Mark 10:23-24  “…those who have riches to enter…those who trust in riches to enter…”
Jesus repeated the statement a slightly different way to convey what He was saying.  Riches aren’t the problem.  Trusting in them is.  Part of self reliance.  Commentaries make a big deal out of the fact that the manuscript NU doesn’t contain the phrase for those who trust in riches.  But if you leave it out you have how hard it is to enter the kingdom, which isn’t true.  I don’t think Jesus was teaching that.

26-28  “…Who then can be saved…we have left all…”
To have riches appears to have God’s blessing and thus must be closer to God or more righteous.  Disciples thought if a rich person in that state couldn’t be saved who could.  Jesus assures them God can open a person’s eyes to his lost state and help him give up self reliance to accept salvation.  Peter seems to have caught some of it at least.  But from Jesus’s answer it appears Peter was asking more about what they would receive since they had forsaken much.  Matthew even adds the words what shall we have.  We must come to the point of realizing nothing on this earth is worth more than what God can and will provide when we accept Christ.  If nothing else, we must realize everything on this earth is temporary.  It won’t last.  We lose it the day we die.  If we don’t have Christ we have nothing.  And while He doesn’t promise earthly riches, He does promise we’ll have what we need.  Doesn’t seem that way sometimes, and I don’t fully understand it, but that’s why we must trust Him.  He is trustworthy and faithful and good all the time regardless of what we see.

32  “…they were amazed…they were afraid…”
No reasons given.  I imagine the fact they were headed to Jerusalem was the issue.  They may have picked up something of what Jesus had been telling them about what was coming.  Probably amazed they would be going in this direction if disaster awaited them.  Commentaries agree as much.  Then Jesus tells them again.  The fact they didn’t understand why He must go through what was coming would have made it that much harder.  Present course made no sense.

34  “…the third day He will rise again”
Example of the time phrasing.  Same thing as three days and three nights.  Important to understand to get the timeline correct.

39  “…You will indeed drink the cup that I drink…”
History bears it out.  James was killed by Herod in Acts 12.  John lived much longer, but was at one time exiled to Patmos where he received the Revelation visions.

45  “…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…”
Greatness comes from becoming like Christ.  Benefits others as much as ourselves.

47-48  “…when he heard that it was Jesus…but he cried out all the more…”
Faith and persistence.  Jesus always responded to acts of faith.  Calling Jesus the Son of David, a reference to the Messiah, would also be a sign of faith.  Not just a good teacher, but the Christ.

I hope you enjoy reading and studying His word.  May it accomplish what He desires.  Please feel free to comment or post questions.  Thanks for reading!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.