Mark 9:33–50

³³They came to Capernaum.^l When he was in the house,^m he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ³⁴But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.ⁿ

³⁵Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”^o

³⁶He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms,^p he said to them, ³⁷“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”^q

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us

9:38–40pp—Lk 9:49,50

³⁸“Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”^r

³⁹“Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, ⁴⁰for whoever is not against us is for us.^{s 41}Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.^t

Causing to Stumble

⁴²“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble,^u it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.^{v 43}If your hand causes you to stumble,^w cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell,^x where the fire never goes out.^{y [44]b 45}And if your foot causes you to stumble,^z cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.^{a [46]c 47}And if your eye causes you to stumble,^b pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,^{c 48}where

“ ‘the worms that eat them do not die,

and the fire is not quenched.’^dd

⁴⁹Everyone will be salted^e with fire.

⁵⁰“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again?^f Have salt among yourselves,^g and be at peace with each other.”^h