Mark 9:33-10:16

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Who is the Greatest?

³³ Then^(A) they came to Capernaum.^(B) When He was in the house,^(C) He asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”^{(D) 34} But they were silent,^(E) because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.^{(F) 35} Sitting down, He called the Twelve^(G) and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”^{(H) 36} Then He took a child,^(I) had him stand among them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes^[a] one little child such as this in My name^(J) welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me, but Him who sent^(K) Me.”^(L)

In His Name

³⁸ John^(M) said to Him, “Teacher,^(N) we saw someone^[b] driving out demons^(O) in Your name,^(P) and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”^(Q)

³⁹ “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle^(R) in My name who can soon afterward speak evil of Me. ⁴⁰ For whoever is not against us is for us.^{(S) 41} And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink^(T) because of My name,^[c] since you belong to the Messiah^(U)—I assure you:^(V) He will never lose his reward.^(W)

Warnings from Jesus

⁴² “But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me^(X)—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone^[d](Y) were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. ⁴³ And if your hand causes your downfall, cut it off.^(Z) It is better for you to enter life maimed^(AA) than to have two hands and go to hell—the unquenchable fire,^(AB) [⁴⁴ where

⁴⁵ And if your foot causes your downfall,^(AD) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame^(AE) than to have two feet and be thrown into hell— [the unquenchable fire,^{(AF) 46} where

⁴⁷ And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God^(AH) with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown^(AI) into hell,^{(AJ) 48} where

⁴⁹ For everyone will be salted with fire.^{[j](AK)[k] 50} Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you make it salty?^(AL) Have salt^(AM) among yourselves and be at peace^(AN) with one another.”

The Question of Divorce

10 He^(AO) set out from there and went to the region of Judea^(AP) and across the Jordan.^(AQ) Then crowds converged on Him again and, as He usually did, He began teaching^(AR) them once more. ² Some Pharisees^(AS) approached Him to test^(AT) Him. They asked, “Is it lawful^(AU) for a man to divorce^(AV) his wife?”^(AW)

³ He replied to them, “What did Moses^(AX) command you?”

⁴ They said, “Moses permitted us to write divorce papers^(AY) and send her away.”^(AZ)

⁵ But Jesus told them, “He wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts.^{(BA) 6} But from the beginning^(BB) of creation^(BC) God^[l] made them male and female.^(BD)[m]

So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate.”^(BG)

¹⁰ Now in the house the disciples questioned Him again about this matter. ¹¹ And He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife^(BH) and marries^(BI) another commits adultery^(BJ) against her. ¹² Also, if she divorces her husband^(BK) and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Blessing the Children

¹³ Some^(BL) people were bringing little children^(BM) to Him so He might touch them, but His disciples rebuked^(BN) them. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw it, He was indignant^(BO) and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me.^(BP) Don’t stop^(BQ) them, for the kingdom of God^(BR) belongs to such as these. ¹⁵ I assure you:^(BS) Whoever does not welcome^[p](BT) the kingdom of God like a little child^(BU) will never enter it.” ¹⁶ After taking them in His arms, He laid His hands on^(BV) them and blessed^(BW) them.