The Bible Says Commentary on Mark 10

Mark 10 records Jesus journeying “beyond the Jordan,” in the region commonly known as Perea, an area east of the Jordan River that was overseen by Herod Antipas (4 BC-AD 39). Here, Pharisees test Jesus about divorce. Jesus reaffirms the sanctity of marriage by reminding them of God’s original design: “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate” (Mark 10:9). This teaching highlights the seriousness with which believers should approach the covenant of marriage and positions Jesus as One who honors God’s timeless commands from Genesis. Immediately afterward, Jesus models humility by welcoming children, proclaiming that “whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all” (Mark 10:15). The notion of childlike faith parallels other passages where Jesus commends dependence and trust in God (see Matthew 18:4).

While still in this region, Jesus encounters a wealthy young man who asks, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). Jesus addresses the man’s core problem: his possessions own him more than he owns them, challenging him to “go and sell all you possess … and come, follow Me” (Mark 10:21). This instructive moment exposes the dangers of letting wealth become an idol. It ties into the broader biblical theme that no one can serve both God and wealth (Matthew 6:24). Jesus goes on to explain that only by God’s power can a person, whether rich or poor, enter the kingdom of God.

Shortly after, as they travel, Jesus foreshadows His impending suffering in Jerusalem, declaring that He “will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes” (Mark 10:33). He explains that the path to greatness in God’s kingdom is found in service to others-“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). This statement foreshadows Jesus’s atoning work at the cross (fulfilled in Mark 15) and echoes the nature of Christ’s sacrifice emphasized in letters like 1 Peter 2:24.

The chapter ends in Jericho, an ancient city northeast of Jerusalem, where Jesus grants sight to a blind man, Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus calls Jesus the “Son of David,” highlighting Jesus’s royal, messianic lineage. In response to Bartimaeus’s faith, Jesus declares, “Go; your faith has made you well” (Mark 10:52). This final healing underscores the ongoing theme in Mark that Jesus brings both physical and spiritual restoration, and it points forward to the ultimate restoration He offers through His death and resurrection. By the time Jesus departs from Jericho, a clear picture emerges of the One who came to serve, save, and usher in the kingdom of God.