Mark 10 3

Mark 10:3 kjv

And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?

Mark 10:3 nkjv

And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?"

Mark 10:3 niv

"What did Moses command you?" he replied.

Mark 10:3 esv

He answered them, "What did Moses command you?"

Mark 10:3 nlt

Jesus answered them with a question: "What did Moses say in the law about divorce?"

Mark 10 verses

Mark 10 3 Meaning

Jesus responds to the Pharisees' challenging question about divorce by redirecting them to the foundational authority of the Mosaic Law. He compels them to articulate their understanding of what Moses commanded, thereby shifting the ground of the debate from a legalistic loophole to an examination of God's original divine intent regarding marriage. This sets the stage for Jesus to reveal the true meaning and boundaries of God’s will, distinguishing between divine command and a concession for human sinfulness.

Mark 10 3 Context

Mark chapter 10 begins with Jesus teaching in Judea, beyond the Jordan. Following His previous teachings on humility and avoiding stumbling blocks (Mk 9), the Pharisees approach Him with a direct challenge regarding the lawfulness of divorce (Mk 10:2). This was a contentious issue within Judaism, primarily debated between the more lenient Hillel school and the stricter Shammai school, concerning the grounds for a husband divorcing his wife as outlined in Dt 24:1. The Pharisees' question to Jesus, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?", was a calculated trap, designed either to align Him with a specific rabbinic school or to put Him at odds with Mosaic Law, thereby diminishing His authority in the eyes of the people. In response, Mark 10:3 shows Jesus immediately turning the question back on them, demanding that they first articulate their understanding of the very law they are using to test Him.

Mark 10 3 Word analysis

• He: Refers directly to Jesus, establishing His immediate engagement with the challenge posed by the Pharisees. It highlights His authoritative position as the one providing the divine answer.
• answered: From the Greek apokritheis (ἀποκριθεὶς), a common New Testament participle indicating a response to a question. It suggests a thoughtful and direct counter, rather than evasiveness.
• and said: From the Greek eipen (εἶπεν), a typical verb linking actions, simply indicating that He then spoke.
• to them: Refers to the Pharisees, the group who initiated the deceptive query. This underscores Jesus' direct address to His interrogators, making them confront their own legalistic interpretation.
• "What: From the Greek ti (τί), an interrogative pronoun. This word indicates an open-ended question that compels the Pharisees to articulate their specific knowledge and interpretation, rather than simply confirming or denying a pre-set answer.
• did Moses: From the Greek Mōysēs (Μωϋσῆς). Moses represents the Torah, the foundational Law given by God, revered as the ultimate source of divine instruction in Judaism. Jesus brings the conversation back to the scriptural authority that the Pharisees claim to uphold.
• command: From the Greek eneteilato (ἐνετείλατο), meaning to command, instruct, order, or charge. This is a critical word, implying a direct and authoritative divine mandate. By using "command," Jesus prepares for His later distinction between what Moses commanded (which was nothing about divorce as a good thing) and what he permitted due to human fallenness. He is probing their understanding of God's original intent versus mere concession.
• you?": From the Greek hymin (ὑμῖν), the plural pronoun "you." It personalizes the question, putting the onus directly on the Pharisees to explain their adherence and interpretation of Moses' instructions. It highlights their responsibility as interpreters and practitioners of the Law.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "He answered and said to them": This phrase signifies Jesus immediately taking control of the discussion. Instead of falling into their trap, He masterfully redirects the challenge, engaging them directly and authoritatively.
• "What did Moses command you?": This entire question is a brilliant pedagogical and rhetorical move by Jesus. It immediately shifts the burden of proof and definition onto His questioners, compelling them to articulate their understanding of Mosaic Law regarding marriage. By asking about a "command," Jesus forces them to consider if divorce was truly an ideal commanded by God through Moses, or merely an allowance. This directly sets up His profound clarification in the subsequent verses.

Mark 10 3 Bonus section

This verse exemplifies a common teaching method employed by Jesus: answering a question with a question. This approach effectively defused adversarial traps, revealed the true motives and shallow understanding of His interrogators, and compelled them towards self-reflection on their own assumed authorities and interpretations. It highlights the deeper spiritual principle that God’s original design and heart are often obscured by human legalism and interpretations that seek loopholes rather than truth. It demonstrates that the core of God's Law points back to His foundational will, which cannot be undone by later human allowances due to sin.

Mark 10 3 Commentary

Mark 10:3 showcases Jesus' profound wisdom and theological insight in handling the cunning trap laid by the Pharisees. Rather than directly answering their loaded question about the lawfulness of divorce, Jesus redirects them to the ultimate authority they acknowledged: Moses. By asking "What did Moses command you?", He forces His interrogators to present their own understanding of the Law, exposing their legalistic focus while setting the stage for His deeper teaching. This strategic move compels them to articulate the relevant passage from Dt 24:1-4. More importantly, Jesus uses the term "command" with precise theological intention. He implicitly challenges whether the Mosaic allowance for a certificate of divorce was indeed a divine command to initiate divorce or merely a provision for handling divorce already initiated due to human "hardness of heart" (Mk 10:5). This question prepares the disciples and hearers to distinguish between God’s ideal will for marriage from creation (as He later explains) and a concession made due to the fallibility of human nature.