New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Mark 10
1
Jesus left that place and went into the area of Judea and across the Jordan River. Again crowds of people came to him. As usual, he taught them.
Reference
2
Some Pharisees came to put him to the test. They asked, "Does the Law allow a man to divorce his wife?"
Reference
3
"What did Moses command you?" he replied.
9
So a man must not separate what God has joined together."
10
When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this.
Reference
Parallel theme
Mark 9:33
11
He answered, "What if a man divorces his wife and gets married to another woman? He commits adultery against her.
Reference
12
And what if she divorces her husband and gets married to another man? She commits adultery."
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 7:11
13
People were bringing little children to Jesus. They wanted him to touch them. But the disciples told the people to stop.
14
When Jesus saw this, he was angry. He said to his disciples, "Let the little children come to me. Don't keep them away. God's kingdom belongs to people like them.
Reference
Kingdom
Matthew 19:14
Matthew 18:4
Parallel theme
Matthew 18:10
1 Peter 2:2
Isaiah 65:23
Psalm 78:4
References God
Revelation 14:5
Acts 2:39
Acts 3:25
References Jesus
2 Timothy 3:15
15
What I'm about to tell you is true. Anyone who will not receive God's kingdom like a little child will never enter it."
Reference
17
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him. He fell on his knees before Jesus. "Good teacher," he said, "what must I do to receive eternal life?"
Reference
Eternal Life
Romans 2:7
Luke 10:25
Parallel theme
Acts 2:37
Acts 20:32
Acts 9:6
Acts 16:30
Matthew 25:34
Matthew 17:14
Daniel 6:10
18
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good except God.
Reference
Good
Matthew 19:17
Luke 18:19
Romans 3:12
James 1:17
Psalm 119:68
References God
1 John 4:16
1 Samuel 2:2
1 John 4:8
19
You know what the commandments say. 'Do not commit murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not give false witness. Do not cheat. Honor your father and mother.' "--(Exodus 20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20)
Reference
21
Jesus looked at him and loved him. "You are missing one thing," he said. "Go and sell everything you have. Give the money to those who are poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me."
Reference
Cross
Matthew 16:24
Love
Revelation 2:4
2 Corinthians 12:15
Parallel theme
Revelation 2:20
Revelation 2:14
Acts 2:45
Luke 12:33
James 2:10
Hebrews 10:34
References Jesus
Matthew 19:21
23
Jesus looked around. He said to his disciples, "How hard it is for rich people to enter God's kingdom!"
Reference
Kingdom
Luke 18:24
James 2:5
2 Peter 1:11
Mark 10:15
Matthew 18:3
John 3:5
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 1:26
Mark 3:5
Mark 5:32
References God
James 4:4
24
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter God's kingdom!
Reference
25
Is it hard for a camel to go through the eye of a needle? It is even harder for the rich to enter God's kingdom!"
Reference
27
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man, that is impossible. But not with God. All things are possible with God."
Reference
Kingdom
2 Kings 7:2
Philippians 3:21
Parallel theme
Job 42:2
Zechariah 8:6
References God
Jeremiah 32:27
Jeremiah 32:17
Luke 1:37
Luke 18:27
Hebrews 11:19
References Jesus
Matthew 19:26
29
"What I'm about to tell you is true," Jesus replied. "Has anyone left home or family or fields for me and the good news?
Reference
30
They will receive 100 times as much in this world. They will have homes and families and fields. But they will also be treated badly by others. In the world to come they will live forever.
Reference
Eternal Life
Luke 18:30
Parallel theme
Philippians 3:8
2 Corinthians 6:10
James 1:12
Malachi 3:10
Proverbs 16:16
James 5:11
2 Chronicles 25:9
Revelation 3:18
Acts 16:25
32
They were on their way up to Jerusalem. Jesus was leading the way. The disciples were amazed. Those who followed were afraid. Again Jesus took the Twelve to one side. He told them what was going to happen to him.
