Bob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Mark 10:1 - 10:1

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Bob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Mark 10:1 - 10:1


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mar_10:1

1Getting up, He went from there 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.

Mar_10:1 "went from there to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan" The RSV and the ASV have "came into territories of Judea and trans-Jordan." The context implies that Jesus was on His final journey to Jerusalem. Apparently He went north through Samaria, crossed over into Galilee, and joined the crowds of pilgrims heading for Jerusalem. Most Jews refused to pass through Samaria on their way to Jerusalem, so they crossed to the eastern side of the Jordan (i.e., through Perea) and then crossed back to the western side at Jericho. If this is what happened then it explains this confusing verse (cf. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, vol. 1, p. 348, asserts that over one-third of Luke's Gospel occurs between Mark 9, 10 [i.e., Luk_9:57 to Luk_18:14]; as well as Matthew 18 and John 7-11).

"crowds gathered around Him again" This may refer to (1) pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for the feast or (2) the sick, the curious, the Jewish leaders, and disciples. Jesus always drew a crowd.

"according to His custom" Whenever Jesus had opportunity to teach, He did (cf. Mar_1:21; Mar_2:13; Mar_4:2; Mar_6:2; Mar_6:6; Mar_6:34; Mar_12:35; Mar_14:49). The content of His message was

1. repent and believe (like John the Baptist's message)

2. the Kingdom of God is entered by faith in Him

3. the Kingdom of God radically changes the way one thinks and lives.