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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 10:42 mean?

Explanation

Mark 10:42 is a verse where Jesus is addressing His disciples about the nature of leadership and power dynamics in the context of His teachings.

In this verse, Jesus contrasts the Gentile rulers' approach to leadership with the style of leadership that He advocates.

He points out that Gentile rulers "exercise lordship" over their subjects and that their "great ones exercise authority upon them." This suggests a top-down, authoritarian form of governance and social structure.

Jesus is drawing attention to the way that power is often wielded to dominate and control others.

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Historical Context

Mark 10:42 is set during the time of Jesus' earthly ministry, approximately in the first century CE.

During this period, Judea was under Roman rule, and the style of governance was hierarchical and autocratic.

The Roman Empire was known for its strict class system and the absolute power of its emperors.

The Jewish society Jesus was part of also had its own hierarchies with religious leaders like the Pharisees and Sadducees holding significant sway over the people.

Jesus' teachings often challenged these established power structures and the way authority was exercised.

Theological Insights

Various theological insights emerge from this verse.

From a Christian standpoint, Jesus is teaching about servant leadership, which later becomes a fundamental principle in Christian ethics.

He is setting up a contrast between the world's understanding of leadership, which is often self-serving, and the Kingdom of God's notion of leadership, which is self-sacrificial.

Additionally, some theologians interpret this verse as an indication of Jesus' criticism of the oppressive systems of the world, advocating for a new system based on love and service.

Others see in this contrast a call to humility and a reminder that spiritual authority should be exercised differently from political or social power.

Practical Applications

Practically, Mark 10:42 can be seen as a call to leadership that is marked by service and humility rather than coercion and pride.

It can be applied in various spheres of life, including the workplace, communities, and families.

In these settings, leaders are encouraged to lead by example, prioritize the well-being of others, and use their positions to serve rather than to dominate.

Cross-References

Matthew 20:25-28: "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

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

John 13:14: "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet."
Luke 22:25-26: "And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

But ye shall not be so..."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of this passage are "katakyrieuō" (translated as "exercise lordship") and "katexousiazō" (translated as "exercise authority").

"Katakyrieuō" comes from "kata," which can mean "down," or "against," and "kyrieuō," which means "to rule." This suggests a domineering type of rule.

Likewise, "katexousiazō" combines "kata" with "exousiazō," derived from "exousia," meaning power or authority, again indicating a heavy-handed kind of authority.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In contrast to the Greco-Roman and Jewish contemporary understandings of hierarchical authority and power, Jesus' teachings presented a radical departure from societal norms.

In many ancient cultures, such as the Egyptians or Babylonians, rulers were often seen as divine or semi-divine beings with absolute authority.

Jesus' call for servant leadership was counter-cultural, emphasizing a leader's role as caretaker and servant rather than as a ruler or deity.

Scientific Perspectives

From a sociological and psychological perspective, Jesus' teachings on leadership reflect an understanding of human behavior and social structures that is supported by modern research.

Constructive and supportive leadership styles are often associated with more positive outcomes in group settings, as opposed to authoritarian leadership, which can stifle creativity and perpetuate inequality.

Commentaries

Commentators on the Bible have provided varied insights on Mark 10:42.

William Barclay noted the radical nature of Jesus' teaching on leadership for its time.

John Calvin commented on the corruption of human ambitions and the need for spiritual regeneration to embody this new style of leadership.

Matthew Henry highlighted the importance of Christian leaders reflecting Jesus in their conduct and authority, emphasizing service over dominion.

Contemporary theologians continue to reflect on this verse's implications for modern Christian leadership and its countercultural message.

Mark 10

Mark 10

What does Mark 10:42 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 10:42 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?