BE SALTY CHRISTIANS

Passage: Mark 9:42-50

Key verse: 50

NIV

Causing to Stumble

42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble,(A) it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.(B) 43 If your hand causes you to stumble,(C) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell,(D) where the fire never goes out.(E) [44] [a] 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble,(F) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.(G) [46] [b] 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble,(H) pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,(I) 48 where

“‘the worms that eat them do not die,
    and the fire is not quenched.’[c](J)

49 Everyone will be salted(K) with fire.

50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again?(L) Have salt among yourselves,(M) and be at peace with each other.”(N)

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 9:44 Some manuscripts include here the words of verse 48.
  2. Mark 9:46 Some manuscripts include here the words of verse 48.
  3. Mark 9:48 Isaiah 66:24
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Temptations to Sin

42 (A)“Whoever causes one of (B)these little ones who believe in me to sin,[a] (C)it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 (D)And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to (E)hell,[b] to (F)the unquenchable fire.[c] 45 (G)And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into (H)hell. 47 (I)And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into (J)hell, 48 ‘where (K)their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 For everyone will be salted with fire.[d] 50 (L)Salt is good, (M)but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? (N)Have salt in yourselves, and (O)be at peace with one another.”

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 9:42 Greek to stumble; also verses 43, 45, 47
  2. Mark 9:43 Greek Gehenna; also verse 47
  3. Mark 9:43 Some manuscripts add verses 44 and 46 (which are identical with verse 48)
  4. Mark 9:49 Some manuscripts add and every sacrifice will be salted with salt
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Jesus warns the disciples very seriously about those who corrupt young people. They will be judged severely. Young people are impressionable and are easily caught up by the godless media and cultural sins. Young people need to be protected, and we are responsible for guarding them from sinful influences.

Jesus also warns us to be serious about our own sins that cause us to fall. We must make personal sacrifices (not literally our body parts) to be free from sin in and around us. It is better to suffer to make personal sacrifices (such as avoiding worldly friends, the Internet, and bars) than to continue in a life of sin and to be judged in the fires of hell.

Jesus describes salt’s greatness as its flavor. Salt tastes bland when it is mixed with other minerals. As Christians, we must cut off sins and impurities in our lives in order to have a godly influence. Or, we will be salted with fire in hell. Also, in ancient times, when two people –including enemies – shared salt, it symbolized a vow of peace. When we make personal sacrifices to remove sin from our lives, we have influence and peace with all others.

Prayer: Lord, please strengthen me to deal seriously with sin and have a godly influence and peace with others.

One Word: Cut off sin and be a salty Christian