⁶ but ^(A)whoever ^(B)causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to ^[a]sin, it is better for him that a ^[b]heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Stumbling Blocks

⁷ “Woe to the world because of its ^[c]stumbling blocks! For ^(C)it is inevitable that ^[d]stumbling blocks come; but woe to the person through whom the ^[e]stumbling block comes!

⁸ “And ^(D)if your hand or your foot is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; it is better for you to enter life maimed or without a foot, than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire. ⁹ And ^(E)if your eye is causing you to sin, tear it out and throw it away from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into the ^[f](F)fiery hell.

¹⁰ “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones; for I say to you that ^(G)their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.^[g]

Ninety-nine Plus One

¹² “What do you think? ^(H)If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains, and go and search for the one that is lost? ¹³ And if it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that have not gone astray. ¹⁴ So it is not the will ^[h]of your Father who is in heaven for one of these little ones to perish.

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.”

^49 (A)John answered and said, “^(B)Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him, because he does not follow along with us.” ⁵⁰ But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; ^(C)for the one who is not against you is ^[a]for you.”