Greetings, children of God,
Today, let us look at how Jesus prioritizes the spiritual over the physical—the next life over the present one:
“And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.”
— Mark 9:43
After warning against causing the “little ones” who believe in Him to stumble, Jesus goes on to teach that true believers must be willing to cut off anything that causes them to stumble and miss heaven.
The Hand
Jesus says that if your hand causes you to sin, you must cut it off. Why? Because it is better to enter heaven crippled than to enter hell with two hands. His imagery emphasizes the supreme priority of eternal life over temporary comfort.
The “hand” represents anything that may cause someone to stumble. Since Jesus chooses the hand—something valuable, God-given, and useful—we understand that He is pointing to things in life that we might consider essential, things that make us feel complete. Yet, if such things cause us to fall away from God, they must be removed.
For example, money and wealth are incredibly useful and often define people’s sense of completeness. When someone lacks money, they are labeled poor, which carries connotations of inability and incompleteness. But Scripture warns against the danger of misusing money:
“For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evils, and some by aspiring to it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
— 1 Timothy 6:10
Money itself is not evil, just as the hand is not evil. But when people elevate money to the place of a god—making it their idol—it becomes destructive. That is when it must be “cut off.”
And money is not the only “hand” we may need to cut off. Relationships, jobs, health, and other good gifts can also become stumbling blocks if they take God’s rightful place in our hearts.
Paul warns us about relationships in particular:
“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.’”
— 1 Corinthians 15:33
Relationships are useful and fulfilling, but when they begin to replace God in our hearts, they become idols. What was once good becomes a hindrance, and it must be laid aside.
The Stumble
We all have a responsibility to recognize when we are stumbling. This is not easy—by the time many realize they are stumbling, it may already be too late.
Therefore, we must carefully watch how we live:
“Therefore look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
— Ephesians 5:15–16
We must examine every area of our lives—wealth, friendships, family, work, education, health—and ensure that none of these good gifts are causing us to stumble.
The Life
Jesus says it is better to enter life crippled than to go to hell with two hands. Here, “the life” refers to eternal life in Him.
Jesus declared Himself to be “the way, the truth, and the life.” He also said He is “the resurrection and the life.” True life is found only in Him.
This life is not attained by good works alone, for we are fallen. Instead, Jesus lived a perfect life, died a sinner’s death, and rose again so that all who believe in Him may enjoy eternal fellowship with Him.
But stumbling blocks hinder faith. Jesus illustrates this in the parable of the sower:
“And others are those being sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”
— Mark 4:18–19
The “hand,” in this sense, represents worldly desires and riches that choke out faith.
The Hell
Jesus also warns of the horror of hell—a place of unquenchable fire, pain, and sorrow. Wealth, friendships, status, and health will be worthless there.
He once asked:
“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?”
— Mark 8:36
The answer is clear—it profits nothing.
Jesus repeats the warning with other body parts—the foot and the eye:
“[and where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, [and where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”
— Mark 9:44–48
The message is consistent: it is far better to let go of anything—even something precious—if it hinders our relationship with God.
And so, dear friends, let us be careful how we walk—not as unwise, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Let us not be drunk with wine, which leads to recklessness, but instead be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Grace and peace to you.
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