Mark 10:36 kjv
And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
Mark 10:36 nkjv
And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?"
Mark 10:36 niv
"What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.
Mark 10:36 esv
And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?"
Mark 10:36 nlt
"What is your request?" he asked.
Mark 10 36 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 20:20-21 | Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came up to him... “Say that these two my sons may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” | Parallel account, similar request from mother. |
| Mark 10:32-34 | ...going up to Jerusalem, and he told them what was to happen to him: “...delivered over to the chief priests... condemned to death... mock... flog... crucify...” | Immediate preceding context of Jesus' suffering. |
| Mark 10:38 | Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink...?” | Jesus' follow-up question, exposing their ignorance. |
| Mark 10:42-45 | Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them... But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant...” | Jesus' subsequent teaching on true leadership. |
| Matt 20:25-28 | Parallel teaching to Mark 10:42-45. | Clarifies servanthood and ransom. |
| Luke 22:24-27 | A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as greatest. | Disciples' ongoing struggle with status. |
| Mark 8:34 | And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” | Calls for self-denial in discipleship. |
| Mark 8:31-33 | ...began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things... Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. | Disciples' consistent misunderstanding of Jesus' path. |
| Mark 9:33-35 | ...when he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” ...“If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” | Previous argument among disciples about greatness. |
| Mark 10:51 | And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” | Similar question from Jesus, eliciting a desire for help. |
| Luke 18:41 | What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” | Another instance of Jesus asking the "What do you want" question. |
| Phil 2:5-8 | Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself... | Christ's example of humility and self-sacrifice. |
| 1 Pet 5:5-6 | Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God... | Teaching on humility for believers. |
| Jas 4:3 | You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. | Addresses asking God with wrong motives. |
| 1 Kgs 3:5-9 | At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” Solomon chose wisdom over personal glory. | Contrast with a righteous desire. |
| Isa 53:3-5 | He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief... But he was wounded for our transgressions... | Prophecy of the Suffering Servant, which the disciples overlooked. |
| Jer 17:9-10 | The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and test the mind... | God knows hidden desires of the heart. |
| John 15:7 | If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. | Asking is contingent on abiding in Christ's will. |
| Rom 8:26-27 | Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us... | Humans often do not know what is truly best. |
| Matt 7:7 | “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” | General principle of asking, with underlying presupposition of God's will. |
| Luke 10:40-42 | Martha was distracted with much serving. But Mary had chosen the good portion... | Contrast in 'wants' or priorities for disciples. |
| Eccl 7:2 | It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all mankind... | Focus on mortality, humbling of human ambition. |
Mark 10 verses
Mark 10 36 Meaning
Mark 10:36 presents Jesus' direct question to James and John, "What do you want me to do for you?" This query serves to draw out their true ambition for places of honor in His kingdom, immediately after Jesus has foretold His own suffering and death for the third time. The question acts as a gentle but profound probe into their hearts, revealing their earthly perspective on greatness and power, in stark contrast to the suffering servanthood Jesus exemplifies and teaches. It is a moment of divine pedagogy, setting the stage for one of Jesus' most significant teachings on leadership and sacrifice.
Mark 10 36 Context
This verse immediately follows Jesus' third and most detailed prediction of His impending suffering, death, and resurrection in Jerusalem (Mark 10:32-34). While Jesus is gravely describing His destiny of suffering, the disciples, and particularly James and John, appear to be consumed by aspirations of status and power within an anticipated earthly kingdom. Their request in Mark 10:35, which prompts Jesus' question in verse 36, underscores their profound misunderstanding of the true nature of His kingdom and mission. This interaction occurs on the final journey to Jerusalem, a journey heavy with prophetic fulfillment, yet met with the disciples' repeated earthly aspirations and competitive spirits (also seen in Mark 9:33-35). Culturally, sitting at the "right hand" and "left hand" was a position of supreme honor and authority in an eastern court, indicating a chief minister or closest advisor. This reflects the common Jewish expectation of a Messiah who would establish a political kingdom and overthrow Roman rule.
Mark 10 36 Word analysis
- And he said (Καὶ εἶπεν, Kai eipen): This connects the verse directly to the preceding dialogue. Jesus takes the initiative to respond to their request, showing His patient engagement rather than an immediate rebuke. It's a deliberative opening for a vital teaching.
- unto them (αὐτοῖς, autois): Specifically addressed to James and John, the sons of Zebedee (as context from v. 35 makes clear). It signifies a personal interaction designed to expose their motivation.
- What (Τί, Ti): This interrogative pronoun is characteristic of Jesus' teaching method. He often uses "what" questions (e.g., to Bartimaeus in Mark 10:51, to Jairus in Mark 5:36) not to gain information He doesn't already possess, but to compel the questioner or recipient to articulate their desires, motivations, or understanding, forcing a confrontation with their true thoughts. It serves to reveal and diagnose their spiritual condition.
- do you want (θέλετε, thelete): From the verb thelō (θέλω), meaning "to will," "to wish," "to desire," "to choose." This term signifies a strong desire, intention, or resolve. Jesus is asking not just about a fleeting thought but about their inner disposition and what they genuinely yearn for from Him. It highlights their will directed towards worldly gain.
- me to do (ποιῆσαί, poiēsai): From poiéō (ποιέω), meaning "to do" or "to make." This implies Jesus' authority and capability to fulfill their desire, but also tests their understanding of the limits and nature of His power and purpose. Their request indicates a view of Jesus as a benefactor who dispenses favors in an earthly power structure.
- for you (ὑμῖν, hymin): This emphasizes the self-centeredness of their request. Their focus is on their own benefit and status, not on service or God's will. The question highlights the chasm between their self-exalting ambition and Jesus' mission of self-sacrificing love and service for others.
Mark 10 36 Bonus section
This particular question, "What do you want me to do for you?", is one Jesus poses multiple times throughout the Gospels, especially to those seeking healing or help. However, here, it takes on an ironic and educational twist. Unlike the blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:51) who asks for sight, a request fully aligned with God's compassionate will, James and John ask for self-exalting positions. This stark difference underscores the human tendency to seek power rather than embrace humble service, and God's patience in guiding even His closest followers toward true spiritual understanding. Jesus' question, therefore, serves not only to reveal their motives but also to initiate a vital teaching moment on kingdom values, highlighting the path of the Suffering Servant as opposed to the path of worldly rulers. It foreshadows that true spiritual "sitting" in His presence involves participating in His "cup" of suffering and "baptism" of affliction, something they initially did not grasp.
Mark 10 36 Commentary
Mark 10:36 captures a moment of stark contrast between Jesus' mission and the disciples' perception. After explicitly outlining His path to suffering and death, Jesus, with divine patience and wisdom, directly asks James and John to articulate their self-serving request for power and glory. This seemingly simple question, "What do you want me to do for you?", acts as a diagnostic probe into their earthly ambitions and their profound misunderstanding of His kingdom. It demonstrates Jesus' method of patient revelation, allowing their motives to surface so He could teach them about the true nature of discipleship: servanthood and sacrifice, not status and dominion. This interaction underlines the perennial challenge for followers of Christ to shed worldly ambitions and align their desires with His divine, cruciform path. It teaches that seeking personal exaltation within God's kingdom is a fundamental misinterpretation of His character and call.