Mark 10:1 He arose from there and came into the borders of Judea and beyond the Jordan. Crowds came together to him again. As He usually did, He was again teaching them. 2 Pharisees came to Him testing Him, and asked Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce her.” 5 But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment. 6But from the beginning of the creation, He made them male and female. 7 For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will join to his wife, 8and the two will become one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let no one separate.” NET
We know from the other Gospel accounts that Jesus made at least three trips to Jerusalem but this is the first time we see Him headed there in Mark. It will be His final trip as this is where He will be betrayed and crucified.
Jesus is barely within the borders of Judea and look who shows up. The question being asked by the Pharisees is actually a trick question as the question of divorce in 1st century Judaism was a divisive one. One group said there should be no divorce except for infidelity while the other school of thought held a much broader view. This more liberal view was that a man should be able to divorce his wife if she does anything displeasing.
The Pharisees want Jesus to declare a position on the subject because regardless of how He answers, it will put half of the people against Him. Paul took a similar approach when he was before the Sanhedrin (Acts 23) when he realized there were both Sadducee’s and Pharisees present. He mentioned resurrection and then suddenly the two Jewish groups starting going at each other rather than Paul.
The mention of Moses is equivalent to asking “what does the Bible say”? Jesus then quotes from Genesis as the means of teaching God’s standard on the subject of divorce. The use of “hardness of heart” describes not only Jesus’ audience but the conditions of our own falling short. Also of note is that Herod Antipas, who married his brother’s wife, is the tetrarch of this area and of Galilee. This is the same guy who imprisons John the Baptist after John condemns him as being in violation of the law for marrying Herodia.
Mark 10:10 In the house, the disciples asked Him again about the same matter. 11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery against her. 12 If she herself divorces her husband, and marries another, she commits adultery.” NHEB
Note that this discussion takes place in private, away from the Pharisees. Jesus is not raising the standard but reiterating God’s standard from the Old Testament. Divorce is falling short of that standard. (Interesting that divorce as described here can be instigated either by the man or the woman).
While easy for some wag their finger (or maybe even toss a few stones), let’s not forget that this isn’t all of what Jesus had to say on the subject of adultery (see Matthew 5:27 or John 8:2). The problem for us is that we all fall short when it comes to what God expects from us. Good thing for us that with the exception of Noah’s time, God doesn’t give up on us and gives us a pathway for forgiveness. There are a number of discussions at gty.org on divorce such as: https://www.gty.org/library/questions/QA518/are-people-who-remarry-in-danger-of-committing-perpetual-adultery
Mark 10:13 They were bringing to Him little children, that He should touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was moved with indignation, and said to them, “Allow the little children to come to Me. Do not forbid them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15Truly I tell you, whoever will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.” 16 And He took them in His arms, laying His hands on them, and blessed them. NHEB
The ancient world dismissed children as insignificant. Here Jesus is busily teaching as a number of people are bringing their children to Him for blessings. Much to His indignation, the disciples want to dismiss these children. While it sounds sweet to us, it is a little startling for Mark to be telling this story to Romans as it would be hard for them to imagine the Son of God stopping down to engage with…..children. Jesus has once again expressed concern for the inconsequential people.
What is it that makes children perfect models of faith? There is a tendency to say that it is because of their innocence (although kids can make themselves the center of attention at an early age). Perhaps it is their ability to trust and to learn freely without the prejudices that come later with experience.
Psalm 131:1 LORD, my heart isn’t haughty, nor my eyes lofty; nor do I concern myself with great matters, or things too wonderful for me. 2 Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. 3 Israel, hope in the LORD, from this time forth and forevermore. NHEB
This psalm is from the Psalms of Ascents (Psalms 120-134) which could be a hymnal of the songs that were sung as the pilgrims ascended the hills to Jerusalem en route to the high holy day festivals. It also gives us a picture of what the New Testament means regarding faith. That is, we can trust and give ourselves completely to God. An unweaned child will be fussy and needy in contrast to the weaned child described in these verses.
Mark 10:17 As he was going out into the way, one ran to him, knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do that I may inherit everlasting life?” 18 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one—God. NHEB
The journey is from Nazareth to Jerusalem. The story of the rich young ruler that begins here brings up questions regarding Jesus’ self understanding, the after-life and the requirements for salvation. A question that might arise here is whether Jesus is ignorant of His identity or conversely, is saying that He is not God (as many non-believers would assert after reading this text). First, the entire book of Mark is dedicated to proving that Jesus is God. Second, Jesus isn’t backing away from anything – if only God is good then calling Jesus good is calling Him God. In other words, the young man knows exactly who Jesus is as he kneels before Him.
In answering the question, Jesus will quote from the Ten Commandments and then tell the young man that he lacks one thing for salvation. So just who does Jesus think He is with this answer? God! There is also the element of the subordination of Jesus to the will of the Father during His earthly ministry (see the Knossos text in Philippians 2).