Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 10:24
And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
24. Children ] By this affectionate title He softens the sadness and sternness of His words.
for them that trust in riches ] Some important MSS. omit these words, and then the verse would run, “Children, how hard it is to enter into the kingdom of God.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And the disciples were astonished at his words,…. For they expected, in a little while, that the kingdom of the Messiah would be set up in great worldly pomp and grandeur; and that all the rich men of the nation would come into it, become his subjects, and join to support the glory and splendour of it:
but Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, children: it was common with the Jews to call the disciples, or scholars of the wise men, “children”; hence that saying of theirs f, , “the disciples are called children”, which they prove from 2Ki 2:3 Isa 8:18.
How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! This he said partly to confirm what he had before said, at which his disciples were astonished; and partly to explain it, as that he was to be understood of such that trusted in their riches, set their hearts upon them, and placed their hope and happiness in them: and the great difficulty, or rather impossibility of such, at least continuing so, entering into the kingdom of God, is still more strongly expressed in the following words.
f Maimon. Hilch. Talmud Tora, c. 1. sect. 2. Moses Kotsensis Mitzvot Tora, pr. affirm. 12. Vid. T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 19. 2. Bereshit Rabba, sect. 42. fol. 36. 4. & Vajikra Rabba, sect. 11. fol. 154. 4.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Were amazed (). Imperfect passive. A look of blank astonishment was on their faces at this statement of Jesus. They in common with other Jews regarded wealth as a token of God’s special favour.
Children (). Here alone to the Twelve and this tender note is due to their growing perplexity.
For them that trust in riches ( ). These words do not occur in Aleph B Delta Memphitic and one Old Latin manuscript. Westcott and Hort omit them from their text as an evident addition to explain the difficult words of Jesus.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And His disciples were astonished at His words.” (ho de ethambounto epi tois logois autou) ”Then the disciples were amazed or confused at His words,” at what He had said, for they had so much covetousness yet in their own lives, and felt that prosperity was an evidence of Divine favor, Deu 28:1-12; Mar 9:33-34.
2) ”But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them,” (ho de lesous palin aplkritheis legei autois) ”And Jesus again responding (to their amazement) said to them,” to affirm the Divine truth He had spoken, and remove their momentary shock, regarding the dire consequence of covetousness, such as held mastery over the rich young ruler, as also over that one of Luk 12:16-21; Luk 16:19-31.
3) “Children, how hard it is,” (tekna pos duskolon estin) “Little children how hard it is,” or it exists so hard, so difficult, Mat 16:19-20. He prepared them for a statement of greater severity of such covetousness, Mar 10:25-27.
4) “For them that trust in riches,” (tous pepoithotas epi tois chremasin) “For those trusting or holding on to riches, giving first place of affection to riches,” as the rich barn builder, and Dives, the rich man who cried back from hell – or even the saved who hold covetously to their wealth, as Annanias and Sapphira, Act 5:1-11; 1Ti 6:10-11; 1Ti 6:17-19.
5) “To enter into the kingdom of God!” (eis ten basileian tou theou eiselthesin) “To enter (make a choice to enter, of their own accord) into the kingdom of God,” into the call of God, both to salvation and to His church labors, called “the kingdom of heaven” by Matthew, a phrase that seems always to refer to the church that Jesus established, Mat 6:19-20; Mat 19:23; Luk 18:24.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(24) How hard is it for them that trust in riches.The words have the appearance of limiting, and so softening, the seeming sternness of the previous utterance. There is, however, good reason for thinking, as they are wanting in the best MSS., that they were added by some one who sought to tone down the words of warning to what seemed a rational medium. Omitting the doubtful words, the sentence runs, How hard is it to enter into the kingdom of God!hard alike for rich and poor, though, as the words that follow show, it was hardest for the former.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And the disciples were amazed at his words.’
Why were the disciples amazed? Because they had still not learned the lesson that what was important in the world was not important to God. They probably thought that riches enabled men to give generously, gave them position in the synagogue and made them more capable of doing good. It gave them a decided advantage. That was because in spite of all that Jesus had taught them they still thought that eternal life could be earned. They failed to see that when men did the things that we have described their hearts were often not right, and that meanwhile they failed in so much of what they ought to have done, for they lacked compassion and mercy. And His disciples were also astonished that Jesus seemed even to pity such rich men.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
-25 ‘But Jesus answers again and says to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter under the Kingly Rule of God. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter under the Kingly Rule of God.” ’
‘Children.’ A tender word. Possibly this was a hint to them that they should remember what He had said about the need to become like little children (although the word consistently is different). But more likely it was an affectionate ‘lads’. Then He went on to stress that entry under the Kingly Rule of God was difficult for all, never mind the rich. It was not easy for anyone. That was why so few entered. And that for the rich it was virtually impossible. It was like trying to get a camel through the eye of a needle. Rich men found it hard to become like little children, bringing nothing with them and being always ready to receive freely. They relied on their own riches and enjoyed the pleasures that resulted, regularly only paying lip service to God and His purposes. They had little real sense of need and thought they could buy God’s acceptance, either by a multiplicity of sacrifices, or by gifts. They rather needed desperately to consider whether their hearts were truly right towards God.
