The Gospel of Mark
Marriage and Children: Mk 10,1-16
Marriage: 10,1-11
Looking at a map will have shown that the chapter opens (10,1a) with some strange geography but the point is that Jesus has left Galilee and is approaching Jerusalem. He is though "across the Jordan".
Verse 1 once again brings the crowd on scene. Whereas in Matthew (Mt 19,2), Jesus heals them, Mark says he taught them again.
We need to read this passage as Jesus' teaching on marriage. The Pharisees question in verse 2 about divorce is only the starting point, though as usual they were testing Jesus.
The appearance of the Pharisees may be unexpected because Jesus is now across the Jordan, outside Jewish territory. We noted in the overview how their role here is to be the background for Jesus' teaching to his disciples.
Divorce was common in both the Jewish and Roman world though the rules were different. In Judaism, the man could divorce his wife, but not the other way round.
In typical rabbinical style, Jesus side-steps the trap by asking a question himself in verse 3. The Pharisees reply in verse 4 by refering to Deuteronomy 24,1-4. Yet the purpose of this passage is rather different to straight divorce.
Jesus now gives his reply and begins by refering to their hardness of heart, a stubborn refusal to do God's will. "Hardness of heart" is a common expression in the OT, Ps 95,8 is typical. Jesus then caps their response in the following verses by going back to the original creation, quoting Gen 1,27 and Gen 2,24. This is Jesus looking back to the original creation, well before the time of Moses, before the "fall" in the Garden of Eden. Jesus is seeking to renew God's original creation. This takes priority over the Deuteronomy text they quoted.
Jesus teaching then on marriage looks back to God's original intention right at the dawn of creation. Jesus' "what God has joined together" in verse 9 could hardly be stronger.
In verse 10, Jesus enters the house and as on a number of occasions (4,10 or 7,17), speaks privately to the disciples. Within the community of the disciples, Jesus goes beyond both the Jewish and the Roman customs of his times. Remarriage is now seen a adultery (Ex 20,14).
There is equality in verses 11 and 12 with the women involved as much as men. The stress is on the men committing adultery "against her".
Overall, the teaching from Jesus is that marriage involves a restoration of the original divine intention, a new creation as two become one flesh.
That is a high ideal and countercultural in our age maybe but we must not try to avoid the teaching of Jesus here. Consideration of the practical issues which arise goes well beyond the Gospel.
Return for the second unit of this page.
Children and the Kingdom: 10,13-16
The evangelist may have inserted the short saying about children at this point because they are linked with marriage. The theme of openness continues as children are naturally open and learning by experience. We have seen the example of the child used already in 9,28-32. There as here, there is a change from "child" to "little ones".
The disciples show their usual insensitivity in verse 13. The children are outside their exclusive club and not worthy of the master's attention.
Jesus by contrast shows his usual openness to all in verse 14. Only Mark comments that Jesus was indignant, showing the human emotions of Jesus.
Verse 15 is the key teaching. The solemn opening is the first emphasis and the emphasis is renewed at the end with "will certainly not enter the kingdom". The emphasis is not so much on the child but rather on the right conditions for entering the kingdom of heaven which is shown by the child as insignificant, needy and completly dependent on God.
Jesus then his teaching into practice by welcoming the children in verse 16. Matthew's version (Mt 19,14-15) is much blander.
As in 9,36 so here too and like his indignation in verse 14, the comment that Jesus took the children into his arms and blessed them is unique to Mark. They receive his blessing because they are a symbol of trust and dependency on God which is a lesson for all disciples.
We can now return to the main page.