Mark 9
New Testament for Everyone
9 “I’m telling you the truth,” he said; “some people standing here won’t experience death before they see God’s kingdom come in power.”
The transfiguration
2 A week later, Jesus took Peter, James and John away by themselves, and went up a high mountain. There he was transformed before their eyes. 3 His clothes shone with a whiteness that no laundry on earth could match. 4 Elijah appeared to them, and Moses too, and they were talking with Jesus.
5 “Teacher,” said Peter as he saw this, “it’s great to be here! Let’s make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah!” 6 (He didn’t know what to say; they were terrified.)
7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud: “This is my son, the one I love. Listen to him!”
8 Then, quite suddenly, they looked round and saw nobody there anymore, only Jesus with them.
9 As they came down the mountain, Jesus instructed them not to talk to anyone about what they had seen, “until,” he said, “the son of man has been raised from the dead.” 10 They held on to this saying among themselves, puzzling about what this “rising from the dead” might mean.
11 “Why then,” they asked him, “do the legal experts say ‘Elijah must come first’?”
12 “Elijah does come first,” he replied, “and his job is to put everything straight. But what do you think it means that ‘the son of man must suffer many things and be treated with contempt’? 13 Actually, listen to this: Elijah has already come, and they did to him whatever they wanted. That’s what scripture said about him.”
The demon-possessed boy
14 The four of them made their way back to the other disciples. There they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and legal experts arguing with them. 15 As soon as the crowd saw Jesus they were astounded, and they all ran up to greet him.
16 “What’s all the fuss about?” he asked.
17 “Teacher,” said someone from the crowd, “I brought my son to you. He’s got a spirit that stops him speaking. 18 Whenever it takes hold of him it throws him on the ground; he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and goes rigid. I spoke to your disciples about casting it out, but they couldn’t.”
19 “You unbelieving generation!” replied Jesus. “How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
20 They brought him to him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.
21 “How long has it been like this with him?” asked Jesus.
“Since childhood,” replied the man. 22 “Often it even throws him into the fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything . . . please, please help us! Have pity on us!”
23 “What d’you mean, ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible to someone who believes.”
24 At this the father gave a great shout. “I do believe!” he roared. “Help me in my unbelief!”
25 Jesus saw that the crowd was getting bigger by the minute. He scolded the unclean spirit: “Speechless and deaf spirit,” he said, “I command you—come out of him, and never go back again!”
26 The spirit yelled, gave the boy a huge convulsion, and came out. The boy seemed to be dead; in fact, several people did say “He’s dead!” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.
28 “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” asked his disciples, once they were back in the house by themselves.
29 “This sort,” replied Jesus, “can only be cast out by prayer.”
True greatness
30 They went away from there and were traveling through Galilee. Jesus didn’t want anyone to know, 31 because he was teaching his disciples.
“The ‘son of man,’ ” he was saying, “is to be given over into human hands. They will kill him; and, when he’s been killed, after three days he will rise again.”
32 They didn’t understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
33 They came to Capernaum. When they got into the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?”
34 They said nothing, because on the road they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.
35 Jesus sat down and called the Twelve. “If you want to be first,” he said, “you must be last of all, and servant of all.” 36 He took a small child, and stood it in the middle of them. Then he hugged the child, and said to them, 37 “If anyone welcomes one child like this in my name, they welcome me. And if anyone welcomes me, it isn’t me they welcome, but the one who sent me.”
Warnings about sin
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone casting out demons in your name. We stopped him, because he wasn’t following us.”
39 “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus. “No one who does powerful things by my name will be able to say bad things about me soon afterwards. 40 Anyone who’s not against us is on our side. 41 Anyone who even gives you a cup of water in my name, because you belong to the Messiah—I’m telling you the truth, that person won’t go unrewarded.
42 “Think about these little ones who believe in me,” he went on. “If anyone causes one of them to slip up, it would be much better for that person to have a huge millstone put around their neck, and be thrown into the sea.
43 “And if your hand causes you to slip up, cut it off. It’s better for you to go into life maimed than to have two hands and go into Gehenna, into the fire that never goes out.
45 “And if your foot causes you to slip up, cut it off. It’s better for you to go into life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into Gehenna.
47 “And if your eye causes you to slip up, throw it away. It’s better for you to go into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into Gehenna, 48 where
their worm lives on forever
and the fire can never be quenched.
49 “You see, everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is great stuff; but if salt becomes unsalty, how can you make it salty again? You need salt among yourselves. Live at peace with each other.”
Markus 9
Swedish New Living Bible (Nya Levande Bibeln)
9 Jesus sa vidare till dem: Några av er som står här nu, kommer att leva kvar och få se Guds rike komma med väldig kraft.
Jesus förvandlas på berget
2 Sex dagar senare tog Jesus med sig Petrus, Jakob och Johannes till toppen av ett högt berg.Plötsligt förändrades hans utseende mitt framför ögonen på dem.
3 Hans kläder blev bländande vita, så att inget blekningsmedel i hela världen kan göra kläder så vita.
4 Sedan visade sig Elia och Mose och började samtala med Jesus.
5 Upphetsad ropade Petrus: Mästare! Här är det skönt att vara. Vi bygger tre hyddor! En för var och en av er.
6 Han sa detta bara för att säga något, för han visste helt enkelt inte vad han skulle säga, och alla tre var rädda och förvirrade.
7 Men medan han talade sveptes de in i ett moln, som sänkte sig ner och en röst från molnet sa: Han är min älskade Son. Lyssna till honom!
8 Då lärjungarna såg sig omkring var Mose och Elia borta, men Jesus var kvar hos dem.
9 När de gick ner för bergssluttningen befallde Jesus dem att inte med ett ord nämna om vad de sett, förrän Människosonen uppstått från de döda.
10 Därför höll de det för sig själva, men talade ofta om det och undrade vad han menade med att uppstå från de döda.
11 De frågade honom nu om något som judarnas religiösa ledare ofta påstod, nämligen att Elia måste komma tillbaka innan Människosonen gör det.
12-13 Jesus höll med dem om att Elia först måste komma och bereda vägen. Ja, han sa att han hade faktiskt redan kommit och att man misshandlat honom fruktansvärt, precis som profeterna hade förutsagt. Sedan frågade Jesus dem vad profeterna kunde ha menat när de förutsa att Människosonen skulle få lida och bli illa behandlad av alla.
Jesus botar en pojke som är besatt av en ond ande
14 Nedanför berget hade mycket folk samlats, och resten av lärjungarna hade råkat i diskussion med några judiska ledare.
15 När de fick se Jesus komma gående blev de häpna och sprang fram till honom för att hälsa på honom.
16 Vad är det ni diskuterar? frågade han.
17 En man i folkhopen sa då: Mästare, jag har tagit min pojke med mig hit för att du skulle bota honom. Han kan inte tala eftersom han är besatt av en ond ande.
18 Och varje gång anden går till attack, slår den honom till marken och får honom att tugga fradga och gnissla tänder, och han blir alldeles stel. Därför bad jag dina lärjungar att driva ut den onde anden, men de kunde inte det.
19 Ska ni då aldrig börja tro, utbrast Jesus. Hur länge måste jag vara tillsammans med er innan ni lär er det? Kom hit med pojken.
20 Då kom de fram med pojken. Men när han fick se Jesus ryckte och slet anden i honom, och han föll till marken i krampryckningar och fradgan skummade runt munnen på honom.
21 Hur länge har det här hållit på? frågade Jesus fadern. Han svarade: Sedan han var mycket liten.
22 Ofta får den onde anden honom att falla i elden eller i vattnet för att ta död på honom. Hjälp oss, om du kan!
23 Om jag kan? svarade Jesus. Allt är möjligt om du tror på mig.
24 Jag tror, utropade fadern. Hjälp min otro!
25 Jesus såg att folk nu kom springande från alla håll. Då tillrättavisade han den onde anden: Du döve och stumme ande, sa han, jag befaller dig att komma ut ur detta barn och aldrig mer fara in i honom!
26 Anden skrek då vilt och började rycka och slita i pojken men for till sist ut ur honom. Pojken låg sedan som livlös på marken, och många mumlade: Han är död.
27 Men Jesus tog honom i handen och hjälpte honom upp på fötterna och han reste sig upp.
28 När Jesus efteråt kom inomhus och blev ensam med sina lärjungar, frågade de honom: Varför kunde inte vi driva ut den onde anden?
29 Jesus svarade: Andar av det slaget kan bara drivas ut som svar på bön.
Jesus förutsäger för andra gången hur han ska dö
30-31 Sedan lämnade Jesus och lärjungarna området och gick genom Galileen. Eftersom han fortfarande hade mycket att undervisa dem om, ville han vara ensam med dem och försökte därför att undvika all uppmärksamhet. Människosonen kommer snart att bli förrådd, sa han, för att förbereda dem på vad som skulle hända. Och man ska döda honom, men tre dagar senare ska han återvända till livet.
32 Men de förstod inte vad han menade, och de vågade inte heller fråga honom.
Lärjungarna diskuterar vem av dem som är störst
33 Så kom de till Kafarnaum. När de gjort sig hemmastadda i huset där de skulle bo, frågade Jesus dem: Vad pratade ni om på vägen?
34 Men de skämdes för att svara för de hade diskuterat med varandra om vem som var störst.
35 Då satte han sig ner och bad dem slå sig ner runt om och sa till dem: Den som vill vara den störste måste underordna sig andra och tjäna andra.
36 Sedan ropade han på ett litet barn och ställde det mitt ibland dem och lade armen om barnet och sa:
37 Den som av kärlek tar emot ett sådant barn, han tar emot mig. Och den som tar emot mig, han tar emot Gud själv eftersom Gud har sänt mig.
Lärjungarna förbjuder en man att använda Jesu namn
38 Johannes, en av lärjungarna, sa en dag till honom: Mästare, vi träffade en man som använde ditt namn för att driva ut onda andar. Men vi sa till honom att inte göra det, för han tillhörde ju inte vår grupp.
39 Det skulle ni inte ha gjort! sa Jesus. Den som gör under i mitt namn kan plötsligt inte vara emot mig.
40 Den som inte är emot oss är för oss.
41 Den som ger er något för att ni tillhör Kristus, om så bara ett glas vatten att dricka, ska inte bli utan belöning.
42 Men om någon berövar dessa små deras tro på mig, ja, det skulle då vara bättre för den människan att man hängde en tung kvarnsten runt halsen på henne och kastade henne i havet.
Jesus varnar för frestelse
43-44 Om din hand är orsak till att du kommer bort från Gud, så hugg av den. Det är bättre att gå in i det eviga livet med en hand än att med alla lemmar i behåll kastas i helvetet, i den eld som aldrig slocknar.
45-46 Om din fot får dig på fall, så hugg av den. Det är bättre för dig att vara handikappad för alltid än att med båda fötterna i behåll marschera mot helvetet.
47 Och om ditt öga får dig att synda, så riv ut det. Det är bättre att gå in i Guds rike med ett öga, än att ha båda i behåll och kastas i helvetets eld.
48 Där kommer plågorna aldrig att ta slut och elden aldrig att slockna.
49 Som man förbereder offerdjuren i templet med salt så måste också ni saltas med eld.
50 Salt är gott och nödvändigt så länge det verkar. Sen är det värdelöst. Se därför till att ni inte förlorar er salthalt. Och lev i fred med varandra.
Mark 9
New King James Version
The Transfiguration of Christ(A)
9 And He said to them, (B)“Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see (C)the kingdom of God [a]present with power.”
Jesus Transfigured on the Mount
2 (D)Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly (E)white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— 6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.
7 And a (F)cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is (G)My beloved Son. (H)Hear Him!” 8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.
9 (I)Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning (J)what the rising from the dead meant.
11 And they asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say (K)that Elijah must come first?”
12 Then He answered and told them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And (L)how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and (M)be treated with contempt? 13 But I say to you that (N)Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”
A Boy Is Healed(O)
14 (P)And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”
17 Then (Q)one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”
19 He answered him and said, “O (R)faithless[b] generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I [c]bear with you? Bring him to Me.” 20 Then they brought him to Him. And (S)when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.
21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”
And he said, “From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said to him, (T)“If[d] you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; (U)help my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He (V)rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
28 (W)And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but (X)prayer [e]and fasting.”
Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection
30 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. 31 (Y)For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will (Z)kill Him. And after He is killed, He will (AA)rise the third day.” 32 But they (AB)did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.
Who Is the Greatest?(AC)
33 (AD)Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you [f]disputed among yourselves on the road?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had (AE)disputed among themselves who would be the (AF)greatest. 35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, (AG)“If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then (AH)He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and (AI)whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”
Jesus Forbids Sectarianism(AJ)
38 (AK)Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”
39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, (AL)for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For (AM)he who is not against [g]us is on [h]our side. 41 (AN)For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
Jesus Warns of Offenses(AO)
42 (AP)“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me [i]to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. 43 (AQ)If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life [j]maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to [k]hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— 44 [l]where
(AR)‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into [m]hell, [n]into the fire that shall never be quenched— 46 where
(AS)‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into [o]hell fire— 48 where
Tasteless Salt Is Worthless
49 “For everyone will be (AV)seasoned with fire, (AW)and[p] every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. 50 (AX)Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? (AY)Have salt in yourselves, and (AZ)have peace with one another.”
Footnotes
- Mark 9:1 having come
- Mark 9:19 unbelieving
- Mark 9:19 put up with
- Mark 9:23 NU “ ‘If You can!’ All things
- Mark 9:29 NU omits and fasting
- Mark 9:33 discussed
- Mark 9:40 M you
- Mark 9:40 M your
- Mark 9:42 To fall into sin
- Mark 9:43 crippled
- Mark 9:43 Gr. Gehenna
- Mark 9:44 NU omits v. 44.
- Mark 9:45 Gr. Gehenna
- Mark 9:45 NU omits the rest of v. 45 and all of v. 46.
- Mark 9:47 Gr. Gehenna
- Mark 9:49 NU omits the rest of v. 49.
Mark 9
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 9
1 Then he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”[a]
Jesus Is Transfigured.[b] 2 Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And in their presence he was transfigured; 3 his clothes became dazzling white—whiter than anyone on earth could bleach them. 4 And Elijah with Moses appeared, conversing with Jesus.
5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tents—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He did not know what to say, for they were so frightened. 7 Then a cloud cast a shadow over them, and a voice came out of the cloud: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” 8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus.
Elijah Has Already Come.[c] 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus ordered them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 Therefore, they kept the matter to themselves, although they did argue about what rising from the dead could possibly mean.
11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 12 He said to them, “Elijah will indeed come first and restore all things. Yet how is it written about the Son of Man?—that he must endure great suffering and be treated with contempt! 13 However, I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written about him.”
14 Jesus Heals a Boy Possessed by a Spirit.[d] When they returned to the disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some scribes were engaged in an argument with them. 15 As soon as the people saw Jesus, they were overcome with awe and ran forward to greet him. 16 He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”
17 A man in the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I have brought you my son who is possessed by a spirit that makes him unable to speak. 18 Wherever it seizes him, it flings him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.”
19 Jesus said to them in reply, “O unbelieving generation, how much longer shall I remain with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 When they brought the boy to him, the spirit saw him and immediately threw the child into convulsions. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21 Jesus asked the father, “How long has the boy been in this condition?” “From childhood,” he replied. 22 “It has often tried to kill him by throwing him into a fire or into water. If it is possible for you to do anything, have pity on us and help us.” 23 Jesus answered, “If it is possible! All things are possible for one who has faith.” 24 Immediately, the father of the child cried out, “I do believe. Help my unbelief.”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering around them, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and mute spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!” 26 Shrieking and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out of him. He lay there like a corpse, so that many remarked, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.
28 When he went indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why were we not able to cast it out?” 29 He answered, “This kind cannot be driven out except by prayer [and by fasting].”[e]
30 Jesus Predicts His Passion a Second Time.[f] They proceeded from there and began to journey through Galilee, but Jesus did not want anyone to know about it 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man[g] will be handed over into the power of men. They will kill him, and three days after being killed he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he was saying, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
33 The Greatest in the Kingdom.[h] They came to Capernaum, and once they were in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about during the journey?” 34 But they remained silent, for on the way they had been arguing about which one of them was the greatest.
35 Then he sat down, summoned the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he must become the last of all and the servant of all.” 36 He then took a child, placed it in their midst, and put his arms around it as he said, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me receives not me but the one who sent me.”
38 Whoever Is Not against Us Is for Us. John said to him, “Teacher, we observed someone expelling demons in your name, and we forbade him because he was not one of us.”[i] 39 Jesus replied, “Do not hinder him, for no one who performs a miracle in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 Whoever is not against us is for us. 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.[j]“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.[k] It is preferable for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go into the unquenchable fire of Gehenna [ 44 where the devouring worm never dies and the fire is never quenched][l] 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into Gehenna [ 46 where the devouring worm never dies and the fire is never quenched]. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is preferable for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be cast into Gehenna, 48 where the devouring worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.
49 The Simile of Salt.“For everyone will be salted with fire.[m] 50 Salt is good, but if salt loses its saltiness, how can you revive its flavor? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Footnotes
- Mark 9:1 Come with power: the reference is to the new age of humanity that begins with the death of Jesus.
- Mark 9:2 See notes on Mt 17:1-8 and 17:1.
- Mark 9:9 See note on Mt 17:9-13.
- Mark 9:14 See note on Mt 17:14-21.
- Mark 9:29 Other ancient manuscripts omit: “and by fasting.”
- Mark 9:30 Mark very effectively alternates the glorious and suffering aspects of the Messiah, following up the most spectacular exorcism in the Gospel with Jesus’ second prediction of his Passion. He also implies that the initiative for the death of the Servant (see Isa 53) belongs to God.
- Mark 9:31 Son of Man: see note on Mt 8:20.
- Mark 9:33 This incident and the sayings that follow it are most likely intended to be a commentary on the lack of understanding exhibited by the disciples. They are to serve the poor and lowly. Jesus used children as the symbol for the anawim, the poor in spirit, i.e., the lowly in the Christian community.
- Mark 9:38 Not one of us: though the man was not one of the Twelve, he was a believer in Jesus and acted in his name. Therefore, Jesus counsels the Twelve that they should not oppose him.
- Mark 9:42 See note on Mt 18:5-11.
- 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.
- Mark 9:44 These verses are omitted in the best manuscripts; they are repetitions of v. 48 (see Isa 66:24).
- Mark 9:49 This somewhat obscure verse was perhaps introduced because of the reference to fire in v. 48. Fire signifies the testing that precedes God’s judgment (see 1 Cor 3:13-15). Salt, a symbol of fidelity, was sprinkled on sacrificial victims so that they might be pleasing to God (Lev 2:13). When the testing is endured with fidelity, it makes the believer acceptable to God.
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.
Copyright © 1974, 1977, 1987, 1995, 2003, 2004 by Biblica
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