The illustration is typical of Jesus’ vivid metaphors. The thought of a camel going through the eye of a needle was ludicrous, but it well illustrated the point of impossibility. The Babylonian Talmud would later use the picture of an elephant going through the eye of a needle. There is no foundation in fact, however, for a needle gate used by camels, which is a picturesque modern invention (in spite of photographs of ‘it’ i.e. of a gate dating centuries later), although it is an interesting suggestion. There is simply no evidence for it.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
Ver. 24. For them that trust in riches ] As most rich men do, thinking themselves simply the better and the safer for them. This blab is soon blown up.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
24. ] is remarkable and a trace of exactitude: see Joh 21:5 : so also . Mar 10:23 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mar 10:24 . , were confounded. prepares us for repetition with unmitigated severity, rather than toning down, which is what we have in T. R., through the added words, , suggesting an idea more worthy of a scribe than of Jesus; for it is not merely difficult but impossible for one trusting in riches to enter the Kingdom. Yet this is one of the places where the Sin. Syriac agrees with the T. R.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Children. Greek. Plural of teknon. App-108.
how hard, &c. = how difficult: or, how hard [a struggle] it is, &c.
trust in = rely upon. Referring to feeling rather than to faith.
in = upon. Greek. epi. App-104.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
24.] is remarkable and a trace of exactitude: see Joh 21:5 :-so also . Mar 10:23.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mar 10:24. , Children) This term of address shows, that Jesus speaks with pity, but at the same time with truth: and that He freely declares the fact to His disciples.- , those that trust) puffed up thereby, so as not to obey the word of God: ch. Mar 4:19; Psa 62:10; 1Ti 6:17. [The number of those who hare riches is not much greater than that of those who trust in them.-V. g.]
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
astonished
Or, amazed, i.e. as Jews: knowing that temporal prosperity was, to the Jew as such, a token of divine favour. e.g. Deu 28:1-12.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
astonished: Mat 19:25, Luk 18:26, Luk 18:27, Joh 6:60
Children: Joh 13:33, Joh 21:5, Gal 4:19, 1Jo 2:1, 1Jo 4:4, 1Jo 5:21
trust: Job 31:24, Job 31:25, Psa 17:14, Psa 49:6, Psa 49:7, Psa 52:7, Psa 62:10, Pro 11:28, Pro 18:11, Pro 23:5, Jer 9:23, Eze 28:4, Eze 28:5, Hab 2:9, Zep 1:18, Luk 12:16-21, Luk 16:14, 1Ti 6:17, Jam 5:1-3, Rev 3:17
Reciprocal: Gen 43:29 – God Est 5:11 – the glory Pro 10:15 – rich Mat 7:21 – shall Mat 19:24 – It Act 14:22 – enter Act 17:20 – strange
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4
The words trust in riches gives the key to this subject, which is expressed also by Paul in 1Ti 6:17, and is virtually the same as “the love of money” in the same chapter and verse 10.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 10:24. Were amazed. The word is a strong one. Mark introduces this astonishment of the disciples earlier than Matthew, and adds the Lords explanation: Children (a term of affection to tranquillize them), how hard it is for them that trust in riches, etc. That this trust is almost inseparable from the possession of riches, is implied by the connection with Mar 10:25 (on which see Mat 19:24). Some ancient authorities omit: for them that trust in riches, thus making the statement more general.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
This verse is unique to Mark. The disciples’ amazement arose from the popular belief that riches were a result of God’s blessing for righteousness. They thought riches were an advantage, not a disadvantage in one’s relationship with God. Here only in the Gospels Jesus addressed the disciples as "children" (Gr. tekna). Their amazement revealed their spiritual immaturity.
The longer textual reading at the end of Mar 10:24 gives the sense of Jesus’ statement, but it was probably not a part of the Gospel originally. The shorter statement is perfectly true as it stands and accounts partially for the disciples’ second amazement (Mar 10:26). Jesus’ statement in Mar 10:25 also helps us understand their surprise.