, What did Moses command you? 4And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement which would allow him to divorce her. 5And Yeshua answered and said to them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this law. 6But from the beginning of the creation YHWH made them male and female. 7For this cause will a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8And the two will be one flesh: so then they are no more two, but one flesh. 9What therefore YHWH hath joined together, let not man tear apart. 10And in the house his disciples asked him about this matter. 11And he said to them, Whoever will divorce his wife, and marry another, commits adultery against her. 12And if a woman will divorce her husband, and be married to another, she commits adultery.

Teachings on Children

13And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and the disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14But when Yeshua saw this he was indignant, and said to them, Suffer the little children to come to me, and don’t stop them: for of such is the kingdom of YHWH. 15Assuredly I say to you, Whosoever will not receive the kingdom of YHWH as a little child, he will not enter therein. 16And he took them up in his arms, put hands on them, and blessed them.

The Rich Man's Dilemma

17And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what will I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18And Yeshua said to him, Why do you call me good? None is good but one, YHWH. 19You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor your father and mother. 20And he answered and said to him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21Then Yeshua beholding him loved him, and said to him, One thing thou lackest: go your 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. 22And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. 23And Yeshua looked round about, and said to his disciples, How hardly will they that have riches enter into the kingdom of YHWH! 24And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Yeshua answereth again, and said to them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of YHWH! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of YHWH. 26And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27And Yeshua looking upon them said, With men salvation is impossible, but not with YHWH: for with YHWH all things are possible.

28Then Peter began to say to him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed you. 29And Yeshua answered and said, Assuredly I say to 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, 30But he will 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. 31But many first will be last; and the last first.

32And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Yeshua 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 to him, 33Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests, and to the scribes; and they will condemn him to deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God., and will deliver him to the Gentiles: 34And they will mock him, and will scourge him, and will spit upon him, and will kill him: and the third day he will rise.

Understanding Requests and Leadership

35And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we will desire. 36And he said to them, What would you that I should do for you? 37They said to him, Grant to us that we may sit, one on your right hand, and the other on your left hand, in your glory. 38But Yeshua said to them, You know not what you ask: can you drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? 39And they said to him, We can. And Yeshua said to them, You will indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal will you be baptized: 40But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but for whom it is prepared by my Father.

41And when the ten heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John. 42But Yeshua called and said to them, You know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43But so will it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, will be your minister: 44And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, will be servant of all. 45For even the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

A Lesson from Yeshua

46And 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. 47And when he heard that it was Yeshua of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Yeshua, Son of David, have mercy on me. 48And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Son of David, have mercy on me. 49And Yeshua stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying to him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth you. 50And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Yeshua. 51And Yeshua answered and said to him, What wilt thou that I should do to you? The blind man said to him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52And Yeshua said to him, Go your way; your faith hath made you whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Yeshua in the way.

The Teachings on Marriage and Divorce

Okay, back to verse 1 where we read:

And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort to him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again. 2And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? tempting him.

Their purpose here was to catch or trip Jesus up – not to learn or hear the truth. Mark admits this. From verse 1-12 we enter into some teachings that really need some context and attention to understand them fairly and in the right light in my estimation. So lets read through the text and then we will come back and discuss them.

3And he answered and said to them, What did Moses command you?

NOTE MOSES COMMAND YOU and the context of those words.

4And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement which would allow him to divorce her. 5And Yeshua answered and said to them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this law. 6But from the beginning of the creation YHWH made them male and female. 7For this cause will a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8And the two will be one flesh: so then they are no more two, but one flesh. 9What therefore YHWH hath joined together, let not man tear apart.

This opens us up to the biblical understanding of marriage and divorce, which is highly debated.

• The context is Jesus to the Jews in the face of the law of Moses. We do not have such.
• But as believers we DO have what God intended in the beginning, don’t we? And what was that?

6But from the beginning of the creation YHWH made them male and female. 7For this cause will a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8And the two will be…

The Union of Marriage

One flesh: so then they are no more two, but one flesh. 9What therefore YHWH hath joined together, let not man tear apart.

From this we can look at the first couple and understand how God sees them – as one – male and female, the two becoming one flesh so “THEY ARE NO MORE TWO BUT ONE.” No matter what Adam and Eve did or where they lived, they were one. They could not become un – one. We note that this is how Jesus defines marriage. And therefore what God has put together (meaning, in the figure of Adam and Eve and two flesh becoming One) let not a man tear that apart.

This is the stance on marriage and it is NOT appreciated by the masses. Ready? It is when the two become one flesh (which is through sexual union) that is marriage. God ordained this, created male and female to unite in this manner, and when they do, no one should or can tear them apart. (meaning, God is not pleased with divorce). Literally, God does not mind the uniting a male and female becoming one. What he seems to care about is if or when they seek to break apart.

From this basis we now read:

10And in the house his disciples asked him about this matter. 11And he said to them, Whoever will divorce his wife, and marry another, commits adultery against her. 12And if a woman will divorce her husband, and be married to another, she commits adultery.

