John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone who doesn’t follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us.”
Mark 9:38–50
The Holy Bible · EnglishOpen an explanation beneath verses with notes. Your notes and highlights stay on this device.
But Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name and be able quickly to speak evil of me.
For whoever is not against us is on our side.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 40. Here we may find that no one, however poor, can be excused from good works; since there is no one who is not able to give at least a cup of cold water; and we are assured that he will not lose his reward. Nic. de Lyra.
For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name because you are Christ’s, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.
“Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he were thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck.
If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire,
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 43. Where their worm dieth not. These words are taken out of Isaias 66:24; and are to be expounded of the punishments, and fruitless repentance of the wicked in the next world. Witham.
or, Hell
‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’
ExplanationCommentary
NU omits verse 44.
If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehenna, into the fire that will never be quenched—
ExplanationCommentary
or, Hell
‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’
ExplanationCommentary
NU omits verse 46.
If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out. It is better for you to enter into God’s Kingdom with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire,
ExplanationCommentary
or, Hell
‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 48. [2]For every one shall be salted with fire. The sense seems to be, that every wicked unrepenting sinner (of whom it was before said, that their worm dieth not) shall be severely and continually punished, though not consumed by the fire of hell.—And every victim shall be salted with salt; that is, even good men shall be cleansed and purified by trials and sufferings in this world, as some victims were to be salted by the law. Leviticus 2:13. Witham.
For everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 49. Become unsavoury; that is if he, who has once received the faith, should apostatize from it, what is there that can possibly convert him from his wicked ways? since even the salt, with which he was salted, is become unsavoury, that is the doctrines he formerly received are no longer of any use. Nic. de Lyra.
Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”