“43) If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, 44) [where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] 45) If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, 46) [where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] 47) If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast 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 becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”” Mark 9:43-50
In this text, Jesus issued strong warnings against both stumbling and being a stumbling block. The consequences of stumbling were severe. Jesus spoke of hell and the unquenchable fire.
Let me stress that Jesus spoke of hell as a real place. In fact, in His teachings He spoke more about hell than heaven. The warning was always that hell was to be avoided at all costs.
Most people live in denial of hell and eternal judgement. They have the opinion that a God of love would never allow a place like hell to exist. But it was Jesus Christ in texts like this that warned of the reality and severity of hell.
The whole mission and ministry of Jesus Christ was to reach lost people and open the doors of salvation. I align with the biblical view that both heaven and hell are real places and only faith in Jesus Christ leads to being born-again. (Study 2 Peter 1:2-11 for keys to living a stumble free life.)
Daily Bible Commentary
By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
