43 If your hand causes you to stumble,(A) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell,(B) where the fire never goes out.(C) [44] [a] 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble,(D) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.(E) [46] [b] 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble,(F) 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,(G) 48 where

“‘the worms that eat them do not die,
    and the fire is not quenched.’[c](H)

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 9:44 Some manuscripts include here the words of verse 48.
  2. Mark 9:46 Some manuscripts include here the words of verse 48.
  3. Mark 9:48 Isaiah 66:24

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires;(A) but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.(B) The mind governed by the flesh is death,(C) but the mind governed by the Spirit is life(D) and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God;(E) it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh(F) cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh(G) but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.(H) And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,(I) they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you,(J) then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[a] because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead(K) is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies(L) because of[b] his Spirit who lives in you.

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.(M) 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die;(N) but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body,(O) you will live.(P)

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God(Q) are the children of God.(R) 15 The Spirit(S) you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again;(T) rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[c] And by him we cry, “Abba,[d] Father.”(U) 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit(V) that we are God’s children.(W)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 8:10 Or you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive
  2. Romans 8:11 Some manuscripts bodies through
  3. Romans 8:15 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture; also in verse 23.
  4. Romans 8:15 Aramaic for father

Warning and Encouragement

14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone(A) and to be holy;(B) without holiness no one will see the Lord.(C) 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God(D) and that no bitter root(E) grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral,(F) or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.(G) 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears,(H) he could not change what he had done.

The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy

18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;(I) 19 to a trumpet blast(J) or to such a voice speaking words(K) that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,(L) 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”[a](M) 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”[b](N)

22 But you have come to Mount Zion,(O) to the city(P) of the living God,(Q) the heavenly Jerusalem.(R) You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn,(S) whose names are written in heaven.(T) You have come to God, the Judge of all,(U) to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,(V) 24 to Jesus the mediator(W) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood(X) that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.(Y)

25 See to it that you do not refuse(Z) him who speaks.(AA) If they did not escape when they refused him who warned(AB) them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?(AC) 26 At that time his voice shook the earth,(AD) but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”[c](AE) 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken(AF)—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,(AG) let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,(AH) 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”[d](AI)

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 12:20 Exodus 19:12,13
  2. Hebrews 12:21 See Deut. 9:19.
  3. Hebrews 12:26 Haggai 2:6
  4. Hebrews 12:29 Deut. 4:24

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