Reference
References Jerusalem
Luke 9:51
33
"We are going up to Jerusalem," he said. "The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will sentence him to death. Then they will hand him over to people who are not Jews.
Reference
34
The people will make fun of him and spit on him. They will whip him and kill him. Three days later he will rise from the dead!"
Reference
Parallel theme
Mark 14:65
Matthew 26:67
Isaiah 50:6
Isaiah 53:3
Psalm 16:10
Mark 14:63
1 Corinthians 15:4
John 1:17
John 2:10
Resurrection
Matthew 16:21
35
James and John came to Jesus. They were the sons of Zebedee. "Teacher," they said, "we would like to ask a favor of you."
Reference
37
They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right hand in your glorious kingdom. Let the other one sit at your left hand."
Reference
38
"You don't know what you're asking for," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup of suffering I drink? Or can you go through the baptism of suffering I must go through?"
Reference
39
"We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink. And you will go through the baptism I go through.
Reference
40
But it is not for me to say who will sit at my right or left hand. These places belong to those they are prepared for."
Reference
42
Jesus called them together. He said, "You know about those who are rulers of the nations. They hold power over their people. Their high officials order them around.
Reference
43
Don't be like that. Instead, anyone who wants to be important among you must be your servant.
Reference
44
And anyone who wants to be first must be the slave of everyone.
45
Even the Son of Man did not come to be served. Instead, he came to serve others. He came to give his life as the price for setting many people free."
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Corinthians 8:9
John 13:14
John 10:15
Hebrews 5:8
1 Peter 1:19
2 Corinthians 5:21
Daniel 9:26
Redemption
Matthew 20:28
Titus 2:14
Galatians 3:13
46
Jesus and his disciples came to Jericho. They were leaving the city. A large crowd was with them. A blind man was sitting by the side of the road begging. His name was Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus means Son of Timaeus.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
John 9:8
47
He heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. So he began to shout, "Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!"
Reference
Grace
Matthew 9:27
Matthew 15:22
Parallel theme
John 7:52
References Jesus
Mark 1:24
Revelation 22:16
Matthew 26:71
48
Many people commanded him to stop. They told him to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, "Son of David! Have mercy on me!"
49
Jesus stopped and said, "Call for him." So they called out to the blind man, "Cheer up! Get up on your feet! Jesus is calling for you."
Reference
50
He threw his coat to one side. Then he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
51
"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to be able to see."
Reference
52
"Go," said Jesus. "Your faith has healed you." Right away he could see. And he followed Jesus along the road.
Reference
Creation
Mark 8:25
Faith
Matthew 9:22
Mark 5:34
Luke 7:50
Matthew 15:28
Acts 26:18
Parallel theme
John 9:32
Mark 1:31
Matthew 12:22
Matthew 21:14
Summary of Mark 10
Mark 10 begins with Jesus entering the region of Judea and the area beyond the Jordan, where Pharisees test Him with a question about divorce, and Jesus responds by moving the discussion away from legal loopholes and back toward God's original intention for marriage.
Rather than allowing the question to be reduced to the technical conditions under which divorce might be permitted, Jesus points to creation and explains that marriage establishes a profound union in which two people become one flesh, emphasizing faithfulness and permanence within the relationship.
When the disciples later ask for clarification, Jesus makes clear that divorce and remarriage cannot simply be treated as matters of personal convenience, because the marital relationship carries continuing moral significance before God.
The scene then shifts to children, whom the disciples attempt to keep away from Jesus, but Jesus becomes indignant and tells them to allow the children to come because the kingdom of God belongs to people like them.
Jesus then explains that God's kingdom must be received with the humility, dependence, openness, and trust represented by a child, challenging the disciples' tendency to measure importance according to social status.
A wealthy man then approaches Jesus and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life, and although he has carefully followed the commandments from his youth, Jesus identifies the deeper obstacle in his life by asking him to sell his possessions, give the money to the poor, and follow Him.
The man leaves grieving because he has great wealth, demonstrating that obedience can be outwardly impressive while the heart remains deeply attached to something that competes with complete devotion to God.
Jesus then teaches His disciples that wealth can make entrance into God's kingdom extremely difficult, not because possessing money is automatically sinful, but because material security can create a powerful illusion of self-sufficiency and make it difficult for a person to depend completely upon God.
The disciples are astonished and ask who can then be saved, and Jesus answers that what is impossible for human beings is possible with God, placing the foundation of salvation in God's power rather than human achievement.
Peter reminds Jesus that the disciples have left everything to follow Him, and Jesus assures them that those who sacrifice homes, family relationships, possessions, or other forms of security for Him and the gospel will receive abundant spiritual relationships and future blessing, while also warning that such discipleship will involve persecution.
Jesus again reverses ordinary human expectations by declaring that many who are first will be last and many who are last will be first, preparing the disciples for a kingdom in which status is measured according to faithfulness and service rather than privilege.
As Jesus leads His disciples toward Jerusalem, He gives them another detailed prediction of His coming suffering, explaining that He will be handed over to the religious authorities and Gentiles, mocked, spit upon, flogged, killed, and raised after three days.
Even after hearing this prediction, James and John ask for positions of honor beside Jesus in His glory, showing how difficult it is for the disciples to understand that His kingdom will be established through suffering rather than through the kind of political triumph they expect.
Jesus responds by asking whether they can share His cup and baptism, meaning whether they are prepared to participate in the suffering associated with His mission, and although they confidently say yes, He explains that true greatness cannot be obtained through personal ambition.
When the other disciples become angry about James and John's request, Jesus gathers them together and contrasts the leadership of God's kingdom with the leadership structures of the Gentile rulers, explaining that worldly rulers exercise authority over others while His followers must become servants.
Jesus goes even further by declaring that whoever wants to be first must become a servant of all, because even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.
The chapter concludes as Jesus approaches Jerusalem and passes through Jericho, where a blind beggar named Bartimaeus hears that Jesus is nearby and repeatedly cries out for mercy.
Although the crowd tries to silence him, Bartimaeus calls out even louder and addresses Jesus as the Son of David, demonstrating a remarkable recognition of Jesus' identity.
Jesus stops and asks what Bartimaeus wants, and the blind man simply asks to receive his sight, after which Jesus tells him that his faith has made him well and immediately restores his vision.
Unlike the wealthy man who walks away from Jesus because he cannot surrender his possessions, Bartimaeus receives what he asks for and then follows Jesus along the road, providing a striking picture of genuine discipleship.
Mark 10 therefore places several contrasting examples beside one another: the Pharisees seek legal arguments, children demonstrate humble dependence, the wealthy man struggles to surrender his possessions, the disciples compete for status, and Bartimaeus persistently seeks mercy.
The chapter repeatedly challenges the human desire for control, wealth, status, independence, and recognition, replacing these values with faithfulness, dependence upon God, humility, sacrifice, service, and persistent trust in Jesus.
The central message is that life in God's kingdom cannot be obtained through religious achievement, material wealth, social status, or personal ambition, because salvation depends upon God's power and discipleship requires a willingness to surrender competing priorities and follow Jesus through the path of humble service and sacrifice.
Mark 10 ultimately presents Jesus as the servant King who welcomes the powerless, challenges the wealthy, corrects ambitious disciples, honors persistent faith, and willingly gives His own life for others, showing that true greatness in God's kingdom is found not in being served but in faithfully serving and following Him.
Rather than allowing the question to be reduced to the technical conditions under which divorce might be permitted, Jesus points to creation and explains that marriage establishes a profound union in which two people become one flesh, emphasizing faithfulness and permanence within the relationship.
When the disciples later ask for clarification, Jesus makes clear that divorce and remarriage cannot simply be treated as matters of personal convenience, because the marital relationship carries continuing moral significance before God.
The scene then shifts to children, whom the disciples attempt to keep away from Jesus, but Jesus becomes indignant and tells them to allow the children to come because the kingdom of God belongs to people like them.
Jesus then explains that God's kingdom must be received with the humility, dependence, openness, and trust represented by a child, challenging the disciples' tendency to measure importance according to social status.
A wealthy man then approaches Jesus and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life, and although he has carefully followed the commandments from his youth, Jesus identifies the deeper obstacle in his life by asking him to sell his possessions, give the money to the poor, and follow Him.
The man leaves grieving because he has great wealth, demonstrating that obedience can be outwardly impressive while the heart remains deeply attached to something that competes with complete devotion to God.
Jesus then teaches His disciples that wealth can make entrance into God's kingdom extremely difficult, not because possessing money is automatically sinful, but because material security can create a powerful illusion of self-sufficiency and make it difficult for a person to depend completely upon God.
The disciples are astonished and ask who can then be saved, and Jesus answers that what is impossible for human beings is possible with God, placing the foundation of salvation in God's power rather than human achievement.
Peter reminds Jesus that the disciples have left everything to follow Him, and Jesus assures them that those who sacrifice homes, family relationships, possessions, or other forms of security for Him and the gospel will receive abundant spiritual relationships and future blessing, while also warning that such discipleship will involve persecution.
Jesus again reverses ordinary human expectations by declaring that many who are first will be last and many who are last will be first, preparing the disciples for a kingdom in which status is measured according to faithfulness and service rather than privilege.
As Jesus leads His disciples toward Jerusalem, He gives them another detailed prediction of His coming suffering, explaining that He will be handed over to the religious authorities and Gentiles, mocked, spit upon, flogged, killed, and raised after three days.
Even after hearing this prediction, James and John ask for positions of honor beside Jesus in His glory, showing how difficult it is for the disciples to understand that His kingdom will be established through suffering rather than through the kind of political triumph they expect.
Jesus responds by asking whether they can share His cup and baptism, meaning whether they are prepared to participate in the suffering associated with His mission, and although they confidently say yes, He explains that true greatness cannot be obtained through personal ambition.
When the other disciples become angry about James and John's request, Jesus gathers them together and contrasts the leadership of God's kingdom with the leadership structures of the Gentile rulers, explaining that worldly rulers exercise authority over others while His followers must become servants.
Jesus goes even further by declaring that whoever wants to be first must become a servant of all, because even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.
The chapter concludes as Jesus approaches Jerusalem and passes through Jericho, where a blind beggar named Bartimaeus hears that Jesus is nearby and repeatedly cries out for mercy.
Although the crowd tries to silence him, Bartimaeus calls out even louder and addresses Jesus as the Son of David, demonstrating a remarkable recognition of Jesus' identity.
Jesus stops and asks what Bartimaeus wants, and the blind man simply asks to receive his sight, after which Jesus tells him that his faith has made him well and immediately restores his vision.
Unlike the wealthy man who walks away from Jesus because he cannot surrender his possessions, Bartimaeus receives what he asks for and then follows Jesus along the road, providing a striking picture of genuine discipleship.
Mark 10 therefore places several contrasting examples beside one another: the Pharisees seek legal arguments, children demonstrate humble dependence, the wealthy man struggles to surrender his possessions, the disciples compete for status, and Bartimaeus persistently seeks mercy.
The chapter repeatedly challenges the human desire for control, wealth, status, independence, and recognition, replacing these values with faithfulness, dependence upon God, humility, sacrifice, service, and persistent trust in Jesus.
The central message is that life in God's kingdom cannot be obtained through religious achievement, material wealth, social status, or personal ambition, because salvation depends upon God's power and discipleship requires a willingness to surrender competing priorities and follow Jesus through the path of humble service and sacrifice.
Mark 10 ultimately presents Jesus as the servant King who welcomes the powerless, challenges the wealthy, corrects ambitious disciples, honors persistent faith, and willingly gives His own life for others, showing that true greatness in God's kingdom is found not in being served but in faithfully serving and following Him.