Mark 10:2

Translations

Modern

Some Pharisees came to test Him. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” they inquired.

Traditional

And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.

Literal

And having come, the Pharisees were questioning Him whether it is lawful for a husband to send away a wife—testing Him.

Latin

Et accedentes pharisæi interrogabant eum: Si licet viro uxorem dimittere: tentantes eum.

Interlinear

Greek

English

Some Pharisees came to test Him. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” they inquired.

Notes

Mark 10:1–2

The Pharisees asked Jesus about divorce because they wanted to trap him. Divorce was already a debated issue among the Jews (see 2:16, 18, 24; 7:5; 8:11; 12:13). John the Baptist was executed by order of Herod Antipas. John had publicly said that Herod’s marriage to Herodias was unlawful because she had been his brother’s wife (6:18–19). The Jewish historian Josephus says that John was killed near this area, east of the Jordan River, at Herod Antipas’s fortress called Machaerus (see 6:28; Josephus, Antiquities 18.5.2).

If Jesus agreed with John, the Pharisees could accuse him before Herod. But if Jesus said divorce was lawful, he would seem to disagree with a prophet.

Mark 9:30–10:31

This section is the second cycle (see study note on 8:27–9:1) containing:

a prediction about the suffering of Jesus (9:30–32),
an error by the disciples (9:33–34), and
teaching about discipleship (9:35–10:31).

Events

Jesus Teaches in Pereac. AD 30

Related verses

1 Corinthians 7:10–11
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
John 8:6
They said this to test Him, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger.
Matthew 23:13
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.
Luke 11:53–54
As Jesus went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things,
John 7:48
“Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him?
John 11:47
Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs.
Matthew 19:3
Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
Luke 11:39
Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
Luke 5:30
But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
1 Corinthians 10:9
We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes.
Matthew 16:1
Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven.
Mark 8:15
“Watch out!” He cautioned them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod.”

Parallels

Matthew 19:1–12

People

Pharisee: A strict Jewish sect known for legalism and hypocrisy

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Creation Mark, Gospel of Marriage, Marriage Customs Travel

Topics

Committing Adultery Divorce: General Scriptures Concerning Divorces Jesus, the Christ: Interprets the Law Concerning Marriage and Divorce (In Peraea) Marriage: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Polygamy: Forbidden

Mark 10:2

Translations?

Interlinear?

Notes?

Events?

Related verses?

Parallels?