Gospel of Mark/Chapter 9:30-50/Commentary

The Gospel of Mark Chapter 9:30-50 Mark 9:30-32 “And from there they went out and began to go through Galilee, and He was unwilling for anyone to know about it. For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later." But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him” Apparently, Jesus was teaching this lesson to them over and over again during this time in Galilee. Not even the message of a resurrection cheered them. “They did not understand this statement”: (Luke 9:45). It appears that they did not understand what Jesus was saying because they didn’t want to believe that He was speaking literally. It was completely unacceptable for them to believe that He was really going to die in Jerusalem. “How could the Messiah they believed Him to be, actually permit His enemies to slay Him when He possessed the supernatural power to annihilate them?” (Fowler p. 647).

“They were afraid to ask Him”: This could be fear to face what they thought to be a horrible truth, that ignoring it would make it go away, fear to be reproved by Jesus, as had happened to Peter (Matthew 16:22-23).

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9:33 “And they came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, ‘What were you discussing on the way?’”: Jesus now returns to Capernaum, where His preaching in Galilee had begun (1:21). Jesus does not leave the disciples alone, rather He immediately corrects improper reasoning. He does not have the naïve idea that everything will just eventually work out.

9:34 “But they kept silent, for one the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest”: “Instead of contemplating Jesus’ death and the suffering it would involve for both Him and them, they had been occupied with senseless argument about greatness. Since questions of this sort were common among the Jews of the day, the disciples dispute shows how much they were influenced by the culture of their time” (Gaebelein p. 706).

9:35 “And sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all’”: I am impressed with Jesus’ patience here. He made it clear that greatness only comes from serving others.

This is a complete reversal of worldly values, even worldly religious values.

9:36 “And taking a child, He sent him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, ‘Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me’”: Instead of acting like ruthless men positioning themselves for power, they need to become like children who could care less about such questions. They need to be humble, honest and not full of themselves. True greatness equally involves caring for people—not the people who can do something for you, but rather, spending time with people who are insignificant in the eyes of the world. “Whoever receives Me…”: To accept Jesus is to accept the Father, they cannot be separated.

9:38 “John said to Him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to hinder him because he was not following us’”

This is a section of Scripture that some are trying to use to justify fellowship with the denominations. It is basically argued that John and the other apostles were 2

acting in a narrow-minded fashion, and that the man casting out demons in the name of Jesus is to be compared to someone who is liberal minded. Then it is argued, that as long as someone professes Christ and appears to be doing some good, we should simply accept them as brothers in Christ.

This man was able to cast out demons in the name of the Lord (9:38), a thing that no impostor could do (Acts 19:13-16). Doing something in the name of Jesus is to do it with His authority and approval. He was on the Lord’s side, he was right with God, even though he wasn’t personally traveling with Jesus and the apostles. Just because this man wasn’t personally known by John does not mean that he was a false teacher. On the contrary, Jesus approved of the man, and we know that Jesus never approved of those who taught error (Matthew 7:15-27).

This man wasn’t against Jesus and the apostles (9:40), but religious groups that teach that baptism isn’t necessary for salvation, are against Jesus (Mark 16:16).

If people want this text to justify people in error, then the text needs to read, “Teacher, we saw someone teaching false doctrine in Your name, and we tried to hinder him…But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who shall teach error in My name, and be able soon after to speak evil of Me”. Remember; while Jesus was on the earth one didn’t have to personally accompany Jesus on all His travels to be right with God. Yet, following the crucifixion and the day of Pentecost, one does have to be a member of His church to be right with God (Acts 2:38,41,47; 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:15).

9:39-40 “But Jesus said, "Do not hinder him, for there is no one who shall perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. "For he who is not against us is for us”.

“In my name”: Remember, this expression means by His authority or in harmony with His teachings. It means far more than simply attaching “His name” to something or claiming that one is doing something of which God would approve.

