What Does Mark 10:27 Mean?
Mark 10:27 meaning: what Jesus meant when he said all things are possible with God and how this applies to salvation and impossible situations
Clear Bible Translation
Modern EnglishJesus looked at them and said, "For people, it's impossible. But not for God — because all things are possible with God."
King James Version
And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
Exegetical Breakdown
Mark recorded this teaching during Jesus' final journey to Jerusalem, likely around 30 AD, when Jesus was preparing his disciples for the radical demands of following him to the cross.
Jesus spoke these words to his bewildered disciples after the rich young ruler walked away, unable to surrender his wealth for eternal life. The disciples had just witnessed their rabbi tell someone that salvation required giving up everything — a demand that shattered their assumptions about who could enter God's kingdom. When they asked 'Who then can be saved?' Jesus responded by distinguishing between human capability and divine power. The word 'impossible' (adynatos) carries the sense of complete powerlessness, not mere difficulty. Jesus wasn't offering false comfort but revealing a fundamental truth: salvation operates entirely outside human achievement or effort. The phrase 'all things are possible' doesn't grant carte blanche for any human desire, but specifically refers to God's ability to accomplish what appears humanly impossible — like transforming hearts so attached to worldly security that they would choose poverty over paradise.
This exchange occurs immediately after the rich young ruler's encounter with Jesus, where the man asked about eternal life but couldn't accept Jesus' call to sell everything and follow him. The disciples' shock reveals their cultural assumption that wealth indicated God's blessing and made salvation easier, not harder. Jesus uses this teachable moment to overturn their understanding of how people enter God's kingdom, preparing them for the radical nature of his own approaching sacrifice.
Read the full chapter: Mark 10 →
Practical Application
This reveals that spiritual transformation cannot be manufactured through human effort, willpower, or religious performance. When facing seemingly impossible situations — whether personal change, relationship restoration, or overcoming destructive patterns — believers can find hope in God's power to accomplish what human strength cannot achieve.
The Full Book of Mark
A chapter-by-chapter breakdown covering all 16 chapters
Mark 10:27 is one moment in a larger narrative. Chapter 10 builds on what came before and sets up what follows — but that structure is invisible when you read a single verse in isolation.
From the Mark Summary
Mark is traditionally attributed to John Mark, a companion of both Peter and Paul, and was likely the first Gospel written, around the 50s–60s AD.
It presents a fast-paced, action-oriented account of Jesus’ ministry, emphasizing His role as the suffering Servant.
With vivid scenes and urgent movement from Galilee to the cross, Mark shows Jesus healing, teaching, confronting religious leaders, and ultimately dying in weakness.
The dramatic irony of a powerful Messiah who chooses the path of the cross leaves readers confronting the shocking nature of true greatness.
Parallel Passages
- Ephesians 2:8 →Connects divine omnipotence with grace
- Philippians 4:13 →Connects divine omnipotence with divine strength
- Jeremiah 29:11 →Connects divine omnipotence with divine sovereignty
Frequently Asked
- What is the context of Mark 10:27?
- Mark recorded this teaching during Jesus' final journey to Jerusalem, likely around 30 AD, when Jesus was preparing his disciples for the radical demands of following him to the cross.
- Why does Mark 10:27 matter today?
- This reveals that spiritual transformation cannot be manufactured through human effort, willpower, or religious performance. When facing seemingly impossible situations — whether personal change, relationship restoration, or overcoming destructive patterns — believers can find hope in God's power to accomplish what human strength cannot achieve.
- Where is Mark 10:27 located in Scripture?
- Mark, chapter 10, verse 27. Read Mark 10 →