Mark Key Verse Summary, Steve Stasinos
SALTY CHRISTIANS
Passage: Mark 9:38~50  
Key verse: 50
Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us(A)
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”(B)
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us.(C) 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.(D)
Causing to Stumble
42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble,(E) it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.(F) 43 If your hand causes you to stumble,(G) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell,(H) where the fire never goes out.(I) [44] [a] 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble,(J) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.(K) [46] [b] 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble,(L) 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,(M) 48 where
49 Everyone will be salted(O) with fire.
50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again?(P) Have salt among yourselves,(Q) and be at peace with each other.”(R)
Footnotes
Cross references
- Mark 9:38 : 9:38-40pp — Lk 9:49, 50
- Mark 9:38 : Nu 11:27-29
- Mark 9:40 : Mt 12:30; Lk 11:23
- Mark 9:41 : S Mt 10:42
- Mark 9:42 : S Mt 5:29
- Mark 9:42 : Mt 18:6; Lk 17:2
- Mark 9:43 : S Mt 5:29
- Mark 9:43 : Mt 5:30; 18:8
- Mark 9:43 : S Mt 25:41
- Mark 9:45 : S Mt 5:29
- Mark 9:45 : Mt 18:8
- Mark 9:47 : S Mt 5:29
- Mark 9:47 : Mt 5:29; 18:9
- Mark 9:48 : Isa 66:24; S Mt 25:41
- Mark 9:49 : Lev 2:13
- Mark 9:50 : Mt 5:13; Lk 14:34, 35
- Mark 9:50 : Col 4:6
- Mark 9:50 : Ro 12:18; 2Co 13:11; 1Th 5:13
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. A cup of water in Jesus' name (38-41)
Some people think that there is a spiritual 'no-man's land' between God and Satan. But Jesus teaches differently. One who drives out demons in Jesus' name is on Jesus' side. One who gives a cup of cold water to Jesus' disciple is on God's side. We may have little in common humanly with some people, but if they love Jesus and fight the devil, we are on the same side.
2. Causing others to sin (42-50)
A Christian must have a clear attitude about sin. Jesus allows no compromise. One who causes another to sin is working for Satan. He or she should repent. Sin brings a person to death and hell, so we must fight sin with all our strength. Cutting off a hand doesn't cleanse a sinful heart; only the blood of Jesus can do that. A Christian with unrepented sins in his or her life is tasteless salt, fit only to be thrown out. Sin keeps us from being at peace with each other. It keeps us from being at peace with ourselves.
Prayer: Lord, cleanse my heart and give me an absolute attitude toward the gospel.
One Word: Be a salty Christian