Using the Name of Jesus

38 John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.”

39 “Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. 40 Anyone who is not against us is for us. 41 If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.

42 “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell[a] with two hands.[b] 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet.[c] 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.’[d]

49 “For everyone will be tested with fire.[e] 50 Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.”

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Footnotes

  1. 9:43a Greek Gehenna; also in 9:45, 47.
  2. 9:43b Some manuscripts add verse 44, ‘where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.’ See 9:48.
  3. 9:45 Some manuscripts add verse 46, ‘where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.’ See 9:48.
  4. 9:48 Isa 66:24.
  5. 9:49 Greek salted with fire; other manuscripts add and every sacrifice will be salted with salt.

Dire Warnings

38 (A)John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and (B)we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. 40 (C)For the one who is not against us is [a]for us. 41 For (D)whoever gives you a cup of water to drink [b]because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.

42 (E)Whoever causes one of these [c]little ones who believe in Me to [d]sin, it is better for him if a heavy millstone is hung around his neck and he [e]is thrown into the sea. 43 And (F)if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed, than, having your two hands, to go into [f](G)hell, into the (H)unquenchable fire.[g] 45 And if your foot is causing you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life without a foot, than, having your two feet, to be thrown into [h](I)hell.[i] 47 And (J)if your eye is causing you to sin, throw it away; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be thrown into [j](K)hell, 48 (L)where their worm does not die, and (M)the fire is not extinguished. 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good; but (N)if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you [k]make it salty again? (O)Have salt in yourselves, and (P)be at peace with one another.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 9:40 Or on our side
  2. Mark 9:41 Lit in a name that you are Christ’s
  3. Mark 9:42 Or lowly
  4. Mark 9:42 Or stumble
  5. Mark 9:42 Lit has been thrown (intensified)
  6. Mark 9:43 Gr Gehenna
  7. Mark 9:43 Late mss repeat v 48 here as v 44
  8. Mark 9:45 Gr Gehenna
  9. Mark 9:45 Late mss repeat v 48 here as v 46; cf. note 2 v 43
  10. Mark 9:47 Gr Gehenna
  11. Mark 9:50 Lit season it