It means that one is truly doing something that is in harmony with the Scriptures.

So many people assume that this man did not believe in Jesus or obey Jesus. But

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where did the miraculous power come from to cast out demons? Certainly God is not going to give us power to an unbeliever or someone who is disobedient.

“Be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me”: “One who knows enough of Jesus to use His power is not apt to dishonor Him” (McGarvey p. 431). “Since the man was succeeding (in casting out demons), whereas the nine Apostles had just miserably failed because of their little faith and prayerlessness (Matthew 17:17;19f; Mark 9:29), it should have been obvious that he really believed in the efficacy of the name of Jesus. Such great faith is proof against apostasy” (Fowler p. 707).

“For he who is not against us is for us”: Remember, this man was not doing or teaching things that were contrary to what Jesus did or taught. When religious people or groups teach things contrary to the Scriptures, they are acting against Christ. When men establish churches that are not the church revealed in the Bible, they are not furthering the kingdom of God. The opposite of this statement is found in Matthew 12:30 “He who is not with Me is against Me”.

Putting the two verses together we learn that: 1. Neutrality is impossible. One is either actively for or against Jesus. 2. Being for Jesus is far more than simply not doing something evil. One must be active in doing His will.

9:41"For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward” “Because of your name as followers of Christ”: Note, this blessing is not pronounced upon someone who simply does some good deed. Rather, the blessing is specific. Someone who helps you because you are a Christian, that is, someone who does the simplest act of kindness to God’s people because they also are a believer in Jesus and His cause. “Jesus here returns to the discussion of greatness, and reasserts the doctrine that the smallest act of righteousness, if performed for the sake of the King, shall be honored in the kingdom” (McGarvey p. 432). “Appreciation for Jesus’ disciples even in the common, mundane things of life, is appreciated by the Lord who accepts this, as helpfulness shown directly to Him” (Fowler p. 709). Some regard the “whoever” in this verse as applying to an unbeliever. While there are texts that include both believers and unbelievers 4

under the term “whoever”, the context here seems to argue against it. First, unbelievers do not have a reward. Secondly, if unbelievers who remain unbelievers are rewarded for such good deeds, then this verse would be teaching that one could be saved apart from faith in Jesus Christ, and saved rather on the basis of their good needs (Ephesians 2:8-9).

We should seriously reevaluate our lives in the light of this verse. First, God does not miss a thing, even the smallest assistance or act of kindness to further the kingdom. Do we downplay such acts? God takes notice of every act of encouragement, every gift, no matter how small. Sometimes members get discouraged because someone complains that the church is not doing anything.

While we could always do more, in light of this verse, I have personally seen Christians do a whole lot!

9:42-43"And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea. And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire” In the context, standing in the way of someone who really is serving God could cause them to stumble. We can cause people to stumble by ridiculing their zeal in seeing that the Word of God is preached. Let us not discourage new Christians in their zeal to teach the truth without compromise. We can cause young preachers to stumble by undermining their attempts to see that the truth is preached. The last thing such a young man needs after a good sound sermon is a complaint concerning “doctrine” (assuming the doctrine is true). We can cause elders to stumble by not supporting their attempts to see that the will of God is respected in the congregation (Hebrews 13:17). We can cause new Christians to stumble by compromising or downplaying the importance of the truth. We can cause Christians to stumble if we blame them when someone they are trying to reach does not obey the truth.

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9:44[where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.]

“It is better to deny ourselves all unlawful pleasures, even if the denial be as painful and distressing as the loss of a member. The image of the worm is taken from Isaiah 66:24, and refers to those worms, which feed upon the carcasses of men…The two figures depict hell as state of decay, which is never completed and of burning which does not consume. Some regard the worm as a symbol of the gnawing of remorse (like gnashing of teeth), and the fire as a symbol of actual punishment” (McGarvey p. 433).

Hell is a place of continual corruption. Nothing, or no one, ever improves in hell.

