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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 10:37 mean?

Explanation

[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.] - Mark 10:37 KJV

In this verse, James and John, two of Jesus' disciples, are making a significant request of Him.

They are asking for positions of honor and power when Jesus comes into His glory, which they likely understood as a messianic kingdom.

The request to sit on Jesus' right and left hand is a plea for high ranking status, reflecting a common understanding of the time that those seated next to a ruler are important and share in the leader's authority.

However, they may have misunderstood the nature of Jesus' kingdom and His mission on earth, expecting a worldly throne rather than a spiritual one.

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Historical Context

This verse is part of a passage in the Gospel of Mark where Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem, where He will ultimately be crucified.

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approach Jesus with the bold request which reflects the disciples' persistent misunderstandings of Jesus' messianic role.

They anticipate a political and military messiah who will overthrow Roman rule and establish a new kingdom of Israel, but Jesus' mission is spiritual and sacrificial.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse illustrates the human inclination towards ambition and the desire for significance within a hierarchical structure.

It suggests Jesus' kingdom operates differently from worldly kingdoms, emphasizing servanthood over status.

The later rebuke by Jesus reveals that greatness in His kingdom is measured by one's willingness to serve others, and suffering may also be part of the disciple's journey, challenging conventional expectations of glory and reward.

Practical Applications

The teachings from this verse can encourage modern believers to examine their motivations for seeking positions of influence within the church and their communities.

It encourages a spirit of humility and service rather than seeking personal glory or power.

The passage teaches that true leadership in the eyes of God is not about status, but about serving and putting others first.

Cross-References

Matthew 20:21 - "And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom."
Mark 9:35 - "And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all."
Luke 22:24-27 - "...for he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve."

Language Study

In the original Greek, key terms include "δόξῃ" (doxē, translated as "glory"), which refers to splendor, radiance, and majesty, often associated with the divine presence and divine majesty.

The words "ἐκ δεξιῶν" (ek dexiōn, "on the right hand") and "ἐξ εὐωνύμων" (ex euōnymōn, "on the left hand") are technical terms indicating positions of power and privilege.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Similar aspirations for positions of power and the desire to be close to the deity can be found in various ancient myths and religions.

For instance, in Roman and Greek mythology, gods like Zeus and Jupiter are often depicted with favored individuals or deities at their right hand.

In many religious traditions, the right hand is a symbol of power and favor.

Scientific Perspectives

The verse primarily pertains to social dynamics and religious beliefs, and does not intersect directly with scientific understandings.

However, one might consider the psychological elements of human behavior, such as the desire for status and recognition, which are subjects of study in psychology.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer various interpretations of this verse.

Some focus on the ambition displayed by James and John, which reflects a common human tendency. Others highlight that this event demonstrates a teaching moment where Jesus can redirect His disciples' aspirations towards servitude and sacrifice.

Commentators may also point out the cultural expectations of the disciples that are being challenged by Jesus’ contrasting vision of the Kingdom of God.

Mark 10

Mark 10

What does Mark 10:37 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 10:37 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?