And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss is that Jesus wasn't just traveling; he was actively seeking out people to teach. The phrase "as he was wont" highlights this wasn't a new hobby but a deeply ingrained habit, revealing his relentless commitment to God's work despite his own physical journey toward Jerusalem.
And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has left Galilee, likely seeking a quieter ministry after a period of intense crowds and opposition. He's now ministering in the region beyond the Jordan River, still drawing large followings as he continues his custom of teaching them. This move sets the stage for a critical encounter with the Pharisees regarding divorce, a topic directly tied to the Mosaic Law and their understanding of God's will.
Jesus' steps were not random; they were a purposeful march toward Jerusalem, even as crowds continued to seek Him out.
Mark 10:1 tells us Jesus "left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan." This wasn't a casual detour. The Gospel writers emphasize that His journey towards Jerusalem was deliberate. Even though He knew His path led to suffering and death, Jesus didn't shy away. Instead, He continued His ministry, teaching and healing, fully aware of His impending mission.
This highlights a profound aspect of Jesus' character: unwavering commitment even in the face of certain hardship. His movement towards Judea and the Jordan region was a step closer to the cross, a testament to His obedience to the Father's will.
Despite His own journey's gravity, Jesus' custom was to meet the people's needs through teaching.
The verse notes that 'crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.' This repeated action, described as His 'custom' or 'wont,' reveals Jesus' deep-seated commitment to His mission.
Even as He moved into a new region and faced the intense pressure of His impending crucifixion, Jesus didn't abandon His teaching ministry. The crowds, drawn by His presence and message, found Him ready to impart God's truth. This wasn't just a job; it was His very way of life, a divine calling He consistently fulfilled.
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This passage marks a pivotal moment as Jesus leaves His Galilean base and moves towards Jerusalem. His ministry in Perea, east of the Jordan, serves as a crucial period of teaching before His final confrontation and crucifixion.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Galilean Ministry
Jesus spent much of His public ministry in Galilee, teaching, healing, and gathering disciples. This period saw numerous miracles and encounters with religious leaders.
c. AD 29-30
Journey to Jerusalem for Feast of Tabernacles
Jesus traveled to Jerusalem for a major festival, during which He taught in the Temple and encountered significant opposition. This journey involved passing through Samaria.
c. AD 29-30— this verse
Ministry in Perea (Beyond the Jordan)
After leaving Galilee and a significant visit to Jerusalem, Jesus journeyed to the region east of the Jordan River (Perea). Here, crowds gathered, and He continued His teaching ministry.
c. AD 30
Pharisees Question Jesus on Divorce
During His time in Perea, religious leaders, including Pharisees, confronted Jesus with a question about the permissibility of divorce, seeking to trap Him.
c. AD 30
Jesus Teaches on Marriage and Divorce
In response to the Pharisees and later to His disciples, Jesus expounded on God's original design for marriage, condemning divorce and emphasizing its sanctity.
c. AD 30
Journey Towards Jerusalem for Passover
Following His ministry in Perea, Jesus began the final journey towards Jerusalem for His last Passover, knowing His impending suffering and death.
This passage highlights Jesus' custom of teaching in the synagogue, mirroring the habitual nature of His teaching described in Mark 10:1.
Matthew 19:1This verse shares the same geographical movement and narrative context, indicating a wider pattern of Jesus' ministry drawing crowds and teaching.
John 10:40This passage places Jesus in the region beyond the Jordan, linking to Mark 10:1's description of His location and ministry in that area.
Luke 5:15This verse describes crowds gathering to hear Jesus and seeking healing, echoing the scene in Mark 10:1 where people 'resort to him again' and He teaches them.
bengelMark 10:1: "And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again."
Mark 10:1 . Καὶ ἐκεῖθεν ἀναστὰς , and having arisen from thence ) The antithesis is not so much to Capernaum, where He had taught sitting, ch. Mark 9:33 ; Mark 9:35 , as to Galilee, Mark 9:30 .— διὰ τοῦ ) See App. Crit. Ed. ii. on this passage.[10]— ὡς εἰώθει , as He had been wont ) The habitual acts of Jesus…
ellicottMark 10:1: "And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again."
X. (1) And he arose from thence.—We may note, as some help to a right study of the Gospel narrative, that the best harmonists place Matthew 18:15-35, Luke 10:1 to Luke 17:10 (with the exception of Mark 15:3-7), and John 7:1 to John 11:54, between the 9th and 10th chapters of this Gospel. The “farther side of J…
What's easy to miss is that Jesus wasn't just traveling; he was actively seeking out people to teach. The phrase "as he was wont" highlights this wasn't a new hobby but a deeply ingrained habit, revealing his relentless commitment to God's work despite his own physical journey toward Jerusalem.
Jesus has left Galilee, likely seeking a quieter ministry after a period of intense crowds and opposition. He's now ministering in the region beyond the Jordan River, still drawing large followings as he continues his custom of teaching them. This move sets the stage for a critical encounter with the Pharisees regarding divorce, a topic directly tied to the Mosaic Law and their understanding of God's will.
Jesus has left Galilee, likely seeking a quieter ministry after a period of intense crowds and opposition. He's now ministering in the region beyond the Jordan River, still drawing large followings as he continues his custom of teaching them. This move sets the stage for a critical encounter with the Pharisees regarding divorce, a topic directly tied to the Mosaic Law and their understanding of God's will.
"And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them." — What's easy to miss is that Jesus wasn't just traveling; he was actively seeking out people to teach. The phrase "as he was wont" highlights this wasn't a new hobby but a deeply ingrained habit, reve…
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Last reviewed October 2026