Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Mark
Book: Mark
Chapter: 10
Overview:
The
Pharisees' question concerning
Divorce.
(1-12) Christ's
Love to little children.
(13-16) Christ's discourse with the
rich young
Man.
(17-22) The hinderance of riches.
(23-31) Christ
foretells his sufferings.
(32-45) Bartimaeus healed.
(46-52)
1-12 Wherever
Jesus was, the people flocked after him in
crowds, and he taught them. Preaching was
Christ's constant
practice. He here shows that the reason why
Moses'
Law allowed
Divorce, was such that they ought not to use the permission; it
was only for the hardness of their hearts.
God himself joined
Man and
Wife together; he has fitted them to be comforts and
Helps for each other. The
Bond which
God has tied, is not to be
lightly untied. Let those who are for putting away their wives
consider what would become of themselves, if
God should
Deal
with them in like manner.
13-16 Some parents or nurses brought little children to
Christ,
that he should touch them, in token of his blessing them. It
does not appear that they needed bodily cures, nor were they
capable of being taught: but those who had the care of them
believed that
Christ's blessing would do their souls good;
therefore they brought them to him.
Jesus ordered that they
should be brought to him, and that nothing should be said or
done to hinder it. Children should be directed to the
Saviour as
soon as they are able to understand his words. Also, we must
receive the
Kingdom of God as little children; we must stand
affected to
Christ and his
Grace, as little children to their
parents, nurses, and teachers.
17-22 This young ruler showed great earnestness. He asked what
he should do now, that he might be happy for ever. Most ask for
good to be had in this world; any good, Ps 4:6; he asks for
good to be done in this world, in order to enjoy the greatest
good in the other world.
Christ encouraged this address
By
assisting his
Faith, and
By directing his practice. But here is
a sorrowful parting between
Jesus and this young
Man. He asks
Christ what he shall do more than he has done, to obtain eternal
Life; and
Christ puts it to him, whether he has indeed that firm
belief of, and that high value for eternal
Life which he seems
to have. Is he willing to
Bear a present
Cross, in expectation
of future
Crown? The young
Man was sorry he could not be a
follower of
Christ upon easier terms; that he could not lay
Hold
On eternal
Life, and keep
Hold of his worldly possessions too.
He went away grieved. See Mt 6:24, Ye cannot serve
God and
Mammon.
23-31 Christ took this occasion to speak to his disciples about
the difficulty of the
Salvation of those who have abundance of
this world. Those who thus eagerly seek the wealth of the world,
will never rightly prize
Christ and his
Grace. Also, as to the
greatness of the
Salvation of those who have but little of this
world, and leave it for
Christ. The greatest trial of a good
Man's constancy is, when
Love to
Jesus calls him to give up
Love
to friends and relatives. Even when gainers
By Christ, let them
still expect to suffer for him, till they reach
Heaven. Let us
learn
Contentment in a low state, and to watch against the
Love
of riches in a high one. Let us pray to be enabled to part with
all, if required, in
Christ's service, and to use all we are
allowed to keep in his service.
32-45 Christ's going
On with his undertaking for the
Salvation
of mankind, was, is, and will be, the wonder of all his
disciples. Worldly honour is a glittering thing, with which the
eyes of
Christ's own disciples have many times been dazzled. Our
care must be, that we may have
Wisdom and
Grace to know how to
suffer with him; and we may trust him to provide what the
Degrees of our
Glory shall be.
Christ shows them that dominion
was generally abused in the world. If
Jesus would gratify all
our desires, it would soon appear that we desire fame or
authority, and are unwilling to taste of his
Cup, or to have his
Baptism; and should often be ruined
By having our prayers
answered. But he loves us, and will only give his people what is
good for them.
46-52 Bartimaeus had heard of
Jesus and his miracles, and
learning that he was passing
By, hoped to recover his eyesight.
In coming to
Christ for help and healing, we should look to him
as the promised
Messiah. The gracious calls
Christ gives us to
come to him, encourage our
Hope, that if we come to him we shall
have what we come for. Those who would come to
Jesus, must cast
away the garment of their own sufficiency, must free themselves
from every weight, and the
Sin that, like long garments, most
easily besets them, Heb 12:1. He begged that his eyes might be
opened. It is very desirable to be able to earn our
Bread; and
where
God has given men limbs and senses, it is a shame,
By
foolishness and slothfulness, to make themselves, in effect,
Blind and lame. His eyes were opened. Thy
Faith has made thee
whole:
Faith in
Christ as the Son of
David, and in his pity and
power; not thy repeated words, but thy
Faith;
Christ setting thy
Faith to work. Let sinners be exhorted to imitate
Blind
Bartimaeus. Where the
Gospel is preached, or the written words of
Truth circulated,
Jesus is passing
By, and this is the
opportunity. It is not enough to come to
Christ for spiritual
healing, but, when we are healed, we must continue to follow
him; that we may honour him, and receive instruction from him.
Those who have spiritual eyesight, see that beauty in
Christ
which will draw them to run after him.