Warnings from Jesus

42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away(A) —it would be better for him if a heavy millstone(B) were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

43 “And if your hand causes you to fall away, cut it off.(C) It is better for you to enter life maimed(D) than to have two hands and go to hell, the unquenchable fire.[a](E) 45 And if your foot causes you to fall away, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame(F) than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.[b] 47 And if your eye causes you to fall away, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God(G) with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown(H) into hell,(I) 48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.[c] 49 For everyone will be salted with fire.[d][e](J) 50 Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you season it?(K) Have salt(L) among yourselves, and be at peace(M) with one another.”

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Footnotes

  1. 9:43 Some mss include v. 44: Where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
  2. 9:45 Some mss include v. 46: Where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
  3. 9:48 Is 66:24
  4. 9:49 Other mss add and every sacrifice will be salted with salt
  5. 9:49 Lv 2:13; Ezk 43:24

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