Mark 10

Marriage and Hardness of Heart

1Jesus left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan. Crowds gathered around him again, and as was his custom, he taught them. 2Some Pharisees came to test him and asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” 5Jesus said, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this command for you. 6But from the beginning of creation, ‘Male and female he made them.’ 7‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9Therefore, what God has joined together, let no human being separate.” 10In the house, the disciples asked him about this again. 11He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, 12and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Jesus Welcomes Children

13People were bringing children to Jesus so that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said, “Let the children come to me. Do not stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will certainly not enter it.” 16Then he took the children in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

A Rich Man and the Kingdom

17As Jesus was setting out on the way, a man ran up, knelt before him, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother.” 20The man said, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.” 21Jesus looked at him and loved him. He said, “You lack one thing. Go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22But he was shocked by this word and went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God.” 24The disciples were amazed at his words. Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26They were even more astonished and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” 27Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. For everything is possible with God.” 28Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” 29Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, no one has left house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30who will not receive a hundred times as much now in this age—houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

On the Way to Jerusalem

32They were on the way going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were amazed, and those following were afraid. Taking the twelve aside again, he began telling them what was about to happen to him: 33“Look, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles. 34They will mock him, spit on him, flog him, and kill him. After three days he will rise.”

Greatness Through Service

35James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36He asked them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37They said, “Grant that we may sit, one at your right and one at your left, in your glory.” 38Jesus said, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39They said, “We are able.” Jesus told them, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with. 40But to sit at my right or left is not mine to grant. Those places are for those for whom they have been prepared.” 41When the other ten heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John. 42Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43But it must not be this way among you. Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first among you must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Bartimaeus Sees and Follows

46They came to Jericho. As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting beside the way. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48Many people rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he cried out even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” They called the blind man and said, “Take courage! Get up; he is calling you.” 50Throwing off his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. 51Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Rabbouni, I want to see again.” 52Jesus said to him, “Go. Your faith has saved you.” Immediately he could see again, and he followed Jesus on the way.