Mark 9:33-50

New King James Version

Who Is the Greatest?^(A)

^33 (B)Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you ^[a]disputed among yourselves on the road?” ³⁴ But they kept silent, for on the road they had ^(C)disputed among themselves who would be the ^(D)greatest. ³⁵ And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ^(E)“If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” ³⁶ Then ^(F)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 ^(G)whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”

Jesus Forbids Sectarianism^(H)

^38 (I)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, ^(J)for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. ⁴⁰ For ^(K)he who is not against ^[b]us is on ^[c]our side. ^41 (L)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^(M)

^42 (N)“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me ^[d]to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. ^43 (O)If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life ^[e]maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to ^[f]hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— ^44 [g]where

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 ^[h]hell, ^[i]into the fire that shall never be quenched— ⁴⁶ where

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 ^[j]hell fire— ⁴⁸ where

Tasteless Salt Is Worthless

⁴⁹ “For everyone will be ^(T)seasoned with fire, ^(U)and^[k] every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. ^50 (V)Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? ^(W)Have salt in yourselves, and ^(X)have peace with one another.”