Three Household Rules for the Family of God – Mark 9:30-50
9 (30) They left that place and passed through Galilee; but Jesus did not want any man to know where they were, (31) because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, The Son of man will be betrayed into the hands of men, and they shall kill him. But after he has been killed, he will rise again three days later. (32) But they did not understand his teaching, and were afraid to ask him.
(33) When they came to Capernaum and he was in the house, he asked them, What were you arguing about along the way? (34) But they kept quiet, because they had been arguing with one another along the way about who was the greatest. (35) He sat down and called the Twelve; then he said to them, If anyone desires be first, he must be last of all, and servant of all. (36) Then he took a little child and had him stand among them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them, (37) Whoever shall receive one of these little children in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, does not receive me, but receives the one who sent me.
(38) John said to him, Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name; and we stopped him, because he did not follow us. (39) But Jesus said, Do not stop him; because no one will be able to do a mighty work in my name and then be able to quickly curse me. (40) Whoever is not against us is for us. (41) Whoever shall give you a cup of water to drink, because you belong to Christ—I tell you the truth—he shall by no means lose his reward. (42) But whoever shall cause one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for that man if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
(43) If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life maimed, than to have two hands but go to hell with its unquenchable fire. (45) And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than to have two feet but be thrown into hell. (47) And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes but be thrown into hell, (48) where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. (49) Every one shall be salted with fire. (50) Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.
Now proceed to the next section of this study, entitled, Exploring the Passage.
