Mark 10 24

Mark 10:24 kjv

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!

Mark 10:24 nkjv

And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!

Mark 10:24 niv

The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

Mark 10:24 esv

And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!

Mark 10:24 nlt

This amazed them. But Jesus said again, "Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God.

Mark 10 verses

Mark 10 24 Meaning

Mark 10:24 reveals the disciples' profound astonishment at Jesus' previous statement regarding the rich and the Kingdom of God. In response to their bewilderment, Jesus reiterates, with tender affection and profound insight, the significant challenge of entering God's divine reign. The verse highlights that entry into God's Kingdom is exceedingly difficult due to humanity's natural inability to detach from earthly attachments and truly prioritize God above all else, underscoring the counter-cultural nature of Christ's teachings compared to contemporary understandings of wealth and divine favor.

Mark 10 24 Context

Mark 10:24 is nestled within the pivotal narrative of Jesus' encounter with the rich young ruler (Mark 10:17-31). Following a devout, wealthy man's refusal to sell his possessions and follow Jesus (due to his great wealth), Jesus remarked in Mark 10:23 how "difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God." This radical statement profoundly challenged the prevailing Jewish cultural belief that material prosperity was a sign of divine blessing and thus an advantage for gaining God's favor and inheriting eternal life. The disciples, sharing this conventional worldview, were understandably "amazed" and perplexed by Jesus' words. Verse 24 is Jesus' immediate response to their astonished reaction, not contradicting but further elucidating the depth of the challenge. This forms the background for Jesus' subsequent even more astounding statement about the camel and the needle's eye (Mark 10:25) and the ultimate declaration that what is impossible for humans is possible with God (Mark 10:27).

Mark 10 24 Word analysis

• And: Connects this verse to the preceding one (Mark 10:23), indicating that the disciples' amazement is a direct reaction to Jesus' previous statement about the rich.
• the disciples: Refers to the closest followers of Jesus, those who heard His teachings directly and were privy to His more profound instructions. Their reaction signifies a widespread cultural assumption being challenged.
• were amazed: (Greek: ethambounto from thambeo) This is a strong Greek word, implying a state of astonishment mixed with awe, wonder, or even apprehension. It's not mere surprise but a profound emotional shock that challenges their fundamental understanding. It underscores how deeply Jesus' teaching countered their ingrained worldview where wealth was seen as a sign of blessing.
• at his words: Refers specifically to Jesus' statement in Mark 10:23, where He pronounced the difficulty for the wealthy to enter the Kingdom of God. This highlights that their astonishment was intellectual and theological, grappling with the implications of what Jesus taught.
• But: Introduces a contrast or a shift, signaling Jesus' response to their amazement. It's a re-engagement with their perplexity.
• Jesus said: Denotes Jesus' authoritative teaching and communication.
• to them again: (Greek: palin) Emphasizes a reiteration. Jesus is not backing down or softening the truth but reinforcing it. It suggests He perceived their lingering confusion and offered further clarification or consolation.
• Children: (Greek: Tekna) A tender and affectionate term of endearment. While they are His students, Jesus addresses them with the tenderness of a parent to his young ones. This softens the hard truth, showing His compassion for their genuine perplexity rather than rebuking their lack of understanding. It suggests His patience and desire to instruct them further.
• how difficult: (Greek: pos dyskolon) Literally "how hard" or "how troublesome." The term dyskolon denotes an arduous task or a considerable challenge. Jesus uses this to underscore the magnitude of the barrier. It is not an impossibility, but an immense, humanly insurmountable obstacle, particularly for those whose hearts are tied to worldly securities.
• it is to enter: Refers to gaining admittance, becoming a participant, or having full membership. It implies an act of coming in from outside, suggesting a transformative experience or a reordering of priorities to align with God's will.
• the kingdom of God!: The central theme of Jesus' teaching, referring to God's sovereign reign and spiritual rule, both present (in one's life now) and future (the coming heavenly realm). Entry signifies being under God's loving governance, requiring surrender of self and all one holds dear, to truly make God king over one's life.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And the disciples were amazed at his words.": This phrase establishes the emotional and intellectual state of the disciples. Their astonishment signifies a significant cognitive dissonance between their traditional understanding of wealth as blessing and Jesus' revolutionary teaching, highlighting the profound shift in perspective Jesus demanded.
• "But Jesus said to them again, 'Children,'": This marks Jesus' compassionate yet firm response. The address "Children" tenderly reassures and connects with them, acknowledging their struggle, while "again" signifies the re-emphasis of the difficult truth, underscoring its critical importance despite their difficulty in grasping it.
• "how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!": This is the core declaration of the verse. It points to a profound spiritual reality: human effort, self-sufficiency, and attachment to earthly advantages inherently obstruct entry into God's spiritual reign, which demands a complete dependence on God and a reordering of loyalties. The "difficulty" lies in man's natural inability to surrender absolute trust in material things or self-righteousness, and instead, place complete faith in God.

