If your hands offended me, would you cut them off?
(Mark 9:43)
"If thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched."...Jesus
by 
Vampire Of My Own Heart
ANSWERS: 3
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Wrong context. By "offend" in this passage, the Bible is referring to a life-threatening disease of some kind such as cancer. "Offend" in today's society has become too loosely defined - everyone is "offended" by something.
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This verse is to do with the condition of the soul. A man must not hinder others from doing good, and avoid anything that may take us from doing our duty, or lead us to sin; and that which does so we must part with. He compares the impure corruption we indulge in, as dear to us as our eyes or our hand, we must either part with sin or part with Christ and a good conscience. For example it is necessary that the part that is gangrened should be taken off for the preservation of the whole, The self must be denied that it may not be destroyed. The flesh must be mortified, that we may enter into life, into the kingdom of God, for this is temporary but the kingdom is forever. The choice being, either sin must die, or we must die. If we are The fire that is never quenched refers to God's wrath, the worm that never dieth refers to the reproaches of a sinners conscience, hence fastening upon a polluted and guilty conscience.
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If you were living in medieval times and your hand caused you to sin, it would be cut off. Mark 9:43 is not to be taken literally. The passage is a reminder that if your hand causes you to sin "without restriction," beware, it is better to cut it off. In the choice of entering Heaven with missing body parts or have your whole body thrown into hell is not a difficult decision to make.
Army Veteran 
Creamcrackered 
Jenny The Great ⭐ RELATED QUESTIONS
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