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Mark 10: Marriage & Divorce
Which do you think was more important, the message or the miracles? Why?
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Mark 10:1 Jesus left Galilee and went to the area of Judea on the east side of the Jordan River. Crowds gathered, and as usual, he taught them.
King James
Mark 10:1 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.
How could the Pharisees’ question about divorce be a “trap”?
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Mark 10:2 The Pharisees came to trap Jesus into saying something they could use against him, so they said, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
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Mark 10:2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.
Why does Jesus answer a question with a question?
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Mark 10:3–4 “What did Moses command you?”
“Moses allows a man to write a bill of divorce and send her away.”
King James
Mark 10:3–4 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.
Why is divorce a matter of “hard hearts”?
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Mark 10:5–9 “Because of your hard hearts, Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but in the creation’s beginning, God made them male and female. That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united with his wife, and the two become one. Since they are no longer two but one, and God has joined them, no one should separate them.”
King James
Mark 10:5–9 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.
Why do you think the disciples weren’t entirely satisfied with Jesus’ answer concerning divorce? How reasonable was his explanation?
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Mark 10:10–12 Later, when Jesus was alone in the house, his disciples brought up the issue again.
Jesus said, “Any man who divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery. And any woman who divorces her husband and marries someone else commits adultery.”
King James
Mark 10:10–12 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.
After what Jesus had said about welcoming children, why would the disciples rebuke parents for bringing their children?
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Mark 9:36–37 He reached out to a little boy, brought him into their midst, and wrapped his arms around him. “Anyone who welcomes such a child in my name is welcoming me. And anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the one who sent me.”
10:13–14 Parents brought their children so Jesus could lay his hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.
Jesus was upset when he saw what they were doing. “Don’t stop them,” he said. “Allow the little ones to come to me. Of such is the Kingdom of God.”
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Mark 9:36–37 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
10:13–14 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.
What childlike trait is crucial for entering the Kingdom of God?
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Mark 10:15 “Without exception, I tell you, those who do not accept the Kingdom of God like a young child cannot enter.”
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Mark 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
What was said and done when Jesus blessed the children?
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Mark 10:16 Then he took the children into his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
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Mark 10:16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
We should know that Jesus really was the most excellent of all teachers. If that’s true, why did Jesus object to the man calling him “most excellent”?
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Mark 10:17–18 While Jesus walked along the road, a man ran up and knelt before him. “Most excellent Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
“Why do you call me most excellent?” Jesus said. “No one is most excellent except God.”
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Mark 10:17–18 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.
How can Jesus’ outline of the commandments be summarized in a single word? Why?
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Mark 10:19 “You know the commandments. Do not murder, commit adultery, steal, or give false testimony. Never cheat. Honor your parents.”
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Mark 10:19 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.
How well do you think the man had kept the commandments?
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Mark 10:20 “I’ve done all that since I was young.”
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Mark 10:20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
Why was it important for the man to do something that wasn’t part of the Law?
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Mark 10:21 Jesus looked at him with love in his eyes. “You lack one thing. Go and sell everything you own, and give the money to the poor. You will have treasure in Heaven and can follow me.”
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Mark 10:21 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.
Why couldn’t the man do what Jesus asked? What does it mean to be “very wealthy”?
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Mark 10:22 After hearing this, he walked away sad, because he was very wealthy.
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Mark 10:22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
What makes it so difficult for the rich to enter God’s kingdom?
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Mark 10:23 Looking around, Jesus said to his disciples, “It is nearly impossible for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”
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Mark 10:23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
Why were the disciples amazed?
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Mark 10:24–26 “A student is not better than his teacher. A slave is not above his master. What is good enough for the teacher and master is good enough for the student and slave. If the master is called Beelzebub, it is even more likely that people will speak evil of his household. Do not be afraid of those people, because everything hidden will one day be revealed. All secrets will be brought to light.”
King James
Mark 10:24–26 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
How is the impossible made possible with God?
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Mark 10:27 “What I whisper to you in the darkness, you must shout in broad daylight. What your ears have heard, preach from the housetops.”
King James
Mark 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
In following Jesus, what had the disciples left?
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Mark 10:28 “Do not fear people who can kill your body but cannot harm your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both body and soul in Hell.”
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Mark 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
How did Peter receive the hundred-fold blessing that Jesus promised?
