thursday: 7^th Week of the year-C-Cycle I

 

I Reading: Ecclesiasticus 5:1-8: Do not delay your return to the Lord.

Gospel: Mark 9: 41-50: It is better for you to enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell.

The Terribleness of Sin, Mk 9:42-50

This is a sinful world, full of terrible evil and behaviour. No one can walk out into the world without facing temptation after temptation and pull after pull to look, touch, taste-to experience the good life of physical gratification and earthly comfort and personal fulfilment. We are tempted, seduced and influenced at every turn. There is no escape (Rom 3:9-18).

In this passage Jesus stressed just how terrible sin is, and He warned the sinner. Every person is personally responsible for his/her sin or life. People should not blame the world, society or others, for they have a free will. People can even work to overcome and strengthen their weaknesses and God can provide a way to escape temptation (1Cor 10:13). Every sin becomes a stumbling block to others.

1. The terrible sin of causing others to sin (v.42)

a. Especially causing “little ones” to sin

b. The better alternative: To drown one’s self

2. The terrible sins of the hands (v.43-44)

a. The better alternative: To cut off one’s hand

b. The reason: Sins of the hand condemn one to hell

c. Hell is punishment and it is forever

3. The terrible sins of the feet (v.45-46)

a. The better alternative: To cut off one’s foot

b. The reason: Sins of the feet condemn one to hell

4. The terrible sins of the eye (v.47-48)

a. The better alternative: To pluck out one’s eye

b. The reason: Sins of the eye condemn one to hell

c. Hell is punishment and it is forever

5. The terrible surety of judgement for sin: everyone (v.49)

6. The wonderful challenge to save oneself from sin (v.50)

Thought: The believer is to walk even as Jesus Christ walked.

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