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41 Amen, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will certainly not go unrewarded.

42 Woe to the World because of Scandals.[a]“If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

43 “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.[b] It is preferable for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go into the unquenchable fire of Gehenna [

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 9:42 See note on Mt 18:5-11.
  2. Mark 9:43 Cut it off: Jesus is here using hyperbole, a figure of speech that exaggerates to make a point. He means that sometimes sin can be overcome only by taking drastic action. Gehenna: the name, from the Hebrew Ge Hinnon, of a small valley southwest of Jerusalem; it was a popular image for hell because of the refuse that was continually burned there.

41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.(A)

Causing to Stumble

42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble,(B) it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.(C) 43 If your hand causes you to stumble,(D) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell,(E) where the fire never goes out.(F)

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