There is no hope in hell, for nothing will be better tomorrow. This should shock us and it was intended to wake us up. What would you become like in your attitude if you knew that nothing would get better and that any attempts at putting on a good attitude were worthless? One of the things that should scare us about hell is what we will be become if we end up there? People are not destroyed in hell, that is, finally consumed and put out of their suffering. Hell is not a place where consciousness fades after time. Neither is it a place where the pain is so bad that one loses consciousness.

The language of this verse is taken from the LXX of Isa 66:24. The worm that dieth not is a figure of speech drawn from the actual valley of Hinnom, where worms were continually at work. It is a picture of the unending torture and destruction of hell (The Wycliffe Bible Commentary).The bitter reflection, "I might have avoided sin, but I did not; I might have been saved, but I would not," must be equal to ten thousand tormentors. What intolerable anguish must this produce in a damned soul! (Adam Clarke's Commentary). Hell may be likened to “fire” because being burned by fire is not only intensely painful, but to be burned by fire would affect every part of your body, every nerve, to be consumed in total suffering, to have no relief in even one part of your body. There is no consolation in hell!

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9:45-48"And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than having your two feet, to be cast into hell, [where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] And if your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes, to be cast into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched”.

Notice the repetition, Jesus cannot emphasize this truth enough. Instead of saying that we need less teaching about hell, Jesus would argue that we need more. Anyone who continues to sin still has not learned the lesson, no earthly pleasure is worth this type of condemnation. No human relationship is worth ending up in hell. If something is going to condemn you—get rid of it. All human excuses such as, “Well, at least I am happy now”, or, “My friends will be there”, are things that people do not say in hell.

9:49 "For everyone will be salted with fire”.

Salt was used in the ancient world (and not so ancient) to preserve meat from decaying. The “fire” in this verse is viewed as a preserving agent “salted with fire”.

Does the “everyone” apply to both the righteous and the wicked? It could in this sense: 1. The fire of hell does keep the wicked in a preserved state of suffering.

2. The teaching about hell will burn out the evil desires from the hearts of the righteous. By embracing the reality of hell, the Christian willingly submits to being a spiritual sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1-2) and is willing to pay whatever cost to remain pure (cutting off hand or foot) in order to avoid this terrible place.

In verse 49 some ancient mss read “and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt”.

Salt was an essential ingredient in the offerings found in the Old Testament (Exodus 30:35; Lev. 2:13). The idea could be that like very sacrifice is salted with salt, so everyone will be salted with fire.

Fowler argues that the idea might be that since all have sinned (Romans 3:23), every human being is like a sacrifice being taken to the fire (of hell). The only way

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to escape this, is to become a Christian (Romans 5:6-9). Hence everyone who does not cut off hand, foot etc…will end up in the unquenchable fire.

9:50 "Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

“Salt is good”: Since all will be salted “with fire”, in the context this would mean that warnings about eternal destruction are healthy for men and women to hear.

A little fire and brimstone preaching can be a wonderful preserving agent and motivator. In the context this “salt” also could be the attitude demanded, i.e., putting God ahead of everything, being humble like a little child, not being a stumbling-block, putting others first, and so on. “But if the salt becomes unsalty”: How do you help the person who had no fear of God’s wrath and who sits unmoved by this sermon? “Have salt in yourselves”: “Let the aforementioned fire which preserves you do its work. Welcome the purifying, preserving principle of self-denial, enduring trials, removing stumbling blocks, pride, ambition, and contention. Welcome the severity of self-discipline, self-judgment, and selfsacrifice. This cannot but restore peace and fellowship among you” (Fowler p.

721).

“Be at peace with one another”: “In concluding Jesus drops all figures…let nothing at anytime disturb your peaceful relation to each other. The ambition for earthly greatness among the disciples. This and other wrong desires in their midst might easily cause division and dissension among them” (Lenski p. 412).

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