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Mark 10:29–30 Jesus said, “Those who have sacrificed their homes, relatives, or possessions for my sake and for the good news will receive a hundred times more and will have eternal life.”
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Mark 10:29–30 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.
In what ways are social perceptions of value the opposite of what exists in the Kingdom?
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Mark 10:31 “Those who were thought to be least important are first, and the first are last.”
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Mark 10:31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
How far behind Jesus do you think the disciples followed?
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Mark 10:32 While going up to Jerusalem, Jesus walked ahead of the disciples. Amazed that he was going there, they trailed behind, afraid. He took them aside and again told them what must happen to him.
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Mark 10:32 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,
What new thing about his suffering might he have explained to his disciples?
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Mark 10:32–34 While going up to Jerusalem, Jesus walked ahead of the disciples.
Amazed that he was going there, they trailed behind, afraid.
He took them aside and again told them what must happen to him. “Listen, we are now going to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and teachers of the Law, who will sentence him to die. They will deliver him to the Romans, who will mock him and spit at him. He will be whipped and crucified, but he will rise again on the third day.”
King James
Mark 10:32–34 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.
Why did James and John ask for a prestigious position in the Kingdom? What did they not understand?
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Mark 10:35–38 Zebedee’s sons, James and John, went to see Jesus. “Master, we have a favor to ask of you.”
“What do you want?”
“In your glorious Kingdom, let us have the seats of honor on your right and left.”
“You have no idea what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink and suffer the same baptism I must receive?”
King James
Mark 10:35–38 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?
How well did James and John understand the sacrifices they would make?
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Mark 10:39–40 They said, “Yes, we are.”
“Indeed you will drink from my cup and suffer the same baptism, but the places on my right and left are not mine to give. They are reserved for the ones for whom they have been prepared.”
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Mark 10:39–40 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.
Why couldn’t Jesus give James and John the positions they had asked for?
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Mark 10:39–40 They said, “Yes, we are.”
“Indeed you will drink from my cup and suffer the same baptism, but the places on my right and left are not mine to give. They are reserved for the ones for whom they have been prepared.”
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Mark 10:39–40 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.
Why were the other disciples angry with James and John? How might Judas’s attitude have differed from Philip or Andrew?
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Mark 10:41 When the other ten disciples heard what had happened, they were angry with James and John.
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Mark 10:41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.
Why are the great rulers in God’s Kingdom so different from earthly kingdoms?
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Mark 10:42–45 So Jesus called them together. “You know that the most honored among the Gentiles exercise dominion over others. Great rulers command unquestioned service. But you will not be like the kings. Your greatness depends on how well you serve others. If you want the highest place of honor, you must be everyone’s servant, just like the Son of Man, who has come to serve and sacrifice his life for many.”
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Mark 10:42–45 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.
Matthew refers to two blind men. Why does Mark mention only one?
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Matthew 20:30 Sitting on the side of the road, two blind men heard that Jesus was coming toward them. “Sir, Son of David,” they shouted, “have mercy on us.”
Mark 10:46 As Jesus and the disciples left Jericho, a large crowd followed. A blind man named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) sat by the side of the road, begging.
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Matthew 20:30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.
Mark 10:46 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.
What about Jesus had Bartimaeus heard that would make him want to cry out? Why didn’t he listen to the crowd’s rebuke?
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Mark 10:47–48 When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was coming, he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.”
Many rebuked him, telling him to be quiet, but he shouted even louder, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.”
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Mark 10:47–48 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.
What motivated Jesus to call for the blind man?
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Mark 10:49 So Jesus stopped and called for him.
“You can quit yelling now,” people said to the blind man. “He has asked to see you.”
James 4:8 Move closer to God, and he will move closer to you. Wash your hands of wrongdoing and purify your hearts with good motives. Don’t live a double life, but have a single focus upon what the Lord wants.
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Mark 10:49 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.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Why did the blind man throw aside his coat? What happened to it?
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Mark 10:50 He threw his coat aside, stood up, and was led to Jesus.
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Mark 10:50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
Why did Jesus ask the blind man what he wanted?
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Mark 10:51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus said. “Teacher, heal my eyes so I can see.”
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Mark 10:51 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.
What happened to cause the blind man to see?
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Mark 10:52 “Look around. Because you believed, you now can see.”
Immediately, his eyes were healed, and he joined those who followed him.
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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.