Read Mark 9:42–50. What ties the teachings of Jesus together in this

passage?

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At first, this passage may seem to be a collection of disparate teachings

of Jesus thrown together without any rhyme or reason. However, a closer

look reveals that each successive teaching has a catchword connection to

the previous one. The passage revolves around three main terms that move

the instruction forward step by step—“causes to sin,” “fire,” and “salt.”

The first teaching is about “little ones,” referring to new believers.

Teachers and leaders are tasked in the kingdom of God with the responsibility to care for these new converts with special care, similar to the Old

Testament ethic of caring for those weakest in ancient society—widows,

orphans, and foreigners. Jesus speaks in hyperbole that it would be better

to be drowned in the sea than to cause one of these “little ones” to sin.

The catchphrase “causes to sin” leads to the longest teaching in this

passage. Two conundrums confront the reader. First, is Jesus really

teaching people to cut off a hand or foot or pluck out an eye? Second,

is He teaching an eternally burning hell? The answer to the first

question is no, Jesus is not teaching mutilation—that was rejected

in Judaism (compare with Deut. 14:1; 1 Kings 18:27, 28). The Lord

is using hyperbole to make His point. If losing a hand, foot, or eye is

terrible, how much more a disaster should it be for the Christian to sin!

The second question also receives a negative answer; no, Jesus is

not teaching an eternally burning hell. How do we know? First, the

passage contains a certain comedic aspect. Consider people entering

the heavenly city with one eye or one foot or one hand. Then consider

people who are whole going to hell. Should it not be the other way

around? The healthy man in hell? That is comedy. Such comedy over

a serious topic leads one to consider that Jesus is illustrating a point

with hyperbole. Sin should be taken so seriously that it would be better to lose a hand, foot, or eye than to sin.

As to hell being eternal, its consequences are eternal, not the fire of

hell itself. “ ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that

whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life’ ” (John

3:16, ESV; emphasis supplied). Those who are lost do not burn forever;

instead, they perish forever—a very big difference!