Mark 10 24 Bonus section

• Textual Nuance: While the English Standard Version of Mark 10:24 provided for analysis ("Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!") is concise, many significant Greek manuscripts (e.g., those underpinning the KJV, NKJV, NASB) include the phrase "τοὺς πεποιθότας ἐπὶ τοῖς χρήμασιν" ( tous pepoithotas epi tois chrēmasin), meaning "those who trust in riches." If this longer reading is considered, it explicitly clarifies why entry is difficult: not because riches are inherently evil, but because trust in them competes with trust in God, becoming a powerful obstacle to true spiritual submission. Even without this explicit phrase in the ESV, the immediate context (the rich young ruler and Jesus' previous statement in Mark 10:23) clearly implies that the difficulty is directly related to wealth and the human tendency to trust in it.
• The Kingdom's Demand: The difficulty in entering the Kingdom of God lies in the Kingdom's fundamental demand for allegiance to God above all earthly loyalties, comfort, or security. For the wealthy, riches often serve as a pseudo-security system that is extremely difficult to abandon, preventing them from experiencing complete dependence on God, which is a prerequisite for Kingdom life. For all people, regardless of wealth, the "difficulty" is universal; it is the human heart's resistance to surrender its idols and its self-sufficiency to the reign of a holy God.
• Human Impossibility, Divine Possibility: This verse perfectly sets the stage for the powerful resolution in Mark 10:27, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God." The disciples' utter astonishment ("who then can be saved?") points to the stark reality that no human, rich or poor, can earn their way into the Kingdom. It is God's divine power alone that transforms hearts and makes spiritual entry possible. The "difficulty" thus highlights the essential need for divine grace.

Mark 10 24 Commentary

Mark 10:24 functions as a compassionate reiteration by Jesus of a profoundly challenging spiritual truth. The disciples' "amazement" was not a casual surprise, but a deep shock stemming from the ingrained Jewish cultural belief that wealth indicated divine favor, making entry into the Kingdom easier, not harder. Jesus’ initial statement (Mk 10:23) turned their theology on its head. His subsequent address, "Children," softens the impact, demonstrating His loving understanding of their human struggle to grasp such a radical reversal of expectations. Yet, this tenderness does not dilute the truth; instead, He reaffirms how difficult it truly is.

This "difficulty" primarily stems from the human tendency to trust in possessions or worldly achievements for security and identity, rather than trusting in God alone. While the specific phrase "those who trust in riches" is a textual variant not in this English translation of the verse, the context clearly implies this internal obstacle. The more one possesses, the harder it can be to surrender absolute control and submit fully to God's sovereign rule, which demands a kingdom built on humility, detachment, and complete dependence on Christ. This verse subtly lays the groundwork for the subsequent statement (Mk 10:27) that such entry is ultimately impossible for humanity, revealing that salvation and entrance into God's Kingdom are entirely a work of God's grace and power, not human merit or relinquishment. It underscores the high demand of true discipleship: God must be our singular and absolute treasure.