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Temptations to Sin

42 “If any of you cause one of these little ones who believe in me[a] to sin,[b] it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.(A) 43 If your hand causes you to sin,[c] cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell,[d] to the unquenchable fire.[e](B) 45 And if your foot causes you to sin,[f] cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell.[g][h](C) 47 And if your eye causes you to sin,[i] tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell,[j](D) 48 where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.(E)

49 “For everyone will be salted with fire.[k](F) 50 Salt is good, but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it?[l] Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”(G)

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Footnotes

  1. 9.42 Other ancient authorities lack in me
  2. 9.42 Or stumble
  3. 9.43 Or stumble
  4. 9.43 Gk Gehenna
  5. 9.43 Other ancient authorities add 9.44 and 9.46, which are identical to 9.48
  6. 9.45 Or stumble
  7. 9.45 Gk Gehenna
  8. 9.45 Other ancient authorities add 9.44 and 9.46, which are identical to 9.48
  9. 9.47 Or stumble
  10. 9.47 Gk Gehenna
  11. 9.49 Other ancient authorities add or substitute and every sacrifice will be salted with salt
  12. 9.50 Or how can you restore its saltiness?

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.