42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 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 hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 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 hell. 47 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 hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” – Mark 9:42-50 ESV
John chose to ignore the young boy Jesus held in His arms and instead tried to change the subject. He wanted to divert attention from Jesus’ object lesson on leadership and raise the issue of an unexpected, uninvited competitor casting out demons without Jesus’ permission or authority. This entire conversation began with an argument among the disciples about who was the greatest, and Jesus had picked up the little boy to use him as an object lesson for His ego-driven disciples.
“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 18:3-4 ESV
After John’s attempted diversion, Jesus refocuses their attention on the boy. He expected His followers to reflect the humility of a helpless and powerless child. Their lives were to be marked by innocence and trustworthiness, and they were to show a child-like faith, a willingness to be led and cared for by others. But at the same time, the disciples were to understand their role as caretakers. They would be given the sobering responsibility of caring for God's sheep, so Jesus gives them a stern warning.
“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.” – Mark 9:42 NLT
The disciples failed to understand that their role as leaders came with serious responsibilities. They coveted the authority and notoriety that came with prominence but were oblivious to the risk involved. Little did they know their quest for power could devastate those under their care. Years later, the apostle Paul would warn the believers in Philippi: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3 ESV).
Paul gives an even starker warning to the believers in Rome and Galatia.
…but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. – Romans 2:8 ESV
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. – Galatians 5:26 ESV
Jesus must have shocked His disciples when he warned that it would be preferable to die an agonizing death than to lead the innocent astray. God would hold His shepherds accountable for caring for and feeding His sheep. Driven by envy and jealousy, the disciples were upset that some unknown individual was stealing their thunder by casting out demons in Jesus' name. But Jesus viewed this man as an ally. What faith it must have taken for this man to perform miracles in Jesus’ name? Jesus had not chosen or trained him. He had received no commission from Jesus. But he faithfully followed the example of Jesus and set free all those who were being held captive by the power of Satan.
But the disciples tried to prevent this man from doing the very thing Jesus had commissioned them to do. And Jesus warns them that their jealousy-induced actions could have easily led this man into sin. He could have taken their words as a rebuke from Jesus Himself and stopped following Him. Rather than offering him encouragement, guidance, and support, the disciples chose to throw him under the bus.
To ensure His disciples grasp the seriousness of what He is trying to tell them, Jesus provided them with some shocking illustrations involving self-mutilation. He wanted to get their attention and help them recognize the danger and deadly consequences of indwelling sin. Their jealousy could have caused this man to stumble. Their greed for greatness could easily divide them and hamper their future mission. Personal sin is infectious and harms others. So Jesus gave them three graphic illustrations designed to encourage self-purging of sin.
“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 with two hands. 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. 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…” – Mark 9:43-47 NLT
Jesus chose three body parts that were essential to living a normal life: the hand, foot, and eye. Losing any one of them could greatly diminish the capacity to perform everyday functions. The loss of a hand, foot, or eye would render someone lame, partially blind, and reduced to the lowly role of a beggar. Just consider the miracles Jesus performed. He healed the man with the withered hand. He restored the ability to walk to a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years. He gave sight to a man who was born blind.
Yet, Jesus was telling His disciples that it would be better to lose a body part if doing so would prevent further sin. Jesus' hyperbolic language was meant to shock His disciples and drive home the devastating nature of sin. Of course, it is not one’s hands, feet, or eyes that cause him to sin. It is his heart. Jesus had already taught the disciples that lesson.
“It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.” – Mark 7:20-23 NLT
But Jesus used these extreme illustrations of physical dismemberment to make sure His disciples got the point. They were not to tolerate sin in their lives and were expected to take whatever measures necessary to eradicate its influence because it was deadly. Three times, Jesus refers to the ultimate destination of those who let sin control their lives.
the unquenchable fires of hell… – vs 44 (NLT)
thrown into hell… – vs 46 (NLT)
thrown into hell… – vs 47 (NLT)
Then Jesus provided a graphic depiction of this final abode of the wicked.
where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out… – vs 48 (NLT)
The Greek word translated as “hell” is gehenna, a transliteration of the Hebrew word hinnom. The Valley of Hinnom was just south of Jerusalem, and it had a sordid reputation. Jeremiah records that the apostate people of Israel used this valley as a sacred location where they worshiped their false gods.
They have also built places of worship in a place called Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom so that they can sacrifice their sons and daughters by fire. – Jeremiah 7:31 NLT
In Jesus’ day, the valley had been relegated to a landfill where the city's refuse was dumped. People said the fires never stopped burning in gehenna; the stench was horrific, and the maggots were ever-present. It became the visual representation of hell, the place of eternal punishment. The average Jew avoided gehenna at all costs. Jesus wanted His disciples to know that hell was real and far more repulsive than a landfill. However, a life of sin would render someone fit for the fires of hell.
Jesus was not teaching that His disciples could lose their salvation; He was warning them to consider the seriousness of sin. There was no place for sin in the heart of a Christ-follower, because sin leads to death and Jesus had come to set them free from sin and death. As His disciples, John and the others were to develop a growing distaste for sin. Much later, long after Jesus died and resurrected, John wrote to Christians, warning them against allowing sin to influence their lives.
For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. – 1 John 2:16 NLT
Notice the role the hands, the feet, and the eyes play in our pursuit of pleasure, achievement, and possessions. It begins with our eyes. With them, we lust and covet. We see what we desire and begin to long for it. That’s where our feet come in. We pursue these things, chasing after them in a sad attempt to fulfill our heart’s desire. Then we use our hands to take hold of them and make them our own. In doing so, we replace the Father's will with the heart's desires, making worldliness our goal rather than godliness.
The last few sentences of Jesus’ teaching are difficult to understand. He moves from discussing amputation and disfigurement to discussing saltiness.
“For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” – Mark 9:49-50 ESV
It seems Jesus shifted from talking about the unquenchable fires of hell to a different kind of fire present in this life. Rather than a fire of everlasting punishment for sin, it is a fire of purification. He compares it to salt, a natural preservative used in that day. Jesus describes a purging, purifying fire meant to expose and remove the dross of sin from our lives. Sin is meant to be cut out and eliminated. The Christ-follower should expect and appreciate this process. Jesus even encouraged His disciples to “have salt in yourselves.”
They were to welcome the preserving and purifying work of God in their lives. Peter later refers to the “fiery trials” every believer will encounter during their time on this earth.
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. – 1 Peter 4:12-13 NLT
The disciples were being baptized with fire by Jesus. He rebuked them for their lack of faith, their obsession with greatness, and their unjustified jealousy over anyone stealing their glory. These men were being tested by fire so God could expose and remove the impurities in their lives. It was not enjoyable, but it was necessary. They were being prepared for the future, when Jesus would commission them to “go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 29:19 NLT). Godly leadership requires godly men who see things from God’s point of view. The disciples were not yet ready, but they would be when the time came. Jesus would see to it.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.