Temptations to Sin

42 “And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it is better for him if instead a large millstone[a] is placed around his neck and he is thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life crippled than, having two hands, to go into hell—into the unquenchable fire![b] 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life lame than, having two feet, to be thrown into hell![c] 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out! It is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than, having two eyes, to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not extinguished.’[d] 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt becomes deprived of its salt content, by what can you make it salty? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 9:42 Literally “a millstone of a donkey”
  2. Mark 9:43 Most later Greek manuscripts add v. 44 after v. 43, “where their worm does not die and the fire is not extinguished” (identical to v. 48)
  3. Mark 9:45 Most later Greek manuscripts add v. 46 after v. 45, “where their worm does not die and the fire is not extinguished” (identical to v. 48)
  4. Mark 9:48 A quotation from Isa 66:24