Mark 10:1-16
Q .1. Where was Jesus when He taught? What question did the Pharisees raise with Him? How did Jesus answer them? What explanation did He give His disciples? – (Mk.10:1-9)
Jesus relocated His ministry closer to Jerusalem – to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan; crowds gathered around Him again, and, according to His custom, He once more began to teach them (Mk.10:1). The Pharisees tried force Jesus into a corner by asking Him about the legality of divorce (Mk.10:2). Contemporary Rabbis of Jesus’ day, Shammai and Hillel held very different views. The Shammaites interpreted the Law strictly, and only permitted divorce when adultery was involved. The Hillelites took a pragmatic point of view and allowed divorce on practically any grounds. In His response, Jesus took them back to the Scriptures, and back to God’s design from the beginning. He upheld the Law of Moses, which provided a concession for the divorce of a wife – because of your hardness of heart (Mk.10:5 c.f. Mk.10:3-5). However, Jesus reinforced God’s plan for marriage right from the creation of Adam and Eve and reminded the Pharisees – 6 But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. 7 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, 8 and the two shall become one flesh; Consequently, they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate (Mk.10:6-9 c.f. Gen.2:18-25). Later the disciples asked Jesus for a further explanation (Mk.10:10). Jesus told them plainly, that a husband or wife who divorces and marries another commits adultery (Mk.10:11). In Matthew’s Gospel, He further explained that – Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given (Mt.19:11-12). He then gave three categories of singleness, and added – … He who is able to accept this, let him accept it (Mk.10:12).
Q.2. Why were parents bringing their children to Jesus? How did the disciples respond? What was Christ’s response to the children? What lesson did He teach the hearers? – (Mk.10:10-16)
There is something special about appropriate physical touch from someone whom we respect. These women had been impacted by Jesus and wanted their children to be blessed by Him. Nothing in His demeanour suggested that He would not welcome little ones. The disciples soon tried to discourage the parents, and sternly drove them away from the Master (Mk.10:13). Jesus heard the commotion and was disappointed that His disciples had so misperceived His priorities. He turned it into a teachable moment both by word and deed. Jesus affirmed the children and said – Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these (Mk.10:14). He reminded His disciples that only a childlike heart would qualify a person for His kingdom. Then Jesus – took the children in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them (Mk.10:16). What a God we have.