SALTY CHRISTIANS

Passage: Mark 9:38-50

Key verse: 50

NIV

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us(A)

38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”(B)

39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us.(C) 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.(D)

Causing to Stumble

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

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

49 Everyone will be salted(O) with fire.

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

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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

Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us

38 (A)John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone (B)casting out demons in your name,[a] and (C)we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 (D)For the one who is not against us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, (E)whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.

Temptations to Sin

42 (F)“Whoever causes one of (G)these little ones who believe in me to sin,[b] (H)it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 (I)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 (J)hell,[c] to (K)the unquenchable fire.[d] 45 (L)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 (M)hell. 47 (N)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 (O)hell, 48 ‘where (P)their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 For everyone will be salted with fire.[e] 50 (Q)Salt is good, (R)but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? (S)Have salt in yourselves, and (T)be at peace with one another.”

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 9:38 Some manuscripts add who does not follow us
  2. Mark 9:42 Greek to stumble; also verses 43, 45, 47
  3. Mark 9:43 Greek Gehenna; also verse 47
  4. Mark 9:43 Some manuscripts add verses 44 and 46 (which are identical with verse 48)
  5. 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

1. A cup of water in Jesus' name (38-41)

Some people think that there is a spiritual 'no-man's land' between God and Satan. But Jesus teaches differently. One who drives out demons in Jesus' name is on Jesus' side. One who gives a cup of cold water to Jesus' disciple is on God's side. We may have little in common humanly with some people, but if they love Jesus and fight the devil, we are on the same side.

2. Causing others to sin (42-50)

A Christian must have a clear attitude about sin. Jesus allows no compromise. One who causes another to sin is working for Satan. He or she should repent. Sin brings a person to death and hell, so we must fight sin with all our strength. Cutting off a hand doesn't cleanse a sinful heart; only the blood of Jesus can do that. A Christian with unrepented sins in his or her life is tasteless salt, fit only to be thrown out. Sin keeps us from being at peace with each other. It keeps us from being at peace with ourselves.

Prayer: Lord, cleanse my heart and give me an absolute attitude toward the gospel.

One Word: Be a salty Christian