Mark 10:24-32
10:24 a In response to the disciples’ amazement, Jesus addressed them affectionately as dear children.10:25 b Jesus was emphatically warning that riches are an obstacle to entering the Kingdom of God. The camel was the largest animal in Palestine, the eye of a needle the smallest hole. Some rich people are evidently able to overcome the problem created by riches and follow Jesus, but Jesus’ followers came from among the poor more than from the rich.
• Explanations about a gate in the Jerusalem wall called the “Eye of the Needle” are ill-conceived. There never was such a gate, and this explanation loses sight of Jesus’ frequent use of hyperbole in his teaching (see also Matt 7:3-5 c; 23:24 d).
10:26 e The disciples were astounded: It was generally believed that wealth was a sign of God’s blessing that enabled the rich to do good deeds. Accordingly, it was assumed that the rich had an inside track on entering the Kingdom of God. The disciples’ question was natural, given this understanding. God’s assessment was the opposite of their conventional wisdom.
10:27 f This verse tends to be interpreted in one of two ways: (1) Although salvation by one’s own effort is impossible, by God’s grace people can be saved through faith (Eph 2:8-10 g). (2) God can give an unusual grace that enables people to overcome their sinful love of riches and believe. Mark does not explain his understanding.
10:28 h The disciples had done what Jesus told the rich man to do—they had given up everything to follow Jesus (1:16-20 i; 8:34-38 j).
Summary for Mark 10:29-30: 10:29-30 k Jesus assured his disciples that they would receive whatever they had given up for him many times over, including a new family in Christ (brothers, sisters, mothers, children) and Christian hospitality (houses).
• a hundred times: What is gained in following Jesus far outweighs any loss. And in the world to come they will inherit the eternal life that the rich man desired but did not receive.
10:31 l But many ... greatest then: The account ends with a proverb, contrasting the way that God understands life and how people generally understand it (for similar sayings, see Matt 20:16 m; Luke 13:30 n). For those with eyes to see and ears to hear (Mark 4:9-12 o; 8:18 p), the Kingdom of God has already come, and the overturning of this world’s values has begun.
Summary for Mark 10:32-34: 10:32-34 q The disciples’ awe and the people’s fear cast a dark shadow over what lay ahead, given the hostility of the Jerusalem leaders toward Jesus (see 3:22-30 r; 7:1-13 s). Taking the disciples aside again, Jesus described the coming events in the greatest detail yet (see also 8:31 t; 9:31 u). He knew what was about to happen; what awaited him in Jerusalem was neither a tragedy nor fate, but God’s will (see 8:31-33 v; Acts 4:27-28 w). As the Son of God, Jesus had unique knowledge of his upcoming unique death as the Savior of the world.
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