Skandalise: Revisited

Context:

• Mark 9:42 “...Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea...”
• “Cause to sin” refers to enticing or provoking a disciple to turn away from Jesus, resulting in serious spiritual damage.
• Jesus is pretty clear that this is not a good situation.

How serious is scandalizing - causing someone to sin?

Mark 9:43-48 “...And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ ...”

Who is policing whom in this passage?

• Jesus is warning people to police themselves.
• Disciples must recognize their issues and deal with them.
• Whatever tempts a disciple to cling to this world’s life must be removed much like a surgeon amputating a gangrenous limb.

Is this extreme?

• Does the intensity of the danger justify the intensity of the preventive measures?

What happens when the preventative measures are inappropriately minimized.

• The severity of the problem is minimized.

Mark 9:49-50 “...For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another...”

What does it mean to be salted with fire?

• Salt is usually referred to as a preservative.
• Because v49 follows v48, which speaks of the perpetual fire of hell, some believe that this is a reference to the eternal nature of hell’s torment
• Because v49 is followed by v50, some believe it’s referring to the trials and testing that preserve those devoted to God.

Does everyone refer to every unbeliever, every believer, or all people?

• The combined context of people policing themselves, being salted with fire, and having salt and peace seems to point to believer.

Where is the salt?

• Do God’s people carry the salt, or are they the salt?
• Are God’s people to retain in themselves those precious qualities that provide a blessing to all around them.
• Colossians 4:5-6 “...Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person...”

How are salt and peace related?

• When God’s purposes are preserved, there is peace.

• Hebrews 12:14 “...Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord...”