Mark 10:5

10:1-12 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.

And Jesus answered and said unto them,.... With respect to this command, or sufferance of Moses, which they urged: for the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept; it was, not because it was right in its own nature, or according to the original will of God; but, because the Jews were such cruel, and hard hearted men, that if this had not been permitted, some of them, that had wives not so agreeable to them, would have used them in a very inhuman manner, if not murdered them; and therefore to prevent further, and greater mischief, Moses indulged them with such a precept; See Gill on Matthew 19:8.

Verse 5. - St. Matthew appears to give the more full account, of which St. Mark's is an abbreviation. If we suppose the scribes here to interpose their question, "Why then did Moses permit a bill of divorcement?" t he two narratives fit exactly. Our Lord here answers their question, For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. He permitted (not commanded) them to put away their wives, lest dislike might turn to hatred. From the beginning God joined them in one indissoluble bend; but man's nature having become corrupt through sin, that sin changed and corrupted the institution, and so was the occasion of bills of divorcement, and polygamy. The Law of Moses put some restraint upon the freedom with which men had till then put away their wives; for thenceforth, a divorce could not take place until some legal steps had been taken, and a regular instrument had been drawn up; and this delay might often be the means of preventing a divorce which might otherwise have been effected in a moment of passion. Thus this legislation was adapted to the imperfect moral condition of the people, who were as yet quite unprepared for a higher moral code. Mark 10:5

{1} And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this {b} precept. (1) God never allowed those divorces which the law tolerated. (b) See Mt 19:3-12. For Moses gave them no commandment to put away their wives, but rather made a good stipulation for the wives to protect them from the stubborn hardness of their husbands.

That it is possible for the salt to lose its savor, and yet retain its appearance in the most perfect manner, see proved on the note on Matthew 5:13 (note). [ Mark 10 ] MARK 10: 1 He arose from there and came into the borders of Judea and beyond the Jordan. Multitudes came together to him again. As he usually did, he was again teaching them. The Pharisees question our Lord concerning divorce, Mark 10:1-12. Little children are brought to him, Mark 10:13-16. The person who inquired how he might inherit eternal life, Mark 10:17-22. How difficult it is for a rich man to be saved, Mark 10:23-27. What they shall receive who have left all for Christ and his Gospel, Mark 10:28-31. He foretells his death, Mark 10:32-34. James and John desire places of pre-eminence in Christ's kingdom, Mark 10:35-41. Christ shows them the necessity of humility, Mark 10:42-46. Blind Bartimeus healed, Mark 10:46-52. Verse 1 He arose - Κακειθεν αναϚας may be translated, he departed thence. The verb ανιϚημι has this sense in some of the purest Greek writers. See Kypke. Many transactions took place between those mentioned in the preceding chapter, and these that follow, which are omitted by Matthew and Mark; but they are related both by Luke and John. See Lightfoot, and Bishop Newcome. MARK 10: 2 Pharisees came to him testing him, and asked him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” Verse 2 Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?

- See this question about divorce largely explained on Matthew 19:3-12 (note). MARK 10: 3 He answered, “What did Moses command you?” MARK 10: 4 They said, “Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce her.” MARK 10: 5 But Jesus said to them, “For your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment. MARK 10: 6 But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female. MARK 10: 7 For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will join to his wife, MARK 10: 8 and the two will become one flesh, so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. MARK 10: 9 What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” MARK 10: 10 In the house, his disciples asked him again about the same matter. MARK 10: 11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery against her. MARK 10: 12 If a woman herself divorces her husband, and marries another, she commits adultery.” Verse 12 And if a woman shall put away her husband - From this it appears that in some cases, the wife assumed the very same right of divorcing her husband that the husband had of divorcing his wife; and yet this is not recorded any where in the Jewish laws, as far as I can find, that the women had such a right.

[Reformed Biblical] Have the preserving, purifying principle always; the principles of denying yourselves of suppressing pride, ambition, contention, etc., and thus you will be an acceptable offering to God. Have peace . Avoid contention and quarrelling, struggling for places, honours, and office, and seek each other's welfare, and religion will be honoured and preserved in the world. {a} "salt have lost" Matthew 5:13; Luke 14:34 {b} "salt in yourselves" Colossians 4:6 {c} "have peace one" Psalms 34:14; 2 Colossians 13:11; Hebrews 12:14 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK - Chapter 10 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK - Chapter 10 - Verse 1 ## MARK CHAPTER 10 Verses 1-12. See this question about divorce explained in See Barnes "Matthew 19:3, and Matthew 19:4-12 {d} "And he arose" Matthew 19:1 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK - Chapter 10 - Verse 2 Verse 2. No Barnes text on this verse. ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK - Chapter 10 - Verse 3 Verse 3. No Barnes text on this verse. ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK - Chapter 10 - Verse 4 Verse 4. No Barnes text on this verse. {e} "Moses suffered" Deuteronomy 24:1; Matthew 5:31 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK - Chapter 10 - Verse 5 Verse 5. No Barnes text on this verse. ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK - Chapter 10 - Verse 6 Verse 6. No Barnes text on this verse. {f} "God made them" Genesis 1:27; 5:2; Malachi 2:15 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK - Chapter 10 - Verse 7 Verse 7. No Barnes text on this verse.