Teachings on Adultery

PO Yeshua spoke eternal truths from His Father. What He said here must be considered as a reality. Stripped of all circumstances and situations this would be the view of God when two who have become one physically leave each other and become one with another or others. However, Yeshua also said that “if a man looks upon a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (see Matthew 5:28). The point being most humans are guilty of adultery in one form or another. With this being the case, the need for salvation by grace through faith on Him becomes all the more apparent.

13And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and the disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14But when Yeshua saw this he was indignant, and said to them, Suffer the little children to come to me, and don’t stop them: for of such is the kingdom of YHWH. 15Assuredly I say to you, Whosoever will not receive the kingdom of YHWH as a little child, he will not enter therein. 16And he took them up in his arms, put hands on them, and blessed them.

Laying hands on people as a means to bless them goes all the way back to Genesis (see, Genesis 48:14). What Yeshua means by this is described in the next verse. The paradoxical nature of scripture is evident in the command to be like little children in some accounts and to not be like little children in others. (see; Psalm 131:2; Matthew 11:25; 18:3; 19:14; Romans 16:19; 1st Corinthians 2:6; 3:1; Ephesians 4:14; Hebrews 5:12-13; 1st Peter 2:2)

The Rich Young Ruler

17And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what will I do that I may inherit eternal life? Anciently, a man running in public was seen as an embarrassment (see Luke 15:20) but to those unashamed of their zeal even humiliation could not inhibit them. (see, Commentary on Mark 10:17-22: The Rich Young Ruler).

18And Yeshua said to him, Why do you call me good? None is good but one, YHWH. There are a few ways to understand these words of YHWH to the rich young ruler. First, we could suggest that this was a means he used to get the young man to see that Yeshua was God. He would do this by asking him, “Why are you calling ME good. There is none good but God – so .. . if you insist on saying that I am good, can you also admit that I am God?” Another way to understand this response is to suggest that Yeshua was saying, “My flesh, my person, born of a woman, born under the law, tempted in all things, cannot be considered good – not just yet. Therefore, call God good, but not the Son of Man.” CLA: (see, Yeshua; the Trinity)

19You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill,

Laws and Teachings of Yeshua

Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor your father and mother.

PO Yeshua summarizes the Law found in Exodus 20:1-26. His use of “defraud not” is missing from the text of the Tanahk. To cheat or defraud supposes a covetous desire of a neighbor's property and is usually attended with a false witness against a neighbor as a means to cheat them. Therefore to defraud would be a violation of the ninth and tenth commandments. Additionally, defrauding a neighbor is expressly prohibited in Leviticus 19:13. CLA: (see, the Law)

20 And he answered and said to him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Yeshua beholding him loved him, and said to him, One thing thou lackest: go your 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.

• Jesus loved him.
• One thing you lack
• Sell whatever you have (Taproot)
• Not literal directive for all.
• Take up your cross follow me to DEATH

22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. 23 And Yeshua looked round about, and said to his disciples, How hardly will they that have riches enter into the kingdom of YHWH! 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Yeshua answereth again, and said to them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of YHWH! 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 YHWH.

The Challenge of Wealth

In verse 23 Yeshua says, “How hardly will they that have riches enter into the kingdom of YHWH!” and in verse 25 He says, “how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of YHWH!” Taking them together, it means, how hard is for those who have and trust in riches to enter the Kingdom of YHWH. The potentiality for riches to interfere with a Godly life is proverbial, but riches are in and of themselves not prohibited in the lives of people – they simply have the potentiality to take priority and power over some who misunderstand their purpose and place in life. CLA: (see, Biblical Warnings About Riches) MI (see, Mark 10:24)

26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?

PO Thus far in this chapter the Apostles have been told that those who divorce and marry others are adulterers, that they must be like little children to enter the Kingdom of YHWH, and that it is easier for a camel to get through the temple wall than for a rich man to enter the kingdom (for a camel to get through what was called the eye of a needle anciently, it had to kneel down, have all of its belongings removed from its back, and to be “pulled/led” through the narrow opening). Exasperated, the twelve appear to have talked among themselves wondering aloud, in the face of all of this, “who can be saved?” Jesus answers this in the next verse.

27 And Yeshua looking upon them said, With men salvation is impossible, but not with YHWH: for with YHWH all things are possible.

Salvation and Sacrifice

PO One of the core principles of Christianity is the fact that human beings cannot save themselves from the wages of their sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. and failures. Nothing on earth can redeem a soul corrupted. Here Yeshua makes it plain that with God, who was in Him, that all things are possible. The point being was to get all people to look to Him in faith and in and through Him (YHWH’s only human son) people will be saved.

28 Then Peter began to say to him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed you. 29 And Yeshua answered and said, Assuredly I say to 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 will 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.

PO In verse 29 Yeshua speaks of losing fathers (among others) for Yeshua’s and the gospel’s sake, but in verse 30 he does not mention gaining fathers. In verse 29 Yeshua is describing to the apostles that

Teachings of the Christian Kingdom

The fact that those who lose any or all family members for Jesus' sake will in this life, and in the age to come, receive hundreds more. This speaks to the Christian family that a believer is adopted into upon belief which would be full of new spiritual mothers, sisters and brothers. But there is only one Father in the Christian faith, and so a multitude of fathers are not gained when we join the Kingdom – just one, YHWH, the Father of all.

