“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” (Mark 9:42 ESV).
In the Gospel of Mark, he recorded Jesus speaking to believers who needed to understand the cost of following Him. Mark preserved this sobering warning as the introduction to a larger literary unit (9:42–50). Jesus warned against causing “little ones” — likely children or new believers — to stumble in sin. The language was shocking: death by drowning would be better than leading another into spiritual ruin.
This verse began a logical progression. First, Jesus warned against harming others spiritually (v. 42). Second, He commanded radical action against personal sin — cutting off hand, foot, or eye if necessary (vv. 43–48). Third, He declared that “everyone will be salted with fire” (v. 49), a difficult saying that many wrestle with, yet clearly tied to purification and divine testing. Finally, He called His disciples to have “salt” in themselves and be at peace with one another (v. 50).
The movement of this passage progressed from warning to purification, from purification to covenant faithfulness, and ultimately to peace. Jesus showed that sin must be taken seriously, that sanctification is costly, and that holiness protects and strengthens the community of believers.
We must ask ourselves: Do we take sin seriously? Do we recognize how our words, attitudes, and actions affect weaker believers? Do we deal decisively with the sin in our own lives? We cannot shrug at compromise while expecting peace in our homes or churches.
If we ignore sin, we harm others. If we confront it, we undergo refining fire. That refining produces covenant faithfulness — the “salt” of a preserved and distinct life. And that faithfulness leads to genuine peace in our relationships.
We cannot move from Christ’s warning about sin to true peace without first submitting to His refining and purifying work in our lives. To take sin lightly is to miss Jesus’ point entirely. The path to peace runs through holiness. So we must ask again: Do we take sin seriously?
PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us for minimizing sin in our lives. Guard us from causing others to stumble. Give us courage to deal radically with our own sin and to submit to Your refining fire. Season us with covenant faithfulness so that we may live at peace with one another. Teach us to take sin seriously. In Jesus’ name, amen.