Meaning, commentary and cross references
Mark 10:45
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
NIV · New International Version
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
WEB · World English Bible
For the Son of Man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
What does Mark 10:45 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Mark 10:45
For even the son of man,.... That is, Christ himself; a name by which he frequently goes both in the Old and New Testament to the arguments before produced, Christ adds his own example, to teach his disciples humility and lowliness of mind and to check their ambitious views and desires: came not to be ministered unto: not but that he was ministered unto even by the angels of God; who ministered to him in the wilderness, after he had been tempted by Satan; and he was also ministered unto by some women out of their substance; but these show the low estate he was in to stand in need of such ministrations: here the sense is that he did not appear as an earthly prince, with a fine equipage, a…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Mark 10:32–45
(2.) He comes obedient to death, and to its dominion, for he gives his life a ransom for many; did he die for the benefit of good people, and shall not we study to live for their benefit?
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on Mark 10:41–45
And to give his life a ransom for many. Christ mentioned his death, as we have said, in order to withdraw his disciples from the foolish imagination of an earthly kingdom. But it is a just and appropriate statement of its power and results, when he declares that his life is the price of our redemption; whence it follows, that we obtain an undeserved reconciliation with God, the price of which is to be found nowhere else than in the death of Christ. Wherefore, this single word overturns all the idle talk of the Papists about their abominable satisfactions Again, while Christ has purchased us by his death to be his property, this submission, of which he speaks, is so far from diminishing his…
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Mark 10:42–48 (WEB)
42Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that they who are recognized as rulers over the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant. 44Whoever of you wants to become first among you shall be bondservant of all. 45For the Son of Man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 46They came to Jericho. As he went out from Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. 47When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!” 48Many rebuked him, that he should be quiet, but he cried out much more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!”
Cross references
- Matthew 20:28
even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
- Philippians 2:5–8
Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus,
- 2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.
- Titus 2:14
who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.
- John 13:14
If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
- John 10:15
even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep.
- Hebrews 5:8
though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered.
- Luke 22:26–27
But not so with you. Rather, the one who is greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves.