Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 10:27
And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men [it is] impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
And Jesus, looking upon them,…. And by their countenances saw the surprise and anxiety of mind they were in, as well as by his omniscience, knew their private reasonings among themselves:
saith, with men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible; even to reduce a camel to so small a size, as to go through the eye of a needle; and to work upon a rich man’s heart, so as to take him off of his trust and confidence in his worldly riches, and bring him to a compliance with his will, and into his kingdom; and also to protect, and save his poor and mean followers, notwithstanding all the difficulties, dangers, and oppositions they meet with; [See comments on Mt 19:26].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Looking on them ( ). So in Mt 19:26. Their amazement increased (26).
But not with God (‘ ). Locative case with (beside). The impossible by the side of men ( ) becomes possible by the side of God. That is the whole point and brushes to one side all petty theories of a gate called needle’s eye, etc.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And Jesus looking upon them saith,” (emblepsas autois ho lesous legei) “Jesus glanced about at them and replied,” gave the settling answer, for He has the answer to every puzzling Spiritual question, and solution to every Spiritual problem of and in man, Act 4:12; Joh 3:16.
2) “With men it is impossible,” (para anthropois adunaton) “With men there exists not one potential or possibility,” not in or with his carnal, covetous will and nature, that leads him to seek to do something good to save himself, Eph 2:8-9; Tit 3:5.
3) ”But not with God: (all’ ou para theo) “But not with God,” though it is “not within man” his inherent nature or natural power “to direct his steps,” Jer 10:23. God can and wills to save all and “all kinds” of sinners, but He has decreed to save none who does not will Him to save them, or any who will not ask Him to do it, 2Pe 3:9; Pro 1:20 -29.
4) ”For with God all things are possible.” (panta gar dunata para to theo) “Because all things are (exist as) possible with God,” Mat 19:26; Rom 1:16; Luk 18:27; Gen 18:14; Job 42:2.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
‘Jesus looking on them says, “With men it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” ’
Jesus recognised that they were beginning dimly to see the truth, that attaining salvation is impossible to men, and He then went on to make clear that in fact the only reason that men could be saved was that nothing is impossible when God is there. That God is able to do anything, even save men. This stresses the miraculous nature of the work of converting of men and women and the bringing of them under the Kingly Rule of God. As He would say elsewhere, men came to Him because it was given to them by the Father (Joh 6:39; Joh 6:65) and because the Father Himself drew them (Joh 6:44), not because of their own ability or deserts. In the end, He was saying, salvation (Mar 10:26) is the gift of God, and only made possible by the work of God on them and within them. It is the greatest miracle of all.
‘For all things are possible with (alongside) God.’ Gen 18:14 in LXX in a similar construction expresses the same idea negatively, ‘is anything impossible alongside God?’ Thus emphasising that anything is possible when God steps in. It is not a theoretical or philosophical statement, it is a deeply personal statement. We could translate, ‘All things are possible when God is there.’ (Para to theo – alongside God). Compare also Zec 8:6 where LXX translates ‘marvellous’ as ‘impossible’.
Basic then to all Jesus’ words here is that men cannot save themselves by their actions. This rich young man had given Him a marvellous opportunity to bring this lesson home. In men’s eyes there was no one closer to being acceptable to God than this eager young man, desirous of being good, and rich without being spoiled, seemingly ready to do ‘anything’. He seemed almost the perfect model for acceptability. But Jesus had seen deeper and had revealed exactly what was lacking. He was not ready to put God first in his life. His eagerness was with reservations, and that could not make him acceptable to God. What he must therefore do was look to God to do the ‘impossible’ in his life, and in his case that involved following Jesus, as indeed in one way or another it does for us all. We cannot ever come for salvation and say that we will not follow Him.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mar 10:27. With men it is impossible, but not with God, &c. This is indeed utterly impossible to every man by any power of his own; but is not so to the mercy and power of God, with whom nothing is too hard to do: he can make an effectual change upon the heart by regenerating grace, and enable it freely to renderup all the affluence of this world, and every thing which is dearest to it here, when they stand in competition with me, and the blessings of my kingdom, and when he demands a resignation of them for his glory.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
Ver. 27. With God all things are possible ] This place is much pleaded by the Papists for their fiction of transubstantiation. I tell thee (said Bonner to Philpot) that God, by his omnipotence; may make himself to be this carpet, if he will. (Acts and Mon.)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mar 10:27 . This saying is given diversely in the three parallels; most pithily in Mt., and perhaps nearest to the original. For the meaning vide on Mt.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
With. Greek. para. App-104.
men. App-123.
impossible. See Mat 19:26.
not. Greek. ou. App-105.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mar 10:27. , all things) Psa 62:12. Comp. in that passage and here the preceding context.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
With men: Gen 18:13, Gen 18:14, Num 11:21-23, 2Ki 7:2, Zec 8:6, Mat 19:26, Luk 18:27
for: Job 42:2, Jer 32:17, Jer 32:27, Luk 1:37, Phi 3:21, Heb 7:25, Heb 11:19
Reciprocal: Mar 12:24 – neither Mar 14:36 – all
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7
With God all things are possible as far as power is concerned.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 10:27. Looking upon them. This third look is mentioned by Matthew also. The first (Mar 10:21) was a look of affection, the second (Mar 10:23) a look of sorrow, the third of kindness bringing hope, for the grace of God is declared to be equal to this task, impossible with men. This passage opposes the love of money in every form arid among all conditions of men. The desire for wealth, even more than the actual possession of it, interferes with entering into a kingdom where humility is a cardinal virtue and self denial an essential pre-requisite. He has learned the lesson right, who applies this mainly to himself, seeking the almighty grace which can save him from his trust in earthly things.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 27
The meaning is, that, although it transcends human power to change the fixed characteristics of avarice and selfishness to benevolence and piety, there is no limit to the control exercised over the heart by the Spirit of God.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
Mar 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
Ah, the catchall phrase of most Christians that want something from God. Well actually it is the truth and we need to understand it within its context. The context is all things, possibilities and God. It is rather easy to understand – God can do whatever He wants to do and often He is apt to do it for His children.
We often seem to use this phrase as a catchall for what we want that we cannot do for ourselves and that is what God is about – some times. However we need to understand that He is not our resident genie that is in the jug 24/7 waiting for our wishes and commands.
Often when I pray I think of the possibilities of what God can do. He can do all that we ask, He can do all that we imagine, but it is all within His will, timing, and purpose. That is the context within which we ought to pray. Request away but know that His will, timing and purpose are much more important than yours.
Fuente: Mr. D’s Notes on Selected New Testament Books by Stanley Derickson
Jesus’ point was that salvation is totally God’s work (cf. Jon 2:9; Eph 2:8-9). It is humanly impossible to obtain it on the basis of achievement or merit. But God can enable anyone to realize his or her complete dependence on Him and turn to Him for salvation.