“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—where

‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’

And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—where

‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’

And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire—where

‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’

“For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. 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.” (Mark 9:42-50)

Jesus used Hell to warn believers, not condemn sinners. Did Jesus think that it was a good idea for his followers to maim themselves. Of course not. They understood his point as easily just as a modern reader understands the phrase “raining cats and dogs.” Literalizing a metaphor is as big a mistake as allegorizing something that should be taken at face value.

And what was Jesus point? That the Kingdom of God was so wonderful, that missing an eye or a foot was far better than the alternative of Hell. What does the odd phrase, “their worm does not die” and “their fire is not quenched” refer to? It is a quotation from the very end of the book of Isaiah. The word translated “hell” comes into Greek from a Hebrew phrase that meant “the Valley of Hinnon.” Located just outside of Jerusalem, it was where King Ahaz had worshiped Molech by sacrificing his children as burnt offerings. Since then, it had become an ever burning garbage dump. The picture of worms and fire is therefore one of perpetual uncleanness. It stands in sharp contrast to the wonders of God’s kingdom. Our choice is stark and therefore not hard to make.

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