In Matthew, all but the story of Lazarus and the rich man is covered. Parallels to the Matthew teachings appear as follows:
Mar 9:42 And whoever shall offend one of these little ones who believe in Me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck and he were cast into the sea. Mar 9:43 And if your hand offends you, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than to have two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched Mar 9:44 where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. [a] Mar 9:45 And if your foot offends you, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame than to have two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched Mar 9:46 where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. [b] Mar 9:47 And if your eye offends you, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes to be cast into hell fire Mar 9:48 where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched. [c] Mar 9:49 For every one shall be salted with fire,[d] and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. Mar 9:50 Salt is good; but if the salt becomes saltless, with what will you season? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.
This was covered in Jesus' teachings on Hell, part 2. You will notice that I have grayed and scored out some texts.
a Mark 9:44 NU-Text omits this verse. b Mark 9:46 NU-Text omits the last clause of verse 45 and all of verse 46. c Mark 9:48 Isaiah 66:24 d Mark 9:49 NU-Text omits the rest of this verse.
Isa 66:24 And they will go out and see the dead bodies of the men who have sinned against Me; for their worm will not die, nor will their fire be put out; and they will be an object of disgust to all flesh.
The NKJV gives the reader the benefit of both NU and M texts yet stays with the popular KJV rendition.
A quote from New King James Footnotes By giving a clearly defined set of variants the New King James Version benefits readers of all textual persuasions.
Where significant variations occur in the New Testament Greek manuscripts, textual notes are classified as follows:
NU-Text These variations from the traditional text generally represent the Alexandrian or Egyptian type of text described previously in "The New Testament Text." They are found in the Critical Text published in the twenty-seventh edition of the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament (N) and in the United Bible Societies’ fourth edition (U), hence the acronym, "NU-Text."
M-Text This symbol indicates points of variation in the Majority Text from the traditional text, as also previously discussed in "The New Testament Text." It should be noted that M stands for whatever reading is printed in the published Greek New Testament According to the Majority Text, whether supported by overwhelming, strong, or only a divided majority textual tradition.
The textual notes reflect the scholarship of the past 150 years and will assist the reader to observe the variations between the different manuscript traditions of the New Testament. Such information is generally not available in English translations of the New Testament.
Let us discuss the last part of for their worm will not die, nor will their fire be put out Well I have shown photographs of the valley and what is referred to as the valley of Hinnom aka Gehenna. Here it is again.
See a fire still burning? Mark reports it as unquenchable a number of times and worms that do not die.
So we have some doubt to the authenticity of the manuscripts as they are similar but not identical. Deeper textual criticism may show which of the manuscripts are more authentic. Interestingly enough is the fact that the textual notes reflect only 150 years of scholarship. Luk 10:8 And into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. Luk 10:9 And heal the sick that are in it, and say to them, The kingdom of God has come near you! Luk 10:10 And into whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, going out into the streets say, Luk 10:11 Even the dust of your city which clings to us, we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near you. Luk 10:12 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city. Luk 10:13 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which have been done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented a long while ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. Luk 10:14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the Judgment than for you. Luk 10:15 And you, Capernaum, which has been lifted up to Heaven, you shall be thrust down into hell. (Hades aka Grave) Luk 10:16 The one hearing you hears Me, and he who despises you despises Me; he who rejects you also rejects Him who sent Me.
This was discussed in Jesus’ Teachings on Hell Part 4
Luk 12:4 And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. Luk 12:5 But I will warn you of whom you shall fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yea, I say to you, fear Him.
This was discussed in Jesus’ Teachings on Hell Part 3
The last reference in the gospels to hell is in Luke 16:23 where hell is Hades aka the Grave. I will do a separate blog on that parable of Lazarus and the rich man.
I hope by now though these studies you have come to see that hell as it is traditionally taught is at best questionable. In fact many proffer that Jesus taught more on hell than any other topic. What originally were 15 references turns out to be only 8 in total as this section deals with the parallels in the synoptics and 7 have been addressed; all of which were directed at the religious of the day and not unbelievers.
The focus of Jesus’ teachings was Kingdom and the way to the Father. Jesus abhorred the religious and religious systems of the day and even today, I am sure He still abhors it.
Normally after a study like this people will ask:
1. If no hell, what are we saved from then? 2. If no hell, why bother preaching the gospel? 3. If no hell, I can pretty much do as I please as there is no consequence for sin. Well all of these questions pretty much show that the “salvation” of the person is/was based conditionally whereas the salvation of God through Jesus is unconditional.
I have addressed question 1 many times and I use only one verse:
Mat 1:21 And she shall bear a son, and you shall call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.
Yes folk, He came to save us from our sins, not HELL.
In this age, sin has consequence, the law of sowing and reaping.
Mat 7:12 Therefore all things, whatever you desire that men should do to you, do even so to them; for this is the Law and the Prophets.
This is more commonly known as:
Do unto others as you will have them do unto you. Jesus also teaches on loving ones neighbour as oneself.
Sin was dealt with at the Cross and there remains no more sacrifice for sin. Animal sacrifices did not cut it and neither will our good works or intentions add one iota to the salvation of Jesus.
So why preach the gospel then?
Simple. It is the GOOD NEWS.
If you are interested in investigating the hell doctrine further, here are a few links:
Blessings |