31 But many first will be last; and the last first.

PO Peter has claimed to have given up everything for the Kingdom (see, verse 28). Yeshua explains that such losses are met with eternal gains in the Kingdom of YHWH (see, verses 29-30). He adds that in the Kingdom the last are first and the first are last – perhaps in reference to Peter’s comments. This teaching opened the other Apostles up to conjecture about who would be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, which caused James and John to make a move for position (see verses 35-37). This move angered the other ten apostles (see, verse 41) but the situation helped set up a teaching moment for Yeshua (see, verses 42-45) which he delivered after explaining the price of truly being an apostle of Yeshua (see, verses 38-40). CLA: (see, Firsts and Lasts)

The Journey to Jerusalem

32 And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Yeshua 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 to him,

PO The apostles were amazed at His fearlessness in leading the way back into Jerusalem. The principle is Yeshua has gone before all of the human race, leading the way against sin, death, and the grave. The Apostles feared the Jews and their power, and did so until filled with the Holy Spirit – and even at times thereafter CLA: (see, Peter the Man; Fear and Faith).

33 Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests, and to the scribes; and they will condemn him to death, and will deliver him to the Gentiles: 34 And they will mock him, and will scourge him, and will spit upon him, and will kill him: and the third day he will rise again.

PO This is the description of the Good News or Gospel (see, 1st Corinthians 15:1-4) and while the brutality of his being delivered, condemned, mocked, scourged and spit upon then crucified was horrific, the Good News is that on the third day He rose again, illustrating complete victory over sin, death and the grave for all. CLA: (see, the Good News; Total Reconciliation).

James and John's Request

35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we will desire.

PO It appears that James and John were under the impression that Yeshua was going to reign in glory on earth over an earthly kingdom and desired to be preeminently placed at His side.

36 And he said to them, What would you that I should do for you? 37 They said to him, Grant to us that we may sit, one on your right hand, and the other on your left hand, in your glory. 38 But Yeshua said to them, You know not what you ask: can you drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

PO Matthew 20:20 says that the mother of James and John came Yeshua on their behalf. CLA: (see, Understanding Gospel Inconsistencies). The implication can only be that their mother did this, apparently driven with aspiration for her sons and thereby serving as their representatives with or without their knowledge. Mark omits the mother’s role on her son’s behalf and simply writes as though they represented themselves.

The Cup and Baptism

The line, “and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” is missing in some manuscripts and is therefore seen by some scholars as an unnecessary redundancy in view of “drinking of the cup that He drinks.” CLA (see, Types of Baptism)

39 And they said to him, We can.

PO The fact that James and John, in the infancy of their walk with the Lord, would suggest that they are able to drink of the same bitter cup and/or be baptized with

The Suffering and Sacrifice of Yeshua

The same baptism of suffering that Yeshua faced is unfortunate but it illustrates a number of sound principles – He came to do what we (or they) could not; and while they (and we) will suffer humiliation, shame, and pain as Christians, Yeshua came to ease the burden and to lighten the load. CLA: (see, Immature Zeal; Suffering; Spiritual Maturation)

And Yeshua said to them, You will indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal will you be baptized: 40But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but for whom it is prepared by my Father.

Tradition has it that all of the Apostles except John the beloved died as martyrs. Here the words of Yeshua predict a similar suffering for them that He would experience Himself. The most overwhelming evidence we have for apostolic martyrdom orbits around Peter, as described by Clement of Rome, Irenaeus, Ignatius, Dionysius, Tertullian and others. Outside of Peter, the evidence must be relegated to rumor.

41And when the ten heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John. 42But Yeshua called and said to them, You know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43But so will it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, will be your minister: 44And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, will be servant of all. 45For even the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Servitude in the Kingdom of God

PO Though verses 42-45 are directed at the Apostles, the spiritual principles remain viable in the Kingdom of GodGod’s spiritual reign—fulfilled and present, not political or future. – servants and those who minister are the greatest and not those who rule and reign with authority over others.

46And 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.

Matthew says that there were two (Matthew20:29) CLA: (see, Understanding Gospel Inconsistencies).

47And when he heard that it was Yeshua of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Yeshua, Son of David, have mercy on me. 48And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Son of David, have mercy on me.

The Healing of Bartimaeus

PO (Verses 47-52) The story of the healing of Bartimaeus is a type for all who Yeshua heals today as all are born blinded by the world and flesh and only when, hearing our cries for vision, he heals us as the Light of the World can human beings come out of the dark and into His marvelous light. CLA: (see, Healings).

49And Yeshua stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying to him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth you. 50And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Yeshua. 51And Yeshua answered and said to him, What wilt thou that I should do to you? The blind man said to him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52And Yeshua said to him, Go your way; your faith hath made you whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Yeshua in the way.

PO The natural follow-up of being healed by Yeshua is to follow Him. In verse 52, Yeshua’s healing was unconditional – he healed him and then told him to, “go his way.” But having been healed by Him, Bartimaeus chose to follow the King.

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS/PRAYER