Mark 10:27 Meaning and Explanation
“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →You have looked at it honestly and concluded it cannot be done. The change you cannot manage in yourself, the person you cannot reach, the situation that has not budged after every effort. You have measured it against your own strength and come up short, and the silence afterward feels final. Into that exact moment Jesus turns and speaks. He does not deny how heavy the wall is. He lifts it from your hands into the hands of God, where all things are possible.
What no human effort can accomplish, God can, and our salvation rests entirely in His hands.
The Context of Mark 10:27
A rich young man has just walked away sorrowful, unwilling to part with his wealth to follow Jesus. The disciples are stunned, asking, 'Who then can be saved?' Jesus looks at them and answers their astonishment.
What Does Mark 10:27 Mean?
Mark notes something tender before Jesus speaks: He looked upon them. It is a steady, searching gaze, the look of someone who wants to be understood. The disciples had assumed that wealth was a sign of God's favor, so if a rich man could not be saved, what hope was there for anyone? Jesus does not soften the difficulty. He agrees that, measured by human ability, entering God's kingdom is flatly impossible. No amount of effort, goodness, or resources can purchase it. Then He turns the whole matter on its hinge: 'but not with God.'
Here is the heart of the gospel in a single line. Salvation is impossible for us to achieve and entirely possible for God to give. The thing we could never do for ourselves, God does. And we know how He did it, because this same Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem to give His life as a ransom. The 'all things are possible' He speaks of would be accomplished at the cross. What we cannot earn, He freely opens to us by His own hand.
Mark 10:27 in the Original Language
adynatos (ἀδύνατος), 'impossible' -- without power, beyond human ability to accomplish.
How to Apply Mark 10:27 Today
When salvation feels out of reach, or someone we love seems beyond hope, this verse lifts the weight off our shoulders and places it in God's hands. What is impossible for us is possible for Him, and the cross is the proof of how far He will go to make it so.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 10:27
What does Mark 10:27 mean?
What no human effort can accomplish, God can, and our salvation rests entirely in His hands.
What is the context of Mark 10:27?
A rich young man has just walked away sorrowful, unwilling to part with his wealth to follow Jesus. The disciples are stunned, asking, 'Who then can be saved?' Jesus looks at them and answers their astonishment.
How can I apply Mark 10:27 today?
When salvation feels out of reach, or someone we love seems beyond hope, this verse lifts the weight off our shoulders and places it in God's hands. What is impossible for us is possible for Him, and the cross is the proof of how far He will go to make it so.
Reflection & Prayer
Notice that Jesus meets you where you stand. With men it is impossible. He does not scold you for reaching the end of yourself, because the end of yourself is exactly where this promise begins. The weight was never meant to rest on your ability alone. Carry the impossible thing back to God today and place it gently in His keeping. Father, I bring You the thing I cannot do. Where I am out of strength, be my strength, and let what is impossible with me be possible with You. Amen.