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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 10:51 mean?

Explanation

Mark 10:51 is a pivotal moment in the narrative of the New Testament where Jesus interacts with a blind man named Bartimaeus.

This verse captures the very personal and direct communication between Jesus and Bartimaeus, who seeks healing for his blindness.

Jesus' question, “What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?” is an invitation for Bartimaeus to express his deepest desire.

The blind man's response is a direct and simple plea: “Lord, that I might receive my sight.” This interaction underscores the individual's faith and the willingness of Jesus to respond to those who seek Him earnestly.

The verse carries a deeper meaning as well, Bartimaeus addresses Jesus as "Lord," which also signifies his belief in Jesus' divine authority to heal and restore.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark is one of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament, believed to have been written around AD 66–70.

This narrative unfolds in Jericho, a city that was a major thoroughfare in Judea.

The audience Mark wrote to was likely a mix of Gentile and Jewish Christians who were facing persecution.

At that time, disabilities like blindness were common due to unsanitary conditions and lack of medical knowledge.

The belief prevalent in Jewish culture was that such afflictions were consequences of personal sin or the sins of parents – a belief that Jesus often challenged.

This episode with Bartimaeus is a demonstration of Jesus' compassion and power, breaking the cultural stigma associated with blindness.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse illustrates the doctrine of salvation through faith.

Bartimaeus' faith in Jesus is clear when he addresses Him as "Lord" and believes in His ability to heal.

The gospel writers often portray Jesus' miracles as a reflection of the individual’s faith.

Different Christian traditions interpret this passage with slight nuances.

Protestant Christianity emphasizes the 'faith alone' doctrine, while Catholic and Orthodox Christians might highlight the sacramental and liturgical aspects of healing.

Charismatic traditions may use this verse to support the belief that miracles are as accessible today as they were during the time of Jesus.

Practical Applications

Mark 10:51 has several practical applications for contemporary believers.

Firstly, it teaches the importance of acknowledging personal needs and asking God for help directly and humbly.

Secondly, it serves as a reminder to have faith in God's power to change circumstances.

Thirdly, it encourages believers to respect and care for those with disabilities, seeing them as individuals of worth who have the attention of Jesus.

Lastly, this verse can inspire believers to approach God with the confidence that He hears and responds to our pleas for help.

Cross-References

Matthew 20:32-34: "And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened."
Mark 10:52: "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."

Luke 18:41-42: "Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of Mark 10:51 offer deeper insight.

"Rabboni" (often translated as "Lord" in the English versions), is an honorable title signifying "my teacher" or "my master." The term emphasizes respect and authority and is used exclusively in the context of addressing Jesus.

“Thelo” (wilt) carries a sense of will and desire, which implies an active choice or decision.

“Poieso” (should do) reflects an action or service.

"Anablepo" (receive sight) derives from the roots "ana" (up) and "blepo" (to see), combining to mean regaining sight or looking up again.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient cultures, blindness was often misunderstood and those afflicted experienced social stigma.

Many ancient myths depict gods restoring sight to the blind as an act of divine mercy or as a reward for faithfulness.

In the Greco-Roman tradition, healers and demigods were sometimes attributed with miraculous healing powers, but such accounts often served to emphasize the power and prestige of the healer rather than the healed's faith.

In contrast, in the Christian narrative, the focus is on faith and Jesus' compassion.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science would view blindness through the lens of biology and health care. Causes of blindness such as infection, injury, or genetics are now better understood, and various treatments exist, ranging from surgery to advanced assistive technologies.

However, the instant healing recounted in the Gospel of Mark aligns more with a supernatural act than with a scientific explanation, presenting a dichotomy between faith-based belief in miracles and the rational understanding of medicine.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer various interpretations of this verse.

Most agree that Bartimaeus' encounter with Jesus emphasizes faith in action, individual initiative, and personal transformation.

Commentaries often point out the contrast in Bartimaeus' approach to Jesus with that of the rich young ruler earlier in the chapter (Mark 10:17-22), where the latter failed to commit fully to Jesus' call.

The story of Bartimaeus is seen as a model of discipleship: responding immediately to Jesus, casting aside hindrances, and following Christ once restored.

Mark 10

Mark 10

What does Mark 10:51 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 10:51 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?