Mark 9:33–50

Who is the Greatest?

³³Then ^zthey came to Capernaum. ^aWhen He was in the house, ^bHe asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” ^c34But they were silent, ^dbecause on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest. ^e35Sitting down, He called the Twelve ^fand said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” ^g36Then He took a child, ^hhad him stand among them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, ³⁷“Whoever welcomes ⁱone little child such as this in My name ^jwelcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me, but Him who sent ^kMe.” ^l

In His Name

³⁸John ^msaid to Him, “Teacher, ⁿwe saw someone ^odriving out demons ^pin Your name, ^qand we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.” ^r

³⁹“Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle ^sin My name who can soon afterward speak evil of Me. ⁴⁰For whoever is not against us is for us. ^t41And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink ^ubecause of My name, ^vsince you belong to the ^•Messiah ^w—I assure you: ^xHe will never lose his reward. ^y

Warnings from Jesus

⁴²“But whoever ^•causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me ^z—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone ^abwere hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. ⁴³And if your hand causes your downfall, cut it off. ^cIt is better for you to enter life maimed ^dthan to have two hands and go to ^•hell—the unquenchable fire, ^e[⁴⁴where

Their worm does not die,

and the fire is not quenched.] ^fgh

⁴⁵And if your foot causes your downfall, ⁱcut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame ^jthan to have two feet and be thrown into hell— [the unquenchable fire, ^k46where

Their worm does not die,

and the fire is not quenched.] ^lmn

⁴⁷And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God ^owith one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown ^pinto hell, ^q48where

Their worm does not die,

and the fire is not quenched. ^r

⁴⁹For everyone will be salted with fire. ^stu50Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you make it salty? ^vHave salt ^wamong yourselves and be at peace ^xwith one another.”