Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:23-31 – The Difficulty of Money
Mark 10:23-31 – The Difficulty of Money
|| Matthew 19:27-30; Luke 18:26-30
MK10:23 Jesus studied the faces of his disciples and then said to them: “How difficult it will be for those with money[1] to gain entrance into God’s Realm!” MK10:24 Now this statement astounded the disciples, but Jesus responded, saying again: “Children, how difficult will it be [[for those who trust in riches]][2] to gain entrance into God’s Realm? MK10:25 It would be easier for a camel to thread the eye of a needle[3] than for a rich person to gain entrance into God’s Realm!” MK10:26 But the disciples were even more astonished and said among themselves: “Who can be saved, then?” MK10:27 Jesus looked intently at their faces and said: “With humans it is impossible! But, not for God! Because everything is possible with the God!”[4] MK10:28 Then Peter said to Jesus: “Look, we have left everything to follow you!”[5] MK10:29 So Jesus answered and said: “I tell you this truth: No one who has left behind[6] house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields – in behalf of my name and the Good News – MK10:30 will receive a hundred times more now in this present season – houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, [[wife]][7] and fields, together with persecutions. And in the coming [New] Age[8] life everlasting. MK10:31 However, many of those who are ‘first’ will be last, and the ‘last’ first.”[9]
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[1] Those with money: Jesus parallels those with money as the rich. In the Scriptures the rich are defined as those with a surplus, while the poor are those who must depend on others for existence. Compare Luke 21:1-4.
[2] Bracketed words are recognized as not adequately supported.
[3] Camel to thread the eye of a needle: Or, cable, rope. Some manuscripts use “rope.” Others see this “eye” as a very narrow and low entrance where a camel had to get on its knees to pass through.
[4] Everything is possible with the God: The phrase has been much abused outside of its context. Jesus is describing the difficulty of a rich person entering the Kingdom. It would take a miracle for God for such to happen. For details on riches see this and related words in Luke.
[5] We have left everything to follow you: Peter says “left” and not “we have sold everything.” He is not actually being honest, for after the dead of Jesus he and others are seen still possessing fishing boats. Jesus asks Peter about this. Surely by Pentecost they had done exactly what the Nazarene had directed at Luke 12:32, 33.
[6] Left behind: Or, given up, sacrificed. Jesus has in mind putting discipleship before all other things. Elsewhere the Nazarene uses “hate” though he means to “love less.”
[7] Bracketed words are recognized as not adequately supported. Though Luke uses it.
[8] The coming [New] Age: Or, ABU: in the age to come; PME: in the next world.
[9] Those who are ‘first’ will be last, and the ‘last’ first: Here those ‘first’ are the rich with money, while the ‘last’ are the poor. Compare notes on 1 Corinthians 1:26.
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Preceding
Matthew 19:27-29 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: We Have Left Everything for You!
Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:1-12 – Pharisees Debate About Divorce
Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:13-16 – Kingdom Belongs to Child-like
Mark 10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Mark 10:17-22 – Sell and Give to Poor
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Additional reading
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