Bible Commentaries
Mark 10

Verse 2

Tempting. See on Matthew 6:13.

Verse 4

Bill [βιβλιον] . See on Matthew 19:7. Diminutive. Lit., a little book; Lat., libellus, from which comes our word libel, a written accusation. Accordingly Wyc. has a libel of forsaking, and Tynd. a testimonial of her divorcement.

Verse 7

Shall cleave. See on Matthew 19:5. Tynd., bide by.

Verse 8

Shall be one flesh [εσονται εις σαρκα μιαν] . Lit., "shall be unto one flesh." The preposition expresses more graphically than the A. V. the becoming of one from two. So Rev., shall become.

Verse 9

What. Regarding the two as one.

Verse 13

They brought [προσεφερον] . Imperfect tense; they were bringing, as he went on his way. Similarly, were rebuking, as they were successively brought.

Verse 16

Took them in his arms. See on 9 86.

Put his hands upon them and blessed them. The best texts read kateulogei, tiqeiv tav ceirav ejp aujta, blessed them, laying his hands upon them; including the laying on of hands in the blessing. The compound rendered blessed occurs only here in the New Testament. It is stronger than the simple form, and expresses the earnestness of Christ 's interest. Alford renders fervently blessed.

Verse 17

Running and kneeled. Two details peculiar to Mark.

Verse 18

Why callest thou, etc. Compare Matthew 19:17. The renderings of the A. V. and Rev. here are correct. There is no change of reading as in Matthew, where the text was altered to conform it to Mark and Luke.

Verse 22

He was sad [στυγνασας] . Applied to the sky in Matthew 16:3; lowering. The word paints forcibly the gloom which clouded his face.

Verse 25

Needle [ραφιδος] . A word stigmatized by the grammarians as unclassical. One of them (Phrynichus) says, "As for rJafiv, nobody would know what it is." Matthew also uses it. See on Matthew 19:24. Luke uses, belonhv, the surgical needle. See on Luke 18:25.

Verse 30

Houses, etc. These details are peculiar to Mark. Note especially with persecutions, and see Introduction. With beautiful delicacy the Lord omits wives; so that Julian's scoff that the Christian has the promise of a hundred wives is without foundation.

Verse 32

Were amazed. The sudden awe which fell on the disciples is noted by Mark only.

Verse 42

Which are accounted to rule. Wyc., that seem to have princehead on folks.

Verse 43

Minister. See on 9 35.

Verse 45

For many [αντι πολλων] . For, in the sense of over against, instead of; not on behalf of.

Verse 46

Son of Timaeus. Mark, as usual, is particular about names. Blind. Diseases of the eye are very common in the East. Thomson says of Ramleh, "The ash - heaps are extremely mischievous; on the occurrence of the slightest wind the air is filled with a fine, pungent dust, which is very injurious to the eyes. I once walked the streets counting all that were either blind or had defective eyes, and it amounted to about one - half the male population. The women I could not count, for they are rigidly veiled" (" Land and Book "). Palgrave says that ophthalmia is fearfully prevalent, especially among children. "It would be no exaggeration to say that one adult out of every five has his eves more or less damaged by the consequences of this disease" (" Central and Eastern Arabia "). Beggar. See on Matthew 5:3.

49, 50. Peculiar to Mark, and adding greatly to the vividness of the narrative.

Verse 50

Rose [αναστας] . The best texts read ajnaphdhsav, leaped up, or, as Rev., sprang up.