Jesus had preached the Sermon on the Mount and it had been widely discussed. Countless people were there to listen to those extraordinary message that boggled the mind in every good way.

Mark knew this and knew that the Sermon on the Mount was well known. His point in writing his gospel was to get to the final week of Jesus as fast as possible. So what he did was summarize it.

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.

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.’

⁴⁹ For everyone will be salted with fire.

⁵⁰ 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.”

There are multiple teachings here in one paragraph.

1. How one treats children (v 42)
2. Lust (v. 43-48)
3. Judgment and persecution (v. 49)
4. Effectiveness in the world (v. 50)

We can read these more in Matthew where they are expanded upon. But in essence the teachings are this:

1. Don’t you dare harm a child or their faith. It will not go well with you before God Almighty.
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2. Deal radically with lust. Don’t entertain it or welcome it in your mind and heart. Do whatever it takes to come against it. You don’t literally need to cut off your hand and feet and poke out your eyes, but the actions you do take against lust should be strong.
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3. You will be persecuted and tried in the fire. Stand strong. This is normal
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4. Your purpose in life is to not shrink back in fear but rather to be genuine influence for righteousness and love in the world. It may be tempting to cover your light, to hide in fear, to hold back because it isn’t socially acceptable, but we are called to a different path.

All of these are important and worth remembering regularly. And practicing. So whether in the mini-reminder that Mark gives or the full teaching in Matthew, they are all meant to be obeyed.

Some right now are struggling with lust and fantasy. The Bible says be strong against it, especially internally.

Others may be growing through great trial for righteousness. Stand firm.

And still others may be afraid of the cost of walking in the Lord. It might cost their family, their job or more. Remember who you are. And whose you are.