Mark 9:47
And if your eye causes you to sin, 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,
And if your eye causes you to sin
The phrase "your eye" in this context is symbolic, representing the things we see and desire. In the Greek, the word for "eye" is "ophthalmos," which can also imply perception or understanding. Jesus is emphasizing the importance of guarding what we allow to influence our hearts and minds. The "causes you to sin" part, from the Greek "skandalizo," suggests a stumbling block or something that leads one into sin. This highlights the seriousness of spiritual vigilance and the need to remove anything that leads us away from God.

gouge it out
This phrase is hyperbolic, using strong imagery to convey the drastic measures one should take to avoid sin. The Greek word "exaireo" means to take out or remove. Jesus is not advocating self-mutilation but rather illustrating the radical commitment required to pursue holiness. It underscores the principle that spiritual well-being is far more important than physical comfort or completeness.

It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye
The "kingdom of God" is a central theme in Jesus' teachings, representing the reign and rule of God both in the present and future. Entering it "with one eye" signifies the willingness to sacrifice earthly pleasures or comforts for eternal life. The Greek word "basileia" for kingdom implies a realm or dominion, emphasizing the eternal value of being part of God's kingdom over temporary worldly gains.

than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell
The contrast here is stark, emphasizing the eternal consequences of sin. "Two eyes" symbolize the fullness of earthly life and pleasures, while "hell," from the Greek "Gehenna," refers to a place of final judgment and separation from God. Historically, Gehenna was a valley outside Jerusalem associated with idolatry and child sacrifice, later becoming a metaphor for divine judgment. This serves as a sobering reminder of the reality of eternal separation from God for those who choose sin over righteousness.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The speaker of this verse, Jesus is teaching His disciples about the seriousness of sin and the radical measures needed 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. Kingdom of God
The ultimate destination for believers, representing eternal life and communion with God.

4. Hell (Gehenna)
A place of eternal punishment, used here to emphasize the severity of sin and the consequences of not dealing with it.

5. Eye
Symbolically represents what we see and desire, highlighting the importance of guarding our senses against sinful influences.
Teaching Points
The Seriousness of Sin
Jesus uses hyperbolic language to stress the importance of dealing with sin decisively. Sin is not to be taken lightly, as it has eternal consequences.

Radical Measures for Holiness
The call to "pluck out" an eye is not literal but signifies the need for drastic action in removing sources of temptation and sin from our lives.

Eternal Perspective
The comparison between entering the kingdom of God and being thrown into hell highlights the eternal perspective believers must maintain. Temporary discomfort or sacrifice is worth eternal life.

Guarding the Senses
The eye represents what we allow into our minds and hearts. Believers must be vigilant about what they watch, read, and engage with to prevent sin.

Personal Responsibility
Each believer is responsible for identifying and removing personal stumbling blocks. This requires self-examination and a willingness to make difficult choices for spiritual growth.
Bible Study Questions
1. What are some practical ways you can "pluck out" sources of temptation in your life today?

2. How does understanding the eternal consequences of sin influence your daily decisions and actions?

3. In what areas of your life do you need to exercise more discipline to avoid sin, as Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 9:27?

4. How can you apply the principle of guarding your senses in a world filled with constant media and information?

5. Reflect on a time when you had to make a difficult choice to remove a stumbling block from your life. What was the outcome, and how did it affect your spiritual journey?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 5:29-30
Jesus similarly teaches about removing body parts that cause sin, emphasizing the radical nature of dealing with sin.

Romans 6:12-13
Paul speaks about not letting sin reign in our mortal bodies, urging believers to offer themselves to God as instruments of righteousness.

1 Corinthians 9:27
Paul discusses disciplining his body to avoid disqualification, paralleling the idea of taking drastic measures to avoid sin.

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

James 1:14-15
Describes how desire leads to sin and sin leads to death, underscoring the need to control sinful desires.
Marked SinsE. Johnson Mark 9:38-50
Stumbling-BlocksR. Green Mark 9:38-50
Christ's Love to His Little Ones, and OffensesJ.J. Given Mark 9:42-50
Causes of StumblingA. Rowland Mark 9:43, 45, 47
The Value of Deliverance from Spiritual SnaresA.F. Muir Mark 9:43-49
Preserving FireJ. B. Converse.Mark 9:44-48
The Punishment of the Wicked, Dreadful and InterminableE. Payson, D. D.Mark 9:44-48
Their Worm Dieth not -- Conscience in HellMark 9:44-48
People
Elias, Elijah, James, Jesus, John, Peter
Places
Caesarea Philippi, Capernaum, Galilee, High Mountain
Topics
Better, Cast, Cause, Causes, Causeth, Enter, Eye, Fall, Fire, Gehenna, Half-blind, Hell, Hell-fire, Kingdom, Offend, One-eyed, Pluck, Possession, Rather, Reign, Serve, Sin, Snare, Stumble, Tear, Throw, Thrown, Trouble
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Mark 9:47

     8462   priority, of God
     8476   self-discipline

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

Mark 9:45-48

     9023   death, unbelievers

Mark 9:47-48

     5436   pain
     6227   regret

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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