TITLE: Do you have worms? TEXT: Mark 9:42-48 PROPOSITION: QUESTION: How? KEY WORD: Punishments READING: Same
INTRODUCTION:
Jesus uses an unusual phrase here.
Their worm dies not; The fire is not quenched.
Note this chart.
Their Worm
The Fire
Internal
External
Personal
Universal
Conscience hurts
Spirit, mind, soul
Body hurts
OFFEND Offend = cause to sin, cause to stumble, the cause of the fall, to entrap, snare
Scandalidzo - The plate where the bait goes and holds the trap open
The idea is - entice them to the bait, the plate moves and springs the trap DON'T DO ANYTHING THAT WOULD ENTICE A BROTHER TO SIN. Don't offend little one - better for millstone around neck thrown in the sea
Hand offend - cut it off
Foot offend - cut it off
Eye offend - pluck it out
Romans 14:21 - Don't eat or drink to cause a brother to stumble
1 Corinthians 8:13 - I will eat no flesh while the world stands
THEIR WORMS
The punishment most painful is on the inside
Guilty conscience, angry spirit, hateful soul, lustful mind
Ability to remember mistakes, sins
Rich man (Luke 16) told, Son, remember.
Degrees of Punishment = understanding, willful rejection, guilty conscience
Some punishment is external - jail, take a way a privilege, time out, etc.
Some punishment is internal - memory, conscience, guilty
Worms are parasites that live inside, do harm, destroy, and cause pain and injury.
Psalm 68:21 - God wounds the head of one who walks in his guilt
1 Timothy 5:12 - having guilt because they cast off their faith
Psalm 32:1-5 - Description of a guilty conscience
DO NOT DIE
These worms (guilty feelings) do not stop, wear out, slow down, and diminish
Only God can cleanse the conscience - Hebrews 9:13-14
Baptism can cleanse the conscience - 1 Peter 3:21