Mk. 9:38 Now John answered Him, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”
Lk. 9:49 Then John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”
Because this individual was not of the inner twelve, Yochanan felt that he needed to stop this man from doing the work that he was doing. Evidently at least some of the disciples are developing a feeling of exclusiveness. If you are not part of the twelve, you have no right casting out demons in Yeshua’s name.
Mk. 9:39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.”
Lk. 50a But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him,”
One can accomplish great things for the Lord without being in the inner circle. Humble works, even the smallest, will not go unrewarded.
Mk. 9:40 “For he who is not against us is on our side.”
Lk. 50b “For he who is not against us is for us.”
Mk. 9:41 “For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to the Messiah, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
Mt. 18:6 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.”
Mk. 9:42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he drowned in the depth of the sea.”
All causes of stumbling will be justly punished, especially those against children who believe.
Mt. 18:7 “Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes.”
Mt. 18:8 “And if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire.”
Mk. 9:43 “And if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut if off and cast it away from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire.
Mk. 9:44 “Where ‘their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’”
Mk. 9:45 “And if your foot makes you sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into fire that shall never be quenched.”
Mk. 9:46 “Where ‘their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’”
Mt. 18:9 “And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.”
Mk. 9:47 “And if your eye makes you sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire — “.
Mk. 9:48 “Where ‘their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’”
Mk. 9:49 “For everyone will be season with fire, and every sacrifice with salt.”
This particular verse has puzzled scholars for a long time. The phrase “seasoned with fire” used in parallel with “seasoned with salt” has caused considerable confusion. The root word for salt (mih) is used in the Hebrew Scriptures not only in contexts where it means “purification” or “preservation,” but also where it is a symbol of barrenness and destruction (Judges 9:45; Isaiah 51:6). Putting this verse back into the original Hebrew probably it would be translated “everyone (who is sent to hell) will be completely destroyed.”
Sources: Judges 9:45; Isaiah 51:6
Mk. 9:50 “Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”
Mt. 18:10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in Heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in Heaven.”
In this passage, the respect for everyone no matter how important is linked with the idea of the presence of God, and a person’s relationship with God. If you hurt them, you do not simply hurt a human being, but one protected, loved, and made in the image of God. In respecting the child, you respect God. We are also told very clearly in this verse that all children have guardian angels.
Mt. 18:11 “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.”
Not only is Yeshua a Jew, a Rabbi, and spoke Hebrew, but He also used Rabbinic methods of teaching, alluding to something that has already been said in the Word of God (Remez). In this passage He is quoting from Ezekiel 34:11-16. There are four parallel ways the Messiah would bring salvation: (1) seek the lost; (2) return them to the fold; (3) heal the sick; and (4) strengthen the weak. What does the word “salvation” really mean? A word study in Strong’s Concordance reveals some surprises. The word salvation translates the Hebrew words yeshuwah, yasha, and teshuwah. The Greek words are soteria and soterion. Both the Hebrew and Greek have as their definitions “deliverance,” prosperity,” “health,” “healing,” and “to defend.” There are two things to notice about these definitions. First of all, they all have to do with present-day realities in the physical world. Secondly, none of them have anything to do with going to Heaven. Most Christians today wrongly believe that getting saved means that your sins are forgiven and you are on your way to Heaven. Although going to Heaven is the reward of our relationship with God, salvation is for today, not out in some future world.
Source: Ezekiel 34:11-16
Mt. 18:12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying.”
Mt. 18:13 “And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.”
Mt. 18:14 “Even so it is not the will of your Father in Heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”
