Charles Ellicott Commentary Mark 10
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Mark 10
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Mark 10
"And he arose from thence and cometh into the borders of Judaea and beyond the Jordan: and multitudes come together unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again." — Mark 10:1 (ASV)
And he arose from there.—We may note, as some help to a right study of the Gospel narrative, that the best harmonists place Matthew 18:15-35, Luke 10:1 to Luke 17:10 (with the exception of Mark 15:3-7), and John 7:1 to John 11:54, between the 9th and 10th chapters of this Gospel. The “farther side of Jordan” implies what is known as the Peraean ministry of our Lord, and which is related only by Saint Luke.
Resort to him.—Literally, come together, or journey together.
"And there came unto him Pharisees, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away [his] wife? trying 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. But Jesus said unto them, For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of the creation, Male and female made he them. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh: so that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. And in the house the disciples asked him again of this matter. And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her: and if she herself shall put away her husband, and marry another, she committeth adultery." — Mark 10:2-12 (ASV)
And the Pharisees came to him. (See Notes on Matthew 19:3-12). We are not surprised to find St. Mark omitting the “hard saying” about the eunuchs of Matthew 19:12. It was hardly likely, even if he knew it, to seem suitable to him for the Gentile readers for whom he wrote his Gospel. Probably, however, for this reason, it was not part of the current teaching of the Church and was recorded by St. Matthew as something exceptional.
And in the house. St. Mark’s narrative is, on the whole, much shorter than St. Matthew’s; but this detail of the question coming from the disciples after they had entered the house is given by him only.
And if a woman shall put away. This is also peculiar to St. Mark, and it is noteworthy as the only passage in our Lord’s teaching that distinctly states the case referred to, and passes sentence on the wife who divorces her husband and marries again, as well as on the husband who divorces his wife, and the wife who is so divorced. All three cases are dealt with on the same grounds:
- That the marriage relationship ought to be indissoluble, and that only one cause justifies or permits its dissolution.
- That any further permission of divorce is merely a concession to the hardness of men’s hearts, for the avoidance of greater evils.
"And they were bringing unto him little children, that he should touch them: and the disciples rebuked them." — Mark 10:13 (ASV)
And they brought young children.—See Notes on Matthew 19:13-15.
"But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me; forbid them not: for to such belongeth the kingdom of God." — Mark 10:14 (ASV)
He was much displeased.—The word, as used by our Lord, is peculiar to Mark; Matthew uses it of the disciples (Matthew 20:24; Matthew 26:8) and of the chief priests (Matthew 21:15).
"Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein." — Mark 10:15 (ASV)
Verily I say unto you.—Saint Matthew does not give the verse. Saint Mark has it in common with Saint Luke. To receive the kingdom of God as a little child, is to receive it after the manner of a child, with simplicity and faith, humility and love. Unless these conditions were fulfilled, those who were disputing who was the greatest in it were as if they had not even entered it.
Jump to: