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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 10:44 mean?

Explanation

[Mark 10:44] states: "And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all." This verse is part of a conversation Jesus is having with His disciples about the nature of leadership and greatness in the Kingdom of God.

In a literal sense, Jesus is saying the person who wants to be the greatest among the group should be the one who serves everyone else.

Deeper than that, this verse flips the conventional understanding of power and authority on its head.

Instead of seeking to be served, Jesus teaches that true greatness comes from serving others selflessly, at the time, a revolutionary statement counter to many cultural norms.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

This verse comes from the Gospel of Mark, which is believed to have been written between 66-70 A.D.

At the time, society was structured hierarchically, with the Romans exerting power over the Jewish population.

Ambitions for positions of prestige and authority were common, and servants were seen as low status.

Jesus' teaching in this passage suggests a radical departure from the societal norms of the time, proposing a model of leadership based on servitude and humility.

Theological Insights

There's significant theological depth in Mark 10:44, which resonates with various Christian traditions:

Servant Leadership: This concept is central to Christian leadership models.

It suggests that leaders should prioritize the needs of others.

Humility: The verse embodies humility, a core Christian virtue, promoting the idea of putting oneself below others to lift them up.
Imitatio Christi: The principle of imitating Christ.

Jesus served others to the point of giving His life, setting an example for Christians to follow.

Kenosis: The Greek term for self-emptying, which is a theme in Christ's incarnation and His life on earth, indicates that true greatness involves a self-giving love and a relinquishment of power for the sake of others.

Practical Applications

Applying this teaching could take many forms in daily life, such as:

In leadership, prioritize the welfare of those being led over the perks of authority.
Volunteer and serve within the community, offering time and resources without expecting anything in return.
Engaging in acts of kindness and assistance, even in small, unnoticed ways.

Cross-References

Here are some related verses that emphasize similar teachings found in Mark 10:44:

Matthew 20:26: "But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;"
Matthew 23:11: "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant."
Luke 22:26: "But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve."
John 13:14: "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet."

Language Study

A closer look at key Greek words in Mark 10:44:

"Chiefest" (Greek: πρῶτος, prōtos): Often means first in rank or influence. Here, it implies the idea of being the greatest or the paramount one.
"Servant" (Greek: διάκονος, diakonos): Generally meaning attendant, waiter, or one who executes the commands of another.

The term is the root of 'deacon' in the Church, reflecting service to others.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient religions and mythologies, greatness was often associated with power and dominance.

In contrast, the message of service as the path to greatness in Mark 10:44 is somewhat unique.

In Buddhism, however, there is a parallel in the ideal of the Bodhisattva, who seeks enlightenment not just for oneself but for the sake of all beings, showing a comparable value placed on service and selflessness.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychology aligns with this verse's principle when discussing healthy leadership models.

The concept of servant leadership is now supported by research showing that leaders who prioritize the well-being of their team can achieve better outcomes, create more cohesive groups, and are more effective in their roles.

Commentaries

Various bible scholars and theologians offer diverse insights into Mark 10:44:

John Calvin notes the paradox in which Christ calls the disciples to an ambition that is not self-serving but rather for the good of others.
William Lane comments on Jesus' reversal of social values, where the model for leadership is service rather than dominion.
**R.T.

France** focuses on the way Jesus redefines greatness in a way that was countercultural and revolutionary for the society of His time.

**David E.

Garland** emphasizes that Jesus' statement is not only instructional but also reflective of His own approach to ministry and life.

Mark 10

Mark 10

What does Mark 10:44 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 10:44 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?