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Mark 10

And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.

And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.

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

And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

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

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.

And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.

And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy 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.

And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

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 God.

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

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto 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,

But he shall 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.

But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus 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 unto him,

Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:

And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.

And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?

They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.

But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.

And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.

But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:

And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

And 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.

And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.

And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.

And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

What does Mark 10:23 mean?

Explanation

"And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" (Mark 10:23, KJV) refers to the moment when Jesus addresses his disciples following a rich young man's departure.

The young man had inquired about what he must do to inherit eternal life, yet he left dismayed when Jesus advised him to sell everything, give to the poor, and follow Him.

The verse underscores the difficulty for the wealthy to enter the Kingdom of God due to their attachment to material possessions, potentially impeding a full commitment to spiritual values and God.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

This verse is situated in the Gospel of Mark, which is believed to be one of the earliest accounts of Jesus’ life written approximately around AD 65-75.

During this period, Jewish society was under Roman occupation, with stark economic disparities.

Wealth was often associated with status and security.

Jesus' teachings frequently turned social norms on their head, and His commentary on wealth was no exception, as it challenged the prevailing view that wealth was a sign of God's favor.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse is interpreted in various ways:

Prosperity Gospel advocates might argue that Jesus is testing the young man's willingness to put God first rather than condemning wealth itself.
Mainstream Christianity often sees this verse as a caution regarding the spiritual danger of wealth, emphasizing that material wealth can distract from spiritual pursuits and responsibilities.
Liberation Theology positions this verse as a critique of economic systems that create disparity, suggesting that the Kingdom of God is one where justice and equality prevail.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse can be applied to daily life by encouraging individuals to evaluate their relationship with their possessions and wealth. It reminds believers to:

Prioritize spiritual growth and ethical living over material gain.
Use resources responsibly to support the community and assist those in need.
Examine the hold that money and status may have on their lives and decisions.

Cross-References

Matthew 19:24: "And again I say unto you, 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 God."
Luke 18:24-25: "And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."
1 Timothy 6:10: "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text include:

ἠλίκος (ēlikos): translates to "how hard," implying great difficulty or impossibility.
πλούσιος (plousios): which means "rich" or "wealthy," referring to those who possess material wealth.
εἰσελθεῖν (eiselthein): a form of the verb "to enter," indicating the act of entering the Kingdom of God.
βασιλεία (basileia): translates to "kingdom," and in the New Testament context, it often refers to the reign or realm of God.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient cultures, wealth was also often associated with divine favor. For example, in Greco-Roman society, the gods were believed to grant prosperity to those they favored. Similarly, in some strands of Judaism at the time, prosperity could be seen as a blessing from God.

However, Jesus' teaching contrasts with these views by emphasizing the potential spiritual hindrances of wealth rather than its benefits.

Scientific Perspectives

While the verse itself does not lend itself directly to scientific analysis, behavioral economics and psychology study how wealth influences behavior and decision-making.

Research suggests that wealth can affect compassion, ethical behavior, and social connectedness, which might provide insight into why Jesus pointed out the spiritual risks associated with riches.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and theologians have interpreted Mark 10:23:

John Calvin highlighted the deceitful nature of riches, which can lull individuals into a false sense of security.
William Barclay suggested that wealth often leads to a sense of self-sufficiency that can detach a person from reliance on God.
Contemporary scholars like **N.T.

Wright** and Ben Witherington III focus on the theme of discipleship and the challenge of following Jesus in a world that values material wealth.

They stress the need for detachment from possessions to fully embrace the call of the Gospel.

Mark 10

Mark 10

What does Mark 10:23 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 10:23 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?