Mark 9:33–50

Who Is the Greatest?

³³Then they came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” ³⁴But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest.^{* 35}He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”^{* 36}Then he took a little child and put it among them, and taking it in his arms he said to them,^{* 37}“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”^*

Another Exorcist

³⁸John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name,^x and we tried to stop him because he was not following us.”^{* 39}But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. ⁴⁰Whoever is not against us is for us.^{* 41}For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.^*

Temptations to Sin

⁴²“If any of you cause one of these little ones who believe in me^y to sin,^z it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.^{* 43}If your hand causes you to sin,^a cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell,^b to the unquenchable fire.^{c* 45}And if your foot causes you to sin,^d cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell.^{ef* 47}And if your eye causes you to sin,^g tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell,^{h* 48}where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.^*

⁴⁹“For everyone will be salted with fire.^{i* 50}Salt is good, but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it?^j Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”^*