Mark 9:42-48 (NKJV)
“Cut it Off, Cut it Off, Pluck it Out"
Children's Song:
O be careful little eyes what you see
O be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above
He is looking down in love
So, be careful little eyes what you see
O be careful little hands what you do
O be careful little hands what you do
For the Father up above
He is looking down in love
So, be careful little hands what you do
O be careful little feet where you go
O be careful little feet where you go
For the Father up above
He is looking down in love
So, be careful little feet where you go
I. A Word to the Saint
In this verse, Jesus uses that same child that he uses in verse 36 (Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.") to give us another object lesson. Not only are we to serve the least among us willingly; we are also commanded to protect the least among us from sin.
“The Word of God will comfort the afflicted, but it will also afflict the comfortable.”
I really understand our first verse! I get it! God says that the person who offends one of His little ones is in big trouble! God will deal with the one who is trying to make you stumble and fall! When I was a child, living on the South Side of Chicago there frequented our block the neighborhood bully. One day this bully chose my little brother and I to pick on. Beforetime we had kept our distance as per our father’s instruction. But this time this teenage bully made a special effort to pick on the Grant boys 6 and 8 years old. So we he caught us he stuck us with needle or tack but he caused me to bleed on my arm. So we ran home and told my daddy who was cutting the lawn. I after he looked at the wound he said point him out, tell me which one he is? He said stay here. And we watched as daddy approached that teenager and they had words. All of a sudden we say that bully being lifted off the ground and a daddy took off his yard glove and spanked that boy in front of the entire neighborhood. This was a different time in the 70’s and you can’t do this today. But when we were all back inside there was a knock on our door and it was the boys parents with two officers of the Chicago Police. And they had words with Dr. Grant and I don’t know all that he said but I did here the question, “Officer, what would you have done if a boy twice the size and twice the age of your son, stuck your boy and made him bleed? He looked to the parents and said I whipped him because it was evident that you had not!” I don’t know what else was said but it was noted on my block from that day forward that you don’t mess with the Grant boys because they daddy will spank you and the Police are on his side!
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
The word “offend” in the KJV means “to stumble”. It has the idea “of leading someone else into sin.” Jesus says that it is a very serious matter when we cause one of God’s children to fall into sin. Jesus says that you would be better off having a “millstone” tied around your neck and being cast into the sea. It referred to a stone used to grind grain that was so heavy a donkey was tied to it to turn it. If such a stone were tied around the neck of an individual and that person was thrown into the sea, that person would be pulled to the bottom and they would drown. The image is very graphic! Jesus is describing a death as horrible as any that can be imagined. Yet, He says it would be preferable for a person to die this way than for them to cause one of His little one to fall into sin. But here is some encouragement for the Saints: Psalm 37:23 The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. (NIV)
II. A Word to the Sinner
Jesus refers to the “hand” the “foot” and the “eye”. These are our three problem areas when it comes to dealing with sin. The “hand” refers to “the things we do.” The “foot” refers to “the places we go.” The “eye” refers to “the things we desire.” These three words describe all the areas where we humans are tempted to sin, 1 John 2:16 -The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-
“The Word of God will comfort the afflicted, but it will also afflict the comfortable.”
Cut It Off! Cut it Off! Pluck it Out! Jesus says that if the hand, the foot or the eye causes us to sin, we are to take drastic action and amputate that body part, so that we will not give in to its desires. Let me just say that Jesus is speaking figuratively here. He is using hyperbole. Jesus is using exaggeration to emphasize the horrible nature of sin. He is not commanding us to mutilate our bodies. No amount of surgery on the outside will cure the problem on the inside! Man does not need a change on the outside; man needs a change of heart! What Jesus is talking about in these verses is how we are to deal with our sins. When temptation to sin comes into our lives, we must deal with it immediately, harshly, ruthlessly, consistently and decisively!
Jesus warns His disciples that nothing in this world is so valuable that it is worth going to Hell over. Yes, Jesus believed in Hell! His references to Hell are very graphic. Jesus says that Hell will be characterized by two terrible realities. Jesus quotes Isaiah 66:24 and tells us that people in Hell will suffer in two terrible ways.
First, “their worm dieth not…” I think He is speaking about the internal torments man will suffer in Hell. When the rich man died and went to Hell in Luke 16:25, we are told that he had an active and accurate memory. Those in Hell will remember every opportunity they had to be saved. They will remember the love and grace of God. They will remember the cross and the empty tomb. They will be reminded for all eternity that they did not have to be in that horrible place.
Second, Jesus says, “and the fire is not quenched.” This phrase refers to the physical agonies of Hell. The torments of Hell are real and they are horrible. They are unceasing and they are unimaginable. Above all, they are avoidable! You do not have to go there!
Jude 1:24-25 Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
