Mark 9:43 Study Bible: If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off.[note: idiom meaning to stop doing a sin] It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire,

◄ Mark 9:43 ►

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.

Study Bible

If your hand causes you to sin
The phrase "If your hand causes you to sin" uses the Greek word "σκανδαλίζω" (skandalizō), which means to cause to stumble or to offend. In the historical context of the New Testament, the hand symbolizes action and agency. Jesus is emphasizing the seriousness of sin and the lengths to which one should go to avoid it. The hand, as a metaphor, represents the actions we take that lead us away from God's will. This phrase calls believers to examine their lives and remove anything that leads them into sin, highlighting the importance of personal holiness and vigilance against moral failings.

cut it off
The directive to "cut it off" is hyperbolic, using strong imagery to convey the drastic measures one should take to avoid sin. In the cultural and historical context of Jesus' time, such language was understood as a rhetorical device to stress the severity of the issue. The Greek word "ἀποκόπτω" (apokoptō) means to cut off or sever, indicating a decisive and permanent action. This phrase underscores the necessity of radical repentance and the willingness to sacrifice anything that hinders one's relationship with God.

It is better for you to enter life maimed
"Enter life maimed" contrasts the temporary physical state with eternal spiritual reality. The Greek word "ζωή" (zōē) refers to eternal life, a central theme in Christian theology. The phrase suggests that enduring temporary hardship or loss is preferable to jeopardizing one's eternal destiny. This reflects the Christian belief in the supremacy of spiritual well-being over physical comfort, encouraging believers to prioritize their eternal future over present circumstances.

than to have two hands and go into hell
The phrase "than to have two hands and go into hell" presents a stark choice between physical wholeness and spiritual ruin. The Greek word for hell here is "γέεννα" (Gehenna), a term derived from the Valley of Hinnom, a place outside Jerusalem associated with idolatry and child sacrifice, later symbolizing the final place of punishment for the wicked. This historical context adds weight to Jesus' warning, emphasizing the reality and severity of divine judgment.

into the unquenchable fire
"Unquenchable fire" uses the Greek word "ἄσβεστος" (asbestos), meaning unquenchable or inextinguishable. This imagery is rooted in the Old Testament, where fire often symbolizes God's judgment and purification. The phrase serves as a sobering reminder of the eternal consequences of sin and the reality of divine justice. It calls believers to a life of repentance and faithfulness, underscoring the urgency of aligning one's life with God's will to avoid the eternal separation from God that hell represents.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Jesus Christ
The speaker of this passage, Jesus is teaching His disciples about the seriousness of sin and the radical measures required to avoid it.

2. Disciples
The immediate audience of Jesus' teaching, representing all followers of Christ who are called to live a life of holiness.

3. Hell (Gehenna)
A place of eternal punishment, symbolized by the "unquenchable fire," emphasizing the severe consequences of sin.

Teaching Points

The Seriousness of Sin
Jesus uses hyperbolic language to stress the gravity of sin. Sin is not to be taken lightly, and its consequences are eternal.

Radical Measures for Holiness
The call to "cut off" a hand is not literal but signifies the need for decisive and sometimes painful actions to remove sin from our lives.

Eternal Perspective
The comparison between entering life maimed and going into hell highlights the importance of prioritizing eternal life over temporary comfort or completeness.

Self-Examination
Believers are encouraged to examine their lives for anything that causes them to sin and to take proactive steps to eliminate those influences.

Dependence on God's Strength
While the call to holiness is radical, it is not achieved by human effort alone but through reliance on God's grace and strength.

Bible Study Questions

1. What does Jesus' use of hyperbolic language in Mark 9:43 teach us about the nature of sin and its consequences?

2. How can we apply the principle of "cutting off" sin in our daily lives without resorting to literal self-harm?

3. In what ways does Romans 6:12-13 complement Jesus' teaching in Mark 9:43 about dealing with sin?

4. How does having an eternal perspective, as suggested in Mark 9:43, influence our decisions and actions regarding sin?

5. What practical steps can we take to rely on God's strength in our pursuit of holiness, as suggested by Hebrews 12:1-2?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Matthew 5:29-30
Jesus uses similar hyperbolic language about removing body parts to avoid sin, emphasizing the seriousness of sin and the need for radical action.

Romans 6:12-13
Paul speaks about not letting sin reign in our mortal bodies and offering ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness.

Colossians 3:5
Paul instructs believers to put to death whatever belongs to their earthly nature, aligning with the radical approach to sin Jesus advocates.

Hebrews 12:1-2
Encourages believers to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, focusing on Jesus.

Sermons

Desire Sacrificed to Duty	D. G. Watt, M. A.	Mark 9:43
Excision of Offending Members	M. F. Sadler.	Mark 9:43
Hell Fire in the Present Life	D. G. Watt, M. A.	Mark 9:43
Maiming and Life	M. R. Vincent, D. D.	Mark 9:43
Mortification of Sin a Reasonable Duty	E. Cooper.	Mark 9:43
Mutilation or Fire	D. G. Watt, M. A.	Mark 9:43
Personal Maiming	J. Parker, D. D.	Mark 9:43
Stumbling Blocks	H. M. Luckock, D. D.	Mark 9:43
Stumbling Blocks	Expository Discourses.	Mark 9:43
The Members of the Body Reported in Their Deeds	D. G. Watt, M. A.	Mark 9:43
The Price of Salvation	C. M. Southgate.	Mark 9:43
What the Hands Can Do	D. G. Watt, M. A.	Mark 9:43
Marked Sins	E. Johnson	Mark 9:38-50
Stumbling-Blocks	R. Green	Mark 9:38-50
Christ's Love to His Little Ones, and Offenses	J.J. Given	Mark 9:42-50
Better Die than Sin	A. Rowland	Mark 9:43, 44
Causes of Stumbling	A. Rowland	Mark 9:43, 45, 47
The Value of Deliverance from Spiritual Snares	A.F. Muir	Mark 9:43-49

People

Elias, Elijah, James, Jesus, John, Peter

Places

Caesarea Philippi, Capernaum, Galilee, High Mountain

Topics

Better, Cause, Causes, Causeth, Crippled, Cut, Enter, Eternal, Fall, Fire, Gehenna, Goes, Hands, Hell, Maimed, Offend, Possession, Quenched, Rather, Serve, Sin, Snare, Stumble, Trouble, Unquenchable

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Mark 9:43

     4826   fire
     5156   hand
     5278   cripples
     5484   punishment, by God
     8475   self-denial

Mark 9:42-47

6022 sin, causes of

Mark 9:42-48

     5006   human race, destiny
     6030   sin, avoidance
     9511   hell, place of punishment

Mark 9:42-49

6026 sin, judgment on

Mark 9:43-47

     2377   kingdom of God, entry into
     5372   knife
     5571   surgery
     6250   temptation, sources

Mark 9:43-48

6040 sinners
9513 hell, as incentive to action

Mark 9:43-49

6139 deadness, spiritual

Library

February 2 Evening
One star differeth from another star in glory.--I COR. 15:41. By the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all.--Be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

Christ's Lament Over Our Faithlessness
'He answereth him and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you?'--Mark ix. 19. There is a very evident, and, I think, intentional contrast between the two scenes, of the Transfiguration, and of this healing of the maniac boy. And in nothing is the contrast more marked than in the demeanour of these enfeebled and unbelieving Apostles, as contrasted with the rapture of devotion of the other three, and with the lowly submission and faith of Moses and Elias. …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Omnipotence of Faith
Jesus said unto him, If them canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.'--Mark ix. 23. The necessity and power of faith is the prominent lesson of this narrative of the healing of a demoniac boy, especially as it is told by the Evangelist Mark, The lesson is enforced by the actions of all the persons in the group, except the central figure, Christ. The disciples could not cast out the demon, and incur Christ's plaintive rebuke, which is quite as much sorrow as blame: 'O faithless …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Unbelieving Belief
'And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief.'--Mark ix. 24. We owe to Mark's Gospel the fullest account of the pathetic incident of the healing of the demoniac boy. He alone gives us this part of the conversation between our Lord and the afflicted child's father. The poor man had brought his child to the disciples, and found them unable to do anything with him. A torrent of appeal breaks from his lips as soon as the Lord gives …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

An Unanswered Question
'What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?'--Mark ix. 33. Was it not a strange time to squabble when they had just been told of His death? Note-- I. The variations of feeling common to the disciples and to us all: one moment 'exceeding sorrowful,' the next fighting for precedence. II. Christ's divine insight into His servants' faults. This question was put because He knew what the wrangle had been about. The disputants did not answer, but He knew without an answer, as His immediately …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Salted with Fire
Every one shall be salted with fire.'--Mark ix. 49. Our Lord has just been uttering some of the most solemn words that ever came from His gracious lips. He has been enjoining the severest self-suppression, extending even to mutilation and excision of the eye, the hand, or the foot, that might cause us to stumble. He has been giving that sharp lesson on the ground of plain common sense and enlightened self-regard. It is better, obviously, to live maimed than to die whole. The man who elects to …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

'Salt in Yourselves'
'Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.'--Mark ix. 50. In the context 'salt' is employed to express the preserving, purifying, divine energy which is otherwise spoken of as 'fire.' The two emblems produce the same result. They both salt--that is, they cleanse and keep. And if in the one we recognise the quick energy of the Divine Spirit as the central idea, no less are we to see the same typified under a slightly different aspect in the other. The fire transforms into its own substance …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

'This is My Beloved Son: Hear Him'
'And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Son: hear Him.'--Mark ix. 7. With regard to the first part of these words spoken at the Transfiguration, they open far too large and wonderful a subject for me to do more than just touch with the tip of my finger, as it were, in passing, because the utterance of the divine words, 'This is My beloved Son,' in all the depth of their meaning and loftiness, is laid as the foundation of the two …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Jesus Only!
'They saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.'--Mark ix. 8. The Transfiguration was the solemn inauguration of Jesus for His sufferings and death. Moses, the founder, and Elijah, the restorer, of the Jewish polity, the great Lawgiver and the great Prophet, were present. The former had died and been mysteriously buried, the latter had been translated without 'seeing death.' So both are visitors from the unseen world, appearing to own that Jesus is the Lord of that dim land, and that …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Transfiguration
'And after six days Jesus taketh with Him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and He was transfigured before them. 3. And His raimemt became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. 4. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. 5. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Receiving and Forbidding
'And He came to Capernaum: and being in the house He asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? 34. But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. 35. And He sat down, and called the Twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. 36. And He took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when He had taken him in His arms, He said unto them, 37. …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

July the Ninth Scholars in Christ's School
"He taught His disciples." --MARK ix. 30-37. And my Lord will teach me. He will lead me into "the deep things" of God. There is only one school for this sort of learning, and an old saint called it the Academy of Love, and it meets in Gethsemane and Calvary, and the Lord Himself is the teacher, and there is room in the school for thee and me. But the disciples were not in the mood for learning. They were not ambitious for heavenly knowledge, but for carnal prizes, not for wisdom, but for place. …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

The Lenten Fast.
"This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer."--ST. MARK ix. 29. You remember the narrative from which I have taken this verse. Jesus, as we read, had just come down from the Mount of Transfiguration, and when He was come to the multitude, a certain man besought him saying, "Have mercy on my son, for he is lunatic and sore vexed, and I brought him to Thy disciples, but they could not cure him." Then Jesus rebuked the devil, and the child was cured from that hour. Thereupon His disciples …
John Percival—Sermons at Rugby

The Child in the Midst.
"And He took a child and set Him in the midst of them: and when He had taken him in His arms, He said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in My name, receiveth Me: and whosoever shall receive Me, receiveth not Me, but Him that sent Me."--ST. MARK ix. 36, 37. It is one of the characteristics of our time, one of its most hopeful and most encouraging signs, that men are awaking to higher and purer conceptions of the Christian life and what it is that constitutes such a life. We …
John Percival—Sermons at Rugby

Of Hell
"Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." Mark 9:48. 1. Every truth which is revealed in the oracles of God is undoubtedly of great importance. Yet it may be allowed that some of those which are revealed therein are of greater importance than others, as being more immediately conducive to the grand end of all, the eternal salvation of men. And we may judge of their importance even from this circumstance, -- that they are not mentioned once only in the sacred writings, but are repeated …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

A Caution against Bigotry
"And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in Thy name: and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not." Mark 9:38, 39. 1. In the preceding verses we read, that after the Twelve had been disputing "which of them should be the greatest," Jesus took a little child, and set him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, said unto them, "Whosoever shall receive one of these little children in My name, receiveth …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Faith's Dawn and Its Clouds
In the text there are three things very clearly. Here is true faith; here is grievous unbelief; here is a battle between the two. I. Very clearly in the text there is TRUE FAITH. "Lord, I believe," says the anxious father. When our Lord tells him that, if he can believe, all things are possible to him, he makes no demur, asks for no pause, wishes to hear no more evidence, but cries at once, "Lord, I believe." Now, observe we have called this faith true faith, and we will prove it to have been so. …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 18: 1872

The Child in the Midst.
And he came to Capernaum: and, being in the house, he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves who should be the greatest. And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall …
George MacDonald—Unspoken Sermons

Absolute Surrender
"And Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it. And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Ben-hadad, Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest, are mine. And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine and all that …
Andrew Murray—Absolute Surrender

Thoughts Upon Striving to Enter at the Strait Gate.
AS certainly as we are here now, it is not long but we shall all be in another World, either in a World of Happiness, or else in a World of Misery, or if you will, either in Heaven or in Hell. For these are the two only places which all Mankind from the beginning of the World to the end of it, must live in for evermore, some in the one, some in the other, according to their carriage and behaviour here; and therefore it is worth the while to take a view and prospect now and then of both these places, …
William Beveridge—Private Thoughts Upon a Christian Life

The Three Tabernacles
And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. MARK ix. 5. Caught up in glory and in rapture, the Apostle seems to have forgotten the world from which he had ascended, and to which he still belonged, and to have craved permanent shelter and extatic communion within the mystic splendors that brightened the Mount of Transfiguration. But it was true, not only as to the confusion of his …
E. H. Chapin—The Crown